About

Introduction

 

John is Dean of Arts, Associate Professor of Sociology, and the current the Secretary of the Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Science and Humanities (DASSH). He is Head of the School of Humanities and Social Science, within the Faculty of Education and Arts. The School compromises 18 disciplines and 72 on-going staff responsible for the delivery of over 500 courses, to 16,000+ students in 7 undergraduate and 4 postgraduate programs - plus around 165 Research Higher Degree candidates.

John is former President of TASA: The Australian Sociological Association (2002-04), having served on its Executive for 12 years during which time he established TASAweb and was its editor (1996-2005), was an Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Sociology (2002-09), and a former Executive Board member of the ISA: International Sociological Association (2002-06).

His research interests span the social determinants of food consumption and production, public health policy, workplace change, youth and health behaviour, and the history of sociology. John has published 14 books, including: Public Sociology: An Introduction to Australian Society (2010), Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology (2009), A Sociology of Food and Nutrition: The Social Appetite (2008), Public Sociology: An Introduction to Australian Society (2007), Australian Youth (2007), and Histories of Australian Sociology (2005).

John was responsible for devising a new Bachelor of Social Science program at UoN with an innovative prescribed sequence of courses and a work-integrated learning stream throughout all three years of the degree. He has taught introductory sociology, and specialist undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the sociology of food, health, work, and organisational management, as well as Honours in Sociology. He is currently supervising 7 PhD candidates.

He recently completed an ALTC funded scoping study of the Sociology Discipline in Australia, and is currently working on: a monograph on the changing nature of Australian work organisation; conducting empirical research on the Slow Food movement in Australia; and involved in an AusAID funded study of masculinity and violence in Indonesia and India.

Qualifications

• PhD in Sociology, The University of Newcastle - 2001
• MArts (Research) in Sociology, Monash University - 1990
• BArts, Chisholm Institute of Technology - 1986
  

Back to top.

Research

Research Interests

Books and Monographs

Germov, J. & Poole. M. (eds) Public Sociology (2nd edition in development, due 2010), Allen & Unwin.

Germov, J. (in press) Sociology of Work, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Germov, J. (2009) Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology, 4th edition, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
 
Germov, J. & Williams, L. (eds) (2008) A Sociology of Food and Nutrition: The Social Appetite, 3rd edition, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Germov, J. & Poole, M (eds) (2007) Public Sociology: An Introduction to Australian Society, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Nilan, P., Julian, R. & Germov, J. (2007) Australian Youth: Social and Cultural Issues, Melbourne: Pearson Education.

Germov, J. (ed) (2005) Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology, 3rd edition, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Germov, J. & McGee, T. (eds) (2005) Histories of Australian Sociology, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

Germov, J. & Williams, L. (eds) (2004) A Sociology of Food and Nutrition: The Social Appetite, 2nd edition, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Germov, J. (ed) (2002) Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology, 2nd edition, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Williams, L. & Germov, J. (2001) Surviving First Year Uni, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Germov, J. (2000) Get Great Marks for Your Essays, 2nd edition, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Germov, J. (1999) Get Great Information Fast, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Germov, J. (ed) (1997) Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Germov, J. (1996) Get Great Marks for Your Essays, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Book Chapters

Germov, J. (2006) Managerialism in the Australian Public Health Sector, in D. Allen & A Pilnick (eds) The Social Organisation of Healthcare Work, London: Blackwell Publishing, 54-73.

Germov, J. (2006) ‘From “Aussie tucker” to “Australasian cuisine”: The cosmopolitan appetite’, in P. Beilharz & T. Hogan (eds) Sociology: Place, Time and Division, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Germov, J. & McGee, T. (2005) ‘Australian sociology: recent trends and prospects, in J. Germov & T. McGee (eds) Histories of Australian Sociology, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

McGee, T. & Germov, J. (2005) ‘Researching the history of Australian sociology’, in J. Germov & T. McGee (eds) Histories of Australian Sociology, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

Germov, J. (2004) 'Which class do you teach? Education and the reproduction of class inequality', in J. Allen (ed) Sociology of Education: Possibilities and Practices, 3rd edition, Katoomba: Social Science Press.

