Jonathan Symons

Jon is the Director of Research and Innovation for the School of International Studies where he also teaches International Relations. His current research focuses on environmental politics and global climate policy, including governance of solar geoengineering, engingeering biology and carbon dioxide removal. His most recent book Ecomodernism: Technology, Politics and Climate Crisis (Polity, 2019) explores the argument for increased state investment in low-carbon innovation. Jon also works on processes of international norm change.

His previous book Queer Wars: The New Global Polarization over Gay Rights (co-authored with Prof. Dennis Altman, Polity, 2016) explored the debate between those arguing that 'LGBTQI rights are human rights' and those who believe rights protections should not extend beyond the 'traditional values of mankind'.

Prior to joining Macquarie University (July 2013) Jon was a Lecturer at La Trobe University, Melbourne and before that an Assistant Professor at Lingnan University, Hong Kong. He received his PhD from the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne in December 2007.