Recently appointed Head of the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Professor James Ramsay looks forward to continuing to build on the strengths and success of the department, all while continuing his research into the impacts of climate change on global and national security.
1. What is your background and what brought you to Macquarie?
My background is in public health engineering. I have a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry, a master’s in business administration and a PhD in population health. My scholarship interests led me into security studies as I began investigating how food production in the US impacts oil dependency and subsequently how climate change impacts national security strategy in the US. As my career focused more on security studies, writ large, I began studying wicked problems in intelligence, and that led me to research efforts with Macquarie University. Eventually the Head of Department position for the Department of Security Studies and Criminology became available, so I applied and here I am!
2. How did you originally become interested in your area of research, and what keeps you interested in it?
My interests in public health, pandemics and how each impacts societal security led me to deeper investigations into climate change. It’s clear that climate change is a global phenomenon and is possibly the quintessential threat of our age (other than nuclear war). Global climate change acts as a force multiplier. For example, climate change creates wetter wets, hotter hots, drier dries, and colder colds and these in turn either exacerbate otherwise natural phenomena such as the Greenhouse Effect, or they can hasten/worsen water access which is tied to food production and other aspects of human security. These forces then in turn can work destabilise fragile governments increasing the likelihood of failure for local or national governments which can bring about regional security issues. I’m excited about this line of research because I see it as an essential component of national security strategy, and as a phenomenon that impacts all people and all governments.
3. Tell us a bit about your current research and what makes it so important?
Good question! Global climate change impacts all people and all nations. Fossil fuel combustion results in air pollution, warmer average surface temperatures worldwide that cause sea level rise, potable water access challenges, more intense storms, changes in growing season, infectious disease outbreaks, increases in insect populations, food insecurity, and more broadly can fuel resource-based conflicts. For example, there is growing literature that connects warmer weather to increases in criminal behaviour. Subsequent to water access and food insecurity, we observe large scale migrations (the so-called “climate migrants”). Such migrations can over stress local or regional government’s ability to look after their citizens which can then lead to destabilisation. All governments of more developed countries must appropriately fund and pursue fossil fuel alternatives while pursuing true resilience strategies in order to account for climate change. This must be done across the whole of government, but also specifically in their national security strategies. If this does not occur soon, even wealthy nations will not be able to respond or mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. As a result, they will also be less able to assist other countries in responding or mitigating extreme weather events. This is significant because 80% of earth’s population live in less developed countries and about 40% of earth’s population live within 100 km of a coastline.
4. Is there something you would like staff to know about?
That I’m really excited to be here as a Head of Department and will do everything I can to help the department grow and succeed.
5. What is something you have recently accomplished?
Besides moving to Oz? 😊 Well, I just received a $2.5 million grant from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence to build a “centre of academic excellence” in intelligence.
6. What do you need to do your best work?
Colleagues passionate about making a difference.
7. What do people always ask you when they find out what you do for a living?
Without a doubt it would be “can we really get our acts together and save the planet, or not”?
8. What is something you’ve read recently that has had an impact on you?
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by David Womersley.
9. What is your definition of success?
To leave the world better off than when I found it.
10. A bit about where you live and what you like about it?
We’ve only just arrived here (7 weeks now), but we live in Epping and find it, and the campus and Sydney, gorgeous, exotic and compelling.
11. A personal quality you value in others?
Honesty and integrity and the grit to act honestly with integrity.
12. A moment you felt proud?
Professionally? That would be when I was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the David McIntyre Outstanding Homeland Security Educator Award from the US Center for Homeland Defense and Security in the Naval Post Graduate School. Personally, that would be every time I hang out with my kids.
13. What would people be surprised to know about you or your work?
About me? Maybe that I’m a passionate fan of the Tour de France (or that I’m a Star Trek fan). About my work? Maybe that climate and public health have (or should have) anything to do with global and national security.