Use‐inspired science: making science usable by and useful to decision makers

Wall, Tamara; McNie, Elizabeth; Garfin, Gregg M.

doi:10.1002/fee.1735

Cited by 100 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…Both experience and social capital take time to accrue, and longevity in a role can facilitate better boundary spanning (Wall et al . ). A true partnership implies a multiyear planning cycle, which means that turnover of individuals in key boundary‐spanning positions over the course of that time period can set partnerships back considerably, as it takes time to rebuild partnerships (Lubell et al .…”

Section: Characteristics Of Effective Boundary Spanning In Ecologymentioning

confidence: 97%

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Linking knowledge to action: the role of boundary spanners in translating ecology

Safford

Sawyer

Kocher³

et al. 2017

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

106

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One of the most effective ways to foster the co-production of ecological knowledge by producers and users, as well as encouraging dialogue between them, is to cultivate individuals or organizations working at and managing the boundary between the two groups. Such "boundary spanners" are critical to ensuring scientific salience, credibility, and legitimacy, yet they remain relatively underused in ecology. We summarize some of the major roles of boundary spanners in translational ecology, and suggest that effectiveness in translating ecological information depends on several key factors. These include organizational and individual commitment to boundary spanning over the long term; development of useful, co-produced products and tools that can subsequently assume boundary-spanning roles of their own; dual-accountability frameworks that involve both science providers and users; and identification, training, and retention of science translators who possess a suite of professional skills and individual traits that are rare in scientific circles.

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Section: Characteristics Of Effective Boundary Spanning In Ecologymentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Social skills are crucial to successful TE (Wall et al . ). Efficient knowledge transfer between humans happens when people are familiar with one another and understand something about