Germov, J. & Williams, L. (1999) 'Dieting women: self-surveillance and the body panopticon', in J. Sobal & D. Maurer (eds) Weighty Issues: Fatness and Thinness as Social Problems, New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 117-132.

Refereed Journal Articles

Allen, M.P. & Germov, J. (under review) ‘Judging Taste and Creating Value: The Cultural Consecration of Australian Wines’
 
Germov, J., Williams, L. & Freij, M. (under review) ‘Representations of Slow Food in the Australian Print Media’
 
Germov, J. & Williams, L. (under review) ‘Experiencing Slow Food in Australia’

Germov, J. (under review) ‘Negotiating Managerialism: Health Professionals, Teamwork and New Professional Bureaucracies’.
 
Williams, L., Germov, J. & Young, A. (2007) 'Preventing weight gain: A population cohort study of the nature and effectiveness of mid-age women's weight control practices', International Journal of Obesity, 31, 978-986.

Germov, J. (2005) ‘Managerialism in the Australian public health sector: towards the hyper-rationalisation of professional bureaucracies’, Sociology of Health & Illness, 27, 6, 738-758.

Germov, J. (2004) ‘On the everyday life of a significant sociologist: The Life-work of Stephen Crook’, TASA 2003 Presidential Address: A Symposium on the Life and Work of Stephen Crook, Journal of Sociology, 40, 3, 205-212.

Germov, J. (2004) ‘A symposium on the life and work of Stephen Crook: Introduction’, Journal of Sociology, 40, 3, 203.

Skrbis, Z. & Germov, J. (2004) 'The most influential books in Australian sociology, 1963-2003', Journal of Sociology, 40, 3, 283-302.

Germov, J. (1997) ‘“Whetting the Appetite”: A Taste of the Sociology of Food and Nutrition’, Annual Review of Health Social Sciences, 7, 35-46.

Germov, J. & Williams, L. (1996) ‘The Sexual Division of Dieting: Women’s Voices’, The Sociological Review, 44, 4, 630-647.
 
Germov, J. & Williams, L. (1996) ‘The Epidemic of Dieting Women: The Need for a Sociological Approach to Food and Nutrition’, Appetite, 27, 97-108.
 
Germov, J. (1995) ‘Medifraud, Managerialism and the Decline of Medical Autonomy: Proletarianisation and Deprofessionalisation Reconsidered’, Australia and New Zealand Journal of Sociology, 31, 3, 51-66.
 
Germov, J. (1995) ‘Equality Before the Law: The Limits of Legal Aid and the Cost of Social Justice’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, 30, 2, 162-178.
 
Germov, J. (1995) ‘Duty of Disclosure: Medical Negligence and New Patient Rights’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, 30, 1, 95-98. 
 
Germov, J. (1994) ‘What to do with the Working-class? Towards a Cultural Critique of the Curriculum’, Curriculum Perspectives, 14, 1, 1-10.

Non-refereed Journal Articles

Germov, J. and Williams, L. (2005) ‘The Social Origins of Obesity’, Issues, 72, September.

Germov, J. (2003) 'Higher education reform: sociology at the crossroads', Nexus, 15, 2, February, 3-5.

Germov, J. (2001) 'Reflections by an Australian sociologist in York: the MedSoc 2001 conference', Medical Sociology News: Newsletter of the British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group, 80, October.

Germov, J. (2001) 'Sociology in Australia', Network: Newsletter of the British Sociological Association, 79, May, 32-33.

Germov, J. (2000) 'Workaholics Anon: Are you a Member?', Newcastle Herald, 12, June, p. 9.

Germov, J. (1997) 'Conference report: Gender, Community and Policy: A conference celebrating the contribution of Lois Bryson to Australian social science', Nexus, 9, 4, November, 11-12.

Germov, J. (1996) 'Exploring your teaching philosophy: some practical steps', Teaching Review, 2, 5-8.

Keynote Addresses

2007: Invited paper: 'Social Determinants of Obesity: A Sociological Contribution', Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Obesity Seminar.

2005: Invited paper: Social Determinants of Obesity, Passion for Food: The 38th Annual Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology (AIFST) Convention, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, 10-13 July.

