The undisciplinary journey: early-career perspectives in sustainability science

Haider, L. Jamila; Hentati‐Sundberg, Jonas; Giusti, Matteo; Goodness, Julie; Hamann, Maike; Masterson, Vanessa A; Meacham, Megan; Merrie, Andrew; Ospina, Daniel; Schill, Caroline; Sinare, Hanna

doi:10.1007/s11625-017-0445-1

Cited by 135 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…As interdisciplinary research continues to grow and evolve, it often falls on early career researchers (ECRs) to lead the way in this space (Rhoten and Parker , Haider et al. ). While researchers were once specialists in narrow fields, as the research landscape has shifted the ECRs now supervised by these specialists learn not simply to work in interdisciplinary teams, but to be interdisciplinary individuals from the outset (Haider et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While researchers were once specialists in narrow fields, as the research landscape has shifted the ECRs now supervised by these specialists learn not simply to work in interdisciplinary teams, but to be interdisciplinary individuals from the outset (Haider et al. ). This happens early on through formal interdisciplinary training and programs from undergraduate level onwards (e.g., Nielsen‐Pincus et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An early career perspective on encouraging collaborative and interdisciplinary research in ecology

et al. 2019

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There is a growing need for collaborative and interdisciplinary research in addressing global ecological challenges, and early career researchers (ECRs) often play a vital role in such ventures. But despite the desire for such approaches, forming new and interdisciplinary collaborations is risky, and disproportionately so for ECRs, whose perspectives on this topic are rarely heard. Here, we present common perceptions among ECRs regarding opportunities for intra‐ and interdisciplinary collaboration, and barriers preventing such collaboration from taking place. We also discuss possible solutions, and the ecological outcomes of fostering more collaboration. The perceptions discussed have been distilled from a two‐day workshop in New Zealand, aiming to investigate the potential for collaboration between 34 ECRs in distinct ecological disciplines across ten research institutes. Commonality in methodology or research aims was vital for potential collaborations to be considered worthwhile, but differences in spatial or temporal scales were a key disconnect that hindered numerous potential crossovers. Individual connectivity and institutional structures were commonly perceived as barriers to acting collaboratively in general. Specifically, barriers included having a small peer network, lack of access to funding, and concerns over the risk/reward ratio of forming new collaborations. Overcoming barriers will require active, practical support from institutions, funding bodies and mentors, and participants commonly called for specific funding support and the creation of ECR‐focused spaces to better foster collaborative behavior. Fostering interdisciplinary ECR collaborations in ecology was perceived to be useful in creating larger and more useful datasets and tools, and more scalable and transferable models and outcomes. Adopting practices that facilitate more ECR‐led interdisciplinary collaboration will help generate a more integrative understanding of ecological systems globally.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An early career perspective on encouraging collaborative and interdisciplinary research in ecology

et al. 2019

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“…Thus, a core issue remains: how do we deal with diverse (and sometimes incommensurable) worldviews, value systems and methodological orientations? Discussions around transdisciplinarity57 and undisciplinarity59 may provide interesting opportunities to address this question, with mixed methods and participatory research approaches supplying pragmatic tools to conduct related research. This question is particularly relevant to next-generation scholars and practitioners who are tackling increasingly complex environmental issues (eg, health impacts of global environmental change) which necessitate the integration of multiple disciplines, fields and approaches.…”

Section: Discussion: Convergences Between Emerging and Established Fimentioning

confidence: 99%

Public health guide to field developments linking ecosystems, environments and health in the Anthropocene

Buse

Oestreicher

Ellis

et al. 2018

J Epidemiol Community Health

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The impacts of global environmental change have precipitated numerous approaches that connect the health of ecosystems, non-human organisms and humans. However, the proliferation of approaches can lead to confusion due to overlaps in terminology, ideas and foci. Recognising the need for clarity, this paper provides a guide to seven field developments in environmental public health research and practice: occupational and environmental health; political ecology of health; environmental justice; ecohealth; One Health; ecological public health; and planetary health. Field developments are defined in terms of their uniqueness from one another, are historically situated, and core texts or journals are highlighted. The paper ends by discussing some of the intersecting features across field developments, and considers opportunities created through such convergence. This field guide will be useful for those seeking to build a next generation of integrative research, policy, education and action that is equipped to respond to current health and sustainability challenges.

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“…Some complex conservation problems may best be addressed by “sustainability scientists” who are epistemologically agile and can thus facilitate knowledge sharing and coproduction among social scientists, natural scientists, stakeholders, policy makers, and managers (Haider et al. ).…”

Section: Challenges and Opportunities Of Embedded Researchersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Complex social-ecological issues are a new research frontier that adds urgency to the mainstreaming of social sciences in addressing many conservation challenges (Bennett et al 2017) and emphasizes the importance of relational skills for conducting socially engaged research. Some complex conservation problems may best be addressed by "sustainability scientists" who are epistemologically agile and can thus facilitate knowledge sharing and coproduction among social scientists, natural scientists, stakeholders, policy makers, and managers (Haider et al 2017).…”

Section: Conservation Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The case for embedding researchers in conservation agencies

Roux

Cook

Carruthers

et al. 2019

Conservation Biology

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Although protected areas represent a pivotal response to escalating anthropogenic threats, they face many pressures, inside and outside their boundaries. Amid these challenges, effective conservation is guided by evidence‐based decision making supported by dynamic processes of learning and knowledge exchange. Although different models promote knowledge exchange, embedding research scientists within conservation agencies is best suited to supporting evidence‐based conservation. Based on available literature and our experiences on several continents, we considered the benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with embedding research scientists within conservation agencies and the research required to better understand the effectiveness of the embedding model for evidence‐based conservation. Embedded researchers provide long‐term commitment to building social capital among academic and nonacademic stakeholders; act as skilled gatekeepers who increase 2‐way flow of knowledge between scientists and managers; attract, coordinate, and support management‐relevant external research projects; drive the design and maintenance of long‐term monitoring; and align their research with information needs. Notwithstanding the many benefits, research capacity of conservation agencies is declining worldwide. A significant challenge is that the values, structures, functions, and effectiveness of the embedding model of knowledge exchange remain poorly evaluated and documented. Also, embedded researchers have to balance their desire for creativity and flexibility with the standardization and quality control required by their public sector agencies; may be perceived as not credible because they are not truly independent of their agency; and have to couple scientific productivity with skills for transdisciplinary research, social facilitation, and stakeholder engagement. Systematic research on embedding and other models of knowledge exchange, across different world contexts, is required to better understand the benefits, costs, and institutional arrangements associated with different models.

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The undisciplinary journey: early-career perspectives in sustainability science

Cited by 135 publications

References 47 publications

An early career perspective on encouraging collaborative and interdisciplinary research in ecology

An early career perspective on encouraging collaborative and interdisciplinary research in ecology

Public health guide to field developments linking ecosystems, environments and health in the Anthropocene

The case for embedding researchers in conservation agencies

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