The changing face of applied ecology

Freckleton, Robert P.; Hulme, Phil; Giller, Paul S.; Kerby, Gillian

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.00969.x

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…In these ways, they have looked to draw environmental management into the scientific rationality of applied ecology, with the arguments: firstly, that the ultimate test of ecological theory lies in the management of ecosystems (Ormerod et al . 1999, after Bradshaw 1996); and, secondly, that: ‘Applying ecological research to real‐world problems ultimately requires that we predict future management practices’ (Freckleton et al . 2005, p. 1).…”

Section: Different Modes Of Cross‐disciplinaritymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and the social sciences

Lowe¹,

Whitman

Phillipson

2009

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary 1.The urgency and complexity of current environmental problems require ecologists to engage in cross-disciplinary research with social scientists, among others. 2.This study explores what ecologists expect from such cross-disciplinary engagements, through a review of editorial statements in key ecological journals and an empirical survey of ecologists working with social scientists. 3. Ecologists were found to have different perspectives on collaborating with social scientists depending upon whether they had an instrumental or non-instrumental outlook on the role of social sciences. 4. Ecologists are also pursuing other approaches to incorporate human dimensions into their work, including engaging end-users and stakeholders in their research; and enlarging the scope of ecology to include human subjects/objects in their research focus. 5. Synthesis and applications . Ecologists face strategic choices when incorporating human/social dimensions in their work -whether engagement with stakeholders, enlargement of ecology as a life science, or active exchange with the social sciences. The choice depends on the stance taken on the place of humans in nature. Each strategy poses specific challenges for ecologists relating respectively to: the justification of how and which stakeholders to engage; the avoidance of naïve borrowings of terms and methods from the social sciences; and the training needed for working in interdisciplinary teams.

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Section: Different Modes Of Cross‐disciplinaritymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and the social sciences

Lowe¹,

Whitman

Phillipson

2009

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Ecologists’ involvement in matters of current high environmental concern continues (Freckleton et al . 2005; Sutherland et al .…”

Section: An Abbreviated Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cited as an important example of the involvement of UK ecologists in ‘high‐profile issues’ (Freckleton et al . 2005), the farm‐scale evaluations of spring‐sown genetically modified crops (Royal Society 2003) are important, but they are also a very small part of a much bigger canvas, involving the impacts of agriculture in general on the environment, concerns among the public about ‘Frankenstein food’ and health issues, and demagoguery among several actors.…”

Section: Three Examplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology, politics and policy

LAWTON

2007

Journal of Applied Ecology

130

102

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Summary ‘The British Ecological Society aims to promote the science of ecology through research and to use the findings of such research to educate the public and influence policy decisions which involve ecological matters.’ Yet, how successful have we been in influencing UK and EU environmental policy? Many scientists hold to the ‘deficit model’ of turning science into policy, the view that if only politicians are told what the science reveals, ‘correct’ policies will automatically follow. Nothing could be further from the truth. Politicians have all kinds of reasons, some valid, some less valid, not to adopt what often seem to us to be common sense policies to protect the environment. Here, I explore some of the successes and failures of ecologists to influence UK and European environmental policy, using acid deposition, the collapse of global marine fisheries, GM crops and climate change, carbon dioxide and ocean acidification as examples. I briefly review the extensive literature (largely ignored by natural scientists) on what social scientists have to say about evidence‐based policy‐making (or the lack of it) and why it often appears to be so difficult to persuade politicians to adopt sound environmental policies. Synthesis and applications. Ecologists can, and do, influence government policy on the environment, but often via complex and iterative interactions that can be painfully slow, and may require fundamental changes in politicians’ belief systems, values and norms.

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“…In 2005, an editorial was published in the Journal that addressed the changing emphasis and direction of applied ecology (Freckleton et al. 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%