2005: Invited plenary paper: Food Sociology: Understanding the Social Appetite, Public Health Nutrition Symposium, University of Canberra.

2004: Invited seminar paper: The New Professional Bureaucracy: Managerialism and Health Professionals, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, September 2.

2004: Presidential Address: Australian SociologyTrends and Prospects, TASA 2004 Conference, LaTrobe University, Beechworth, December 8-11.

2003: Presidential Address: The Life-work of Stephen Crook, TASA 2003 Conference, University of New England, Armidale, December 4-6.

2003: Plenary: The Most Influential Books in Australian Sociology (co-convenor and presenter with Zlatko Skrbis), TASA 2003 Conference, University of New England, Armidale December 4-6.

2003: Plenary: The History of TASA and Australian Sociology (convenor and chair), TASA 2003 Conference, University of New England, Armidale December 4-6.

2003: Welcome Address, TASA 2003 Conference, University of New England, Armidale December 4-6.

2003: Publish or be Damned: Building your Publication Record (with Zlatko Skrbis), TASA Postgraduate Workshop, TASA 2003 Conference, University of New England, Armidale December 4-6.

2002: Welcome Address, XV World Congress of Sociology, Brisbane, July 7-13.

2002: The Internationalisation of Sociological Teaching and Research: Australian Developments, XV World Congress of Sociology, Brisbane, July 7-13.

2002: Life, the University & Everything: The Quest for Understanding. Delivered to the Evatt House Commencement Dinner, University of Newcastle, March 23.

2001: The Social Determinants of Health. Delivered to the Australian Council for health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) and the NSW Department of Education and Training.

2001: Surviving First Year Uni, Careers Advisers Workshop, Schools Visit Day, The University of Newcastle, July 5.

Conference Papers



Germov, J.,  Williams, L. & Young, A. 2009, 'The effect of social class on weight control
in mid-aged women: A longitudinal study. Evidence from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health' [refereed poster]  The Future of Sociology: The annual conference of The Australian Sociological Association (TASA), 1-4 December, Australian National University, Canberra.

Williams, L., Germov, J. & Young, A. 2009, 'What effect does social class have on weight control in mid-aged women?' [refereed poster], ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 23-25 October, Melbourne.

Williams, L. Germov, J. & Young, A. 2009, What effect does social class have on weight control in mid-age women? Evidence from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health [poster presentation], 17th European Congress on Obesity, 7 May. Click here to view Conference poster

Williams, L., Knight, C. & Germov, J. 2008, 'Learning to cook in later life: a qualitative study into the attitudes and beliefs of older men around food preparation', Nutrition & Dietetics, Gold Coast. Click here to view Conference poster

Germov, J. & Williams, L. 2008, A Qualitative Study of Slow Food in Australia, Re-imagining Sociology: TASA 2008 Refereed Conference Proceedings, University of Melbourne, Melbourne.

Germov, J. & McGee, T. 2008, Sociology in Australia: Enrolments and Completions, Re-imagining Sociology: TASA 2008 Conference, University of Melbourne, Melbourne.

McGee, T. & Germov, J. 2008, Germov, J. & Williams, L. 2008, A Fifteen Year Review of Major Publication Trends in the TASA Journal, 1993-2007, Re-imagining Sociology: TASA 2008 Conference, University of Melbourne, Melbourne.

Germov, J. & Williams, L. 2007, 'Slow Food in Australia: Glocalisation, Ethical Consumption and Health', TASA/SAANZ Joint Conference: Public Sociologies, University of Auckland, December 4-7.

Marshall, H., Clarke, E. & Germov, J. (2007) 'Scoping Australian Sociology', TASA/SAANZ Joint Conference, New Zealand, December 4-7.

Germov, J. (2002) Second Wave Managerialism and the Hyper-rationalisation of Professional Work: Case Studies from the Australian Public Health Sector, XV World Congress of Sociology, Brisbane, 7-13 July.

Germov, J. (2002) Clinical Governance, Teamwork and the Decline of Professional Autonomy, TASA 2002: The Australian Sociological Association Conference, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 5-6 July.

Germov, J. (2001) Managerialism and the Increasing Rationalisation of Professional Work, British Sociological Association (BSA) Medical Sociology Conference, September 21-23, University of York.

