Professor Jay Sanderson is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work ranges across law, science and society. He has completed degrees in law, science and psychology. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow with the Law Futures Centre (Griffith Law School, Griffith University) and was previously a Lecturer of Law in the Griffith Law School (2011–2014).
Jay's main areas of research are plants, agriculture and food. Currently, Jay's research focuses on:
- The way in which nature(s) are articulated and represented in law;
- Biodiversity and BioTrade; and
- Trade and certification marks, particularly related to agriculture, food and biodiversity.
In 2016-2018 and 2019, Jay was a Chief Investigator on the projects Precision to Decision (1) and Precision to Decision (2). These projects involved partnerships between Australia’s rural research and development corporations (RDCs), were led by CRDC, and involved other research partners such as Data 2 Decisions CRC, CSIRO, UNE and Griffith University. The collaborative Precision to Decision projects provide solutions for the use of digital technology and data in Australian agriculture. See the 2019 report (Agricultural Data Rules: Enabling Best Practice).
Professional memberships
- Member of the Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture (ACIPA)
- Adjunct Research Fellow, Law Futures Centre (Griffith Law School, Griffith University
Potential research projects for HDR and Honours students
- Intellectual property law
- Agriculture, food and biodiversity
- Law, nature and science
Research grants
| Project name | Investigator(s) | Funding body | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growing a Digital Future in Agriculture | with L. Wiseman | CRDC and others, A$125,000 | 2019 |
| Review of Meat & Livestock Data Access Principles | with L. Wiseman | Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), A$27,000 | 2018 |
| Creating a Farm Data Co-operative | with L. Wiseman | Birchip Cropping Group, A$25,000 | 2018 |
| Accelerating Precision: Agriculture to Decision Agriculture | USC named with 15 other research partners | Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' Rural Research and Development (R&D) for Profit Programme (A$1.3 million total) | 2016–2018 |
| Australia’s Food and Fibre Futures: Intellectual Property and Access to Plant Genetic Resources | with B. Sherman, C. Lawson and L. Wiseman | ARC Discovery A$285,000 | 2012–2014 |
Research areas
- Plants, agriculture and food
- Biodiversity and BioTrade
- Intellectual Property Law
- Law and Nature
Teaching areas
- Tort Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Honours and Legal Research
- Health Law
Professor Jay Sanderson’s specialist areas of knowledge include intellectual property law, intellectual property and agriculture, the UPOV Convention, plant variety rights, plants, food and the law, genetically engineered animals and the intersection and relations between law, science, politics and other human and material factors.
In the news
Graduate careers soar in 10 years of UniSC Law
17 SepAs the University of the Sunshine Coast’s first Law graduates swap exciting career stories this week for the School’s 10-year milestone, its latest high achievers will be crossing the stage to forge their own paths to professional success