Harnessing her dual background in both science and law, Judith Jones began her research career as an environmental and planning lawyer by focusing on uncertainty, precaution and risk assessment. This included over a decade (1999 – 2014) of service, in different capacities, on federal non-statutory and statutory bodies that provide advice to the Gene Technology Regulator on legal and ethical issues relating to risk assessment and the regulation of gene technology in Australia. Judith has a range of scholarly publications in the areas of environmental impact assessment, risk regulation and precaution. The emphasis in those publications is designing regulation in conditions of scientific and other uncertainty. She is also a member of the ANU Institutional Biosafety Committee.
More recently, Judith’s research has taken a new direction, combining her environmental law research interests with Australian legal history to examine the impact of historical and current landuse practices on Australian soils, water and vegetation. In terms of the colonial era, this research focuses on the impact of colonial property law and culture on land use practices and consequent environmental degradation. In terms of contemporary agricultural land use, this research focuses on law and culture relevant to encouraging sustainable land use practices in regions of high agricultural value.
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Link to ANU researchers profile
Research biography
Harnessing her dual background in both science and law, Judith Jones began her research career as an environmental and planning lawyer by focusing on uncertainty, precaution and risk assessment. This included over a decade (1999 – 2014) of service, in different capacities, on federal non-statutory and statutory bodies that provide advice to the Gene Technology Regulator on legal and ethical issues relating to risk assessment and the regulation of gene technology in Australia. Judith has a range of scholarly publications in the areas of environmental impact assessment, risk regulation and precaution. The emphasis in those publications is designing regulation in conditions of scientific and other uncertainty. She is also a member of the ANU Institutional Biosafety Committee.
More recently, Judith’s research has taken a new direction, combining her environmental law research interests with Australian legal history to examine the impact of historical and current landuse practices on Australian soils, water and vegetation. In terms of the colonial era, this research focuses on the impact of colonial property law and culture on land use practices and consequent environmental degradation. In terms of contemporary agricultural land use, this research focuses on law and culture relevant to encouraging sustainable land use practices in regions of high agricultural value.
Current courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Class #7141 | Environmental and Sustainability Law |
| 2023 | Class #7145 | Environmental Law |
| 2023 | Class #2213 | Foundations of Australian Law |
| 2023 | Class #2549 | Foundations of Australian Law |
| 2023 | Class #1548 | Environmental Law |
Previous courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Class #2705 | Foundations of Australian Law |
| 2023 | Class #2279 | Foundations of Australian Law |
| 2023 | Class #4651 | Land, Water and Biodiversity |
Philosophy & approach
Judith encourages independent self-directed learning in all her courses - both in class and when using self-paced web-based resources. Each course utlises an extensive range of online and web-based resources. These resources reinforce key concepts covered in class.
Based on the preparation that students have done prior to class, Judith also provides ample opportunities for structured class participation in face-to-face teaching.
Judith is experienced at teaching law to non-lawyers. In these course, where relevant, multi-disciplinary concepts and perspectives are incorporated in course content. These add depth to the concepts covered.
Judith has a research oriented approach to her teaching, having participated in a threshold concepts research project that considered the most effective way to teach legal reasoning to first year law students.