Edited Conference Volumes

Crotty, M., Germov, J. & Rodwell, G. (eds) (2000) 'A Race for a Place': Eugenics, Darwinism and Social Thought and Practice in Australia,  Faculty of Arts & Social Science, The University of Newcastle.

Germov, J. & Williams, L. (eds) (1996) The Sociology of Food and Nutrition: Australian Perspectives, Newcastle: Laurijon.

Germov, J. (ed) (1994) Health Papers, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Newcastle

Grants and Funding

2009-2010: Masculinities and Violence in Indonesia and India  (with A/Prof Pam Nilan and Dr Alex Broom). AusAID Australian Development Research Awards (ADRAs) - $116 526
2008:  Sociology in Australia: A Scoping Study (with Dr Helen Marshall - RMIT [lead site] & Ms Eileen Clark - La Trobe). Carrick Discipline-Based Initiatives Scheme - $110 000.
2007:  Surviving First Year Uni: Online Modules (with Dr Lauren Williams), First Year Experience Project Grant, University of Newcastle - $10 032
2007:  Slow Food in Australia, University of Newcastle Strategic Pilot Grant - $13 500
2007: Slow Food in Australia (top-up funding), School Grant - $4 500
2007: Media Representation of Food-related Health, School Grant - $6 000
2005:  Australian Public Health Nutrition Academic Collaboration consultancy to develop a new Distance Learning course on Food Sociology - $15 000
2005: RGC Project Grant: Social Determinants of Weight Control Strategies and the Effects on Health Status - $6 029
1998: RMC Small Grant: Women's Resistance to the Thin Ideal: An Interdisciplinary Study on the Sociology of the Body, Food and Nutrition - $6 000
1997: ARC Small Grant: Women's Participation in, and Resistance to, the Thin Ideal: An Interdisciplinary Study on the Sociology of the Body, Food and Nutrition - $8 000
1995: Internal Grant: Barriers to Healthy Eating in Dieting Women Internal grant from the 'Enhancement of the Research Skills Base' program, University of Newcastle - $7 460

Research Supervision



PhD

• Competing Discourses of Female Empowerment: Michel Foucaults Analytics of Power as a Theoretical Framework
• Cultural Rules and Patterning in Food Systems and Nutrition of Indigenous People of Malaysia
• Social Reconstruction of Obesity and the Impact on the Health of Maori and Pacific Migrants in Australia
• A Longitudinal Analysis of the Free-text Comments of the 1921-1926 Cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health
• The Mental Health Experiences of Early Retired Males in the Hunter Region
• A Social Construction of the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
• Fa'asinomaga I Nu'u Ese: Samoan Seventh-Day Adventist Identity in Diaspora - Newcastle, Australia

Honours projects

• An Exploration of Student Attitudes Towards Obesity
• The Influences of Dieting on Dietary Intake in Women
• The Slow Food Movement in Australia

RHD theses examined

• 2009: The Peculiar Logic of Max Weber (PhD) - Murdoch University
• 2009: What (else) is Theory For? A Historical Exploration of Theory use in Sociology (PhD) - University of Sydney
• 2008: Putting the Food on our Table: A Historical Examination of New Zealand Foodways (PhD) - University of Auckland
• 2007: Vegetarian Nutritional Careers: Social, Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions (PhD) - Flinders University
• 2006: The Anatomy of Two Medical Archetypes: A Socio-historical Study of Australian Doctors and their Rival Medical Systems (PhD) - Murdoch University
• 2005: Ethnography of a Hospital Emergency Department (MA) - RMIT University

Back to top.

Teaching

Courses

Other

Appointments

 

Prior to joining the University of Newcastle in 1993, John taught at Monash University, La Trobe University, and RMIT.

Other Professional Appointments

2009 - present: Secretary, Australasian Council of Dean of Arts, Social Science and Humanities (DASSH)
2006 - present: Principal Researcher, Research Centre for Gender, Health & Ageing
2005 - 2006: Immediate Past President of TASA
2002 - 2009: Editorial Board Member, Journal of Sociology
2002 - 2006: Executive Board Member of the ISA: Interenational Sociological Association 
2002 - 2004: President of TASA: The Australian Sociological Association 
1996 - 2005: Web editor of TASAweb 
1999 - present: Research Associate, ESC: Employment Studies Centre 
1997 - present: Research Collaborator, WHA: Women's Health Australia 
1999 - 2002: Vice President of TASA
1995 - 1998: Executive Committee member, TASA
1997 - 1999: Management Board member, ESC
1995: TASA Conference Convenor

Awards and Prizes

1997 National Finalist in the Australian Awards for University Teaching.

1995 Award for Excellence in Teaching from the University of Newcastle.

Community Involvement

Invited Member of the Australian Public Health Nutrition Academic Consortium (APHNAC) and Consultant for the PHERP funded ‘Advanced Level Training in Public Health Nutrition’ project (2005).

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), External Advisory Group Member, Consumer Representative (2004-2007).

NSW HSC Online Forum Consultant, PDHPE, NSW Department of Education & Training (2002-2005).

Research Consultant (1995-1996) for ACIRRT (Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research & Teaching - University of Sydney) & ESC (Employment Studies Centre - University of Newcastle).

Governance



2008-present: Dean of Arts & Head of School
2009: Director, CAPSTRANS
2009: Faculty ERA Reference Group 
2009-present: Member, University Student Experience & Engagement Working Party
2009-present: Chair, Faculty Orientation Working Party
2009: Member, Ease of Research Project Web Steering Group
2008-present: Member, Kelver Hartley Awards Committee
2007-present: Member, Faculty Marketing Committee
2009: RCGHA Qual Res Group
2008: Member, Teaching Intensive Working Group
2008: Member, Post-Implementation Evaluation of Changes to Administrative Structures and Processes
2008: Member, M4P Evaluation Steering Committee
2007 - present: Member, IT Governance Committee
2007 - present: Member, Faculty Study Leave Committee
2007: Member, Faculty Promotions Committee
2006 - present: Member of Academic Senate
2004 - present: Member of Faculty Board
2006 - 2007: Deputy Head, School of Humanities and Social Science
2006 - 2007: University Complaints Officer
2006 - 2007: Chair, School Workload Committee
2006 - 2007: Member, Program Tracking System (PTS) Working Party
2004 - 2007: Program Convenor, Bachelor of Social Science and Bachelor of Social Science (Honours)
2004 - 2005: Discipline Convenor, Sociology & Anthropology
2005: Chair, Working Group on Course Rationalisation for Psychology & Social Science
1995 - present: Member, Program Management Committee for the Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics
2003: Chair, Information Technology Committee, School of Social Sciences
2002 - 2003: Chair, External Relations and Postgraduate Matters Committee, School of Social Sciences
2002 - 2003: Member, Website Committee, School of Social Sciences

Membership of Societies and Professional Bodies

British Sociological Association (BSA)

BSA Medical Sociology Group

BSA Sociology of Food Group

American Sociological Association (ASA)

ASA Medical Sociology Section

International Sociological Association (ISA)

ISA Sociology of Health (RC15)

ISA Sociology of Work (RC30)

Sociology of Agriculture and Food (RC40)

Association for the Study of Food & Society (ASFS)

The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)

Other Professional Activities



• Web Editor:
  • John established TASAweb: The Australian Sociological Association website and was its web editor 1996-2005.
• Conference organisation:
  • 2009 Conference Convenor, Deans of Arts, Social Science and Humanities (DASSH) Annual Conference & AGM, Crowne Plaza Newcastle, Sept 30-Oct 2
  • Member, International Sociological Association 2002 World Congress of Sociology Local Organising Committee.
  • Conference Co-convenor: 'A Race for a Place: Eugenics, Darwinism and Social Thought and Practice in Australia', History and Sociology of Eugenics Conference, held at Customs House,  Newcastle, 27-28 April 2000,  University of Newcastle.
  • Conference Convenor, TASA 1995 Annual Sociology Conference, University of Newcastle.
• Judging panel member for TASA national awards:
  • Jean Martin Award for best Australian PhD in the Social Sciences (2003 & 2005).
  • Stephen Crook Memorial Prize for best book in Australian Sociology (2003).

Related Links

Back to top.