Alison Cottrell
Alison Cottrell's research interests focus on contemporary approaches to social impact assessment, social aspects of disaster studies, community participation in environmental management, urban and rural social change.
She has particular interest is in the use and development of qualitative research methods to approach complex environmental and disaster management and planning issues. Cottrell has a commitment to enhance broader community understanding of the role and potential of social research for addressing research into contemporary natural resource management issues.
Brief description of research impact:
--Reports, pamphlets, and posters developed through my research on women and their preparations for the wet season have been placed on the QES portal for access by local governments in Queensland.
--The bushfire CRC work has resulted in a housing risk assessment matrix for remote regions which has also been placed on the QES portal for local government. The research has significantly changed the way the research section at QFRS does its research and has implications for community education strategies.
--Received the 2006 EMA Queensland Division award for Safer Sustainable communities, community safety section for the Sudanese Refugees and Fire Hazard Study conducted jointly with QFRS.