Dr Jennifer Gidley is a Research Fellow in the Global Cities Research Institute. She is involved in the Globalisation and Culture Program, directed by Professor Manfred Steger. She is a psychologist, educator and internationally recognised researcher in the futures studies field bringing to the program a transdisciplinary understanding of global shifts in culture and consciousness. Her career includes experience as a school and community psychologist, teaching principal, academic teacher and researcher, and consultant, spanning three decades and all educational levels and sectors.
In addition to her research at RMIT she was recently elected President of the World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF) a global scholarly futures organization that has been operating for over forty years.
See RMIT news story.
She is an invited Visiting Professor at CERI, SciencesPo, Paris, in June 2010.
Jennifer works globally, creating networks—both conceptual and human—between futures studies and other transversal fields, such as integral studies, global studies, transdisciplinary studies and postformal pedagogies. She is currently based in Melbourne, but travels widely for research collaboration leading to speaking invitations over the last ten years in Australia, Europe (France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden), North and South America, Africa (Egypt) and Asia (Malaysia, Shanghai, Taiwan).
Qualifications
- PhD, Southern Cross University
- Post-Grad. Dip. Psych. Charles Sturt University
- MA (Research), Southern Cross University
- Grad. Cert. TESOL, Bond University
- MA Prelim (Equiv of Psych Hons), University of Melbourne
- Dip Ed, Monash Teachers College
- BA, University of Melbourne
Professional Registration
Jennifer is a registered Psychologist with the NSW Psychology Registration Board
Professional interests
National and Global Network Activities
Jennifer is an active member of several national and transnational organisations networking globally in the following positions:
- President: World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF) (http://www.wfsf.org/)
- Consultant Advisor to the Australian National Steiner Curriculum team
- Coordinator: Online Centre for Pedagogical Resources in Futures Studies (http://teachingcommons.cdl.edu/wfsf/index.html)
- International Advisory Board Member: Institute of Integral Studies, Freiburg University, Germany (http://www.ifis-freiburg.de/about)
- Member: Research and Scholarly Activity Forum of Crossfields Institute, UK
- Member: Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)
International Editorial Board Positions
During 2009 Jennifer was invited to join the editorial boards of several international peer-reviewed academic journals.
- Futures: The Journal of Policy, Planning and Futures Studies - Member of Editorial Board, Published by Elsevierhttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaleditorialboard.cws_home/30422/editorialboard
- Policy Futures in Education - Member of Editorial Board, Published by Symposium Presshttp://www.wwwords.co.uk/PFIE/
- Journal of Futures Studies: Epistemology, Methods, Applied and Alternative Futures - Member of Editorial Board, Published Tamkang University Press, Taipei, Taiwan. http://www.jfs.tku.edu.tw/index.html
- Integral Review: A Transdisciplinary and Transcultural Journal for New Thought, Research and Praxis - Member of Editorial Board http://www.integral-review.org/
- Journal of Integral Theory and Practice (JITP) - Member of Editorial Advisory Board, Published by Integral Institutehttp://aqaljournal.integralinstitute.org/public/Default.aspx
- RoSE: Research on Steiner Education - Founding Member of both Editorial Board and Editorial Council. New Open Access Journal to be published online through Karlstad University, Sweden.
Research and Scholarship
Research interests
Jennifer has researched and published widely in educational and youth futures, and global socio-cultural change. Her doctoral research in the field of knowledge futures (evolution of consciousness) identified several emerging social science discourses which point to more creative and innovative ways to think about and potentially solve some of the complex global societal challenges of the 21st century.
Current research interests:
- Educational futures, including broad enculturation processes (such as media and culture) in addition to institutional education (such as schools and universities) and postformal pedagogies;
- Knowledge futures and evolution of consciousness including identifying the emergence of new ways of thinking, new patterns of knowledge creation and circulation, and emerging meta-theories;
- Global psycho-socio-cultural change, including the psychological, social and cultural impacts of rapid global change, and the use of foresight and innovation to design alternative global futures;
- Planetary/global futures, including globalisation and youth culture, emancipatory aspects of globalisation, alter-globalisations and the emergence of a global academic research imaginary.
Invited keynotes and presentations since 2000
2010
Invited Speaker and Panel Chair Université Luxembourg, Luxembourg
"Research Across Boundaries: Advances in Theory-Building"
16-19 June, 2009
Invited Speaker Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
on "City Futures" July, 2010
Invited Speaker, Co-convener, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai workshop on "City Futures" China, June, 2010
2009
Invited Speaker, WFSF Seminar, Bollwiller, France
"Futures Thinking and the Complex Emergence of New Knowledge Patterns"
WFSF Seminar, June 5, 2009, Bollwiller, France
2008
Invited Speaker/Facilitator, Hilo, Hawai'i
Global Passageways Inaugural Retreat, October 27 – 31.
Invited Speaker, University West, Tröllhattan, Sweden
World Futures Studies Federation 20th World Conference, June 30 - July 4. "Encouraging Emergent Consciousness through New Thinking Patterns"
2006
Invited Research Panel Participation, University of Melbourne
Invited to be member of a multi-disciplinary panel for 'pathways to the preferred futures of young Australians', a joint project between Australia 21 Ltd and Australian Youth Research Centre, UniMelb, 29th August.
2005
Invited Keynote, Tamkang University, Taipei, Taiwan
"The Evolution of Consciousness - Honouring the Inner Dimensions of Future Education", Global Soul, Global Mind, Global Action: Futuring From Survival To Thrival, November 5-7.
Invited Keynote, Academica Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
Transcending Boundaries Conference, Taipei, Taiwan.
Invited Keynote, Amherst College, Massachusetts, USA
"Integral Education—An Integrative Perspective: Divining for the 'Leading Edge' in Education," Community for Integrative Learning and Action (CILA) Seminar on New Epistemologies and Contemplative Practice (with Gary Hampson).
Invited Keynote, Boulder, Colorado, USA
"Integral Futures for Integral Education", at the '1st Annual International Convocation on Integral Education', 6th - 13th August (with Gary Hampson).
2004
Invited Keynote, Darwin, Australia
"Imagination and Integration" at Council of Government Schools Organisations Annual Conference, May.
2003
Invited Speaker, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia
"'Integral' beyond Ken Wilber", introducing faculty of the Australian Foresight Institute, to other seminal integral thinkers, such as Sri Aurobindo, Jean Gebser and Rudolf Steiner.
2001
Invited Keynote, Grafton, Australia
"The Dancer at the Edge of Knowledge: Imagination as a Transdisciplinary Force." The 2nd International Philosophy, Science and Theology Festival, Grafton, NSW, 26th June to 1st July.
Selected academic publications since 2000
Books
Gidley, J. M., (Under Contract), "The Emergence of Postformal Pedagogies: Educating for the Complexity of Planetary Futures" in Shirley Steinberg and Kenneth Tobin (Eds.) "Explorations of Educational Purpose Series." Contract with Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Gidley, J. M. and Inayatullah, S. (Eds.) (2002) Youth Futures: Comparative Research and Transformative Visions, Praeger, Westport, Connecticut.
Inayatullah, S. and Gidley, J. M., (Eds.) (2000) The University in Transformation: Global Perspectives on the Futures of the University, Bergin & Garvey, Westport, Connecticut.
Refereed journal articles
Gidley, J. M., (Accepted for publication 2010) Globally Scanning for "Megatrends of the Mind": Potential Futures of Futures-Thinking, Futures: The journal of policy, planning and futures studies.
Gidley, J. M. (Accepted) Postformal Priorities for Postnormal Times (A Rejoinder to Ziauddin Sardar), Futures: The journal of policy, planning and futures studies. For publication June 2010.
Gidley, J. M., Hampson, G. P., Wheeler, L., & Bereded-Samuel, E. (Accepted) Social Inclusion in Contemporary Higher Education: Broadening Theory, Policy and Practice on Community Engagement, Australasian Journal of University Community Engagement.
Gidley, J. M., (2010) An Other View of Integral Futures: De/reconstructing the IF Brand, Futures: The journal of policy, planning and futures studies 42(2) pp. 125-133.
Gidley, J. M., Hampson, G. P., Wheeler, L., & Bereded-Samuel, E. (2010) From Access to Success: An Integrated Approach to Quality Higher Education informed by Social Inclusion Theory and Practice, Higher Education Policy, 23 pp. 123-147. [Won International Essay Prize]
Büssing, A., Föller-Mancini, A., Gidley, J. M., Heusser, Peter, (2010) Aspects of Spirituality in Adolescents, International Journal of Children's Spirituality, 15(1).
Gidley, J. M., Fien, J., Smith, J-A., Thomsen, D. C., and Smith, T. F. (2009) Participatory Futures Methods as Social Learning: Towards Adaptability and Resilience in Climate-Vulnerable Communities, Environmental Policy and Governance, 19(6) pp. 427-440.
Steger, M. B. and Gidley, J. M. (2009) Introduction to Special issue of New Political Science on "The Changing Face of Political Ideologies in the Global Age", 3(4).
Molz, Markus, & Gidley, Jennifer, (2008) A transversal dialogue on integral education and planetary consciousness: Markus Molz speaks with Jennifer Gidley.
Integral Review: A Transdisciplinary and Transcultural Journal for New Thought, Research and Praxis, 6, pp. 47-70. (Editorially reviewed article in a refereed journal) (
http://integral-review.org/current_issue/index.asp)
Gidley, Jennifer (2007) The Evolution of Consciousness as a Planetary Imperative: An
Integration of Integral Views.
Integral Review: A Transdisciplinary and Transcultural Journal for New Thought, Research and Praxis, Issue 5, p. 4-226. (
http://integral-review.org/back_issues/backissue5/index.htm)
Gidley, Jennifer, (2007) Educational Imperatives of the Evolution of Consciousness: The Integral Visions of Rudolf Steiner and Ken Wilber, The International Journal of Children's Spirituality, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 170-135.
Gidley, Jennifer, and Hampson, Gary, (2005) The Evolution of Futures in School Education, Futures: The journal of policy, planning and futures studies, Vol. 37, pp. 255-271.
Gidley, Jennifer, (2005) Giving Hope back to our Young People: Creating a New Spiritual Mythology for Western Culture,Journal of Futures Studies, (Vol 9, No 3, February), pp. 17-29.
Gidley, Jennifer, (2001) Globalization and its Impact on Youth, Journal of Futures Studies, (Vol 6, No 1, August), pp. 89-106.
Gidley, J. (2001) An Intervention Targeting Hopelessness in Adolescents by Promoting Positive Future Images, Australian Journal of Guidance & Counselling. (Vol 11, No 1, November), pp. 51-64.
Inayatullah, S. and Gidley, J. (2000) Trends Transforming the University: Virtualize, Disappear or Transform. On the Horizon,Vol. 8, No. 2. pp. 1-6.
Chapters in scholarly books
Gidley, Jennifer, (Forthcoming) "Evolving Higher Education Integrally: Delicate Mandalic Theorising," in Esbjörn-Hargens, S, Gunnlaugson, O, Reams, J, Integral Education, State University of New York Press.
Gidley, Jennifer, (2009) "Educating for Evolving Consciousness: Voicing the Emergenc-y for Love, Life and Wisdom, " The International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing, Springer: New York, pp. 533-561.
Gidley, Jennifer, (2008) "Beyond Homogenisation of Global Education: Do Alternative Pedagogies such as Steiner Education have anything to offer an Emergent Global/ising World?" in S. Inayatullah, M. Bussey and I. Milojevic (eds) Alternative Educational Futures: Pedagogies for an Emergent World, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, pp. 253-268.
Gidley, J., and Hampson, G., (2008) "Integral Perspectives on School Educational Futures", in S. Inayatullah, M. Bussey and I. Milojevic (eds) Pedagogy for Emergent Futures: the Alternative Futures of Education, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, pp. 285-303.
Gidley, J. (2006) Spiritual Epistemologies and Integral Cosmologies: Transforming Thinking and Culture, in Integral Learning and Action: A Call to Wholeness, (Eds), Awbrey, Susan, Dana, Diane, Miller, Vachel, Robinson, Phyllis Ryan, Merle M, Scott, David K Peter Lang Publishing, pp. 29-55.
Gidley, Jennifer (2004) The Metaphors of Globalisation: A Multi-layered Analysis of Global Youth Culture, in Inayatullah, S. (Ed.), Causal Layered Analysis Reader, Tamkang University Press, Tamkang, Taiwan, pp. 300-314.
Gidley, J. (2002) Global Youth Culture: A Transdisciplinary Perspective, in Gidley, J and Inayatullah, S. (Eds.) (2002). Youth Futures: Comparative Research and Transformative Visions, Praeger, Westport, Connecticut, pp. 3-18.
Gidley, J. (2002) Holistic Education and Visions of Rehumanized Futures, in Gidley, J and Inayatullah, S. (Eds.) (2002). Youth Futures: Comparative Research and Transformative Visions, Praeger, Westport, Connecticut, pp. 155-167.
Gidley, J. (2001) 'Education for All' or Education for Wisdom, in Manish Jain, Unfolding Learning Societies: Deepening the Dialogues, Vimukt Shiksha, Issue 9, Shikshantar.
Gidley, J (2000) Unveiling the Human Face of University Futures, in Inayatullah, S. and Gidley, J. (Eds.) (2000). The University in Transformation: Global Perspectives on the Futures of the University, Bergin and Garvey, Connecticut, pp. 235-250.
Inayatullah, S. and Gidley, J. (2000) Introduction: Forces Shaping University Futures, in Inayatullah, S. and Gidley, J. (Eds.) (2000). The University in Transformation: Global Perspectives on the Futures of the University, Bergin & Garvey, Connecticut, pp. 1-15.
Refereed conference proceedings
Gidley, J. M., Hampson, G. P., Wheeler, L., & Bereded-Samuel, E. (2009) Social Inclusion in Contemporary Higher Education: Broadening Theory, Policy and Practice on Community Engagement, presented at the 2009 AUCEA National Conference on "Strategic Directions in Regional Engagement: Industry, Business and Community Partnerships" (8-10 July Whyalla, South Australia). Award Winning Presentation.
Gidley, Jennifer, (2005) The Evolution of Consciousness – Honouring the Inner Dimensions of Future Education, Global Soul, Global Mind, Global Action: Futuring From Survival To Thrival, November 5-7, Tamsui Campus, Tamkang University, Taiwan.
Editing positions(in addition to edited books listed above)
Steger, M. B. and Gidley, J. M. (Eds.) (2009) Special issue of New Political Science on "The Changing Face of Political Ideologies in the Global Age."
Kapoor, R. and Gidley, J (Eds.) Special issue of Futures:The journal of policy, planning and futures studies, on "Global Mindset Change." For publication, 2010.
Inayatullah, S. and Gidley, J. (Eds.) (1998). Special issue of Futures:The journal of policy, planning and futures studies, on "The University – Alternative Futures", Vol. 30, No. 7, September.
Accomplishments and awards
International prizes
Won 2009 IAU/Palgrave International Essay Prize (Lead Researcher/Author) Gidley, J. M., Hampson, G. P., Wheeler, L., & Bereded-Samuel, E. (In Press) From Access to Success: An Integrated Approach to Quality Higher Education informed by Social Inclusion Theory and Practice. Essay published in the international journal Higher Education Policy, 2010.
See RMIT news story.
Academic achievements and awards
- Outstanding Reviews for PhD Dissertation
- High Distinction for MA (Research)
- Distinction for Post-Grad. Dip. Psych
- Distinction for Grad. Cert. TESOL
- APA Scholarship (equiv) for PhD (Southern Cross)
- APA Scholarship (equiv) for MA (Southern Cross)
- Dux (Valedictorian) of School Matriculation class
Other achievements include:
A significant academic achievement was to co-design, develop, convene and instruct the online component of the Masters in Strategic Foresight at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne (2003-2006).
A significant achievement in institution-building and pedagogical innovation was to found and direct a private school inspired by Rudolf Steiner's philosophy and pedagogy in rural Australia (1984-1994). This included establishing recurrent and capital Government funding, and project management of significant building projects ($1million +) in addition to writing several other successful grant applications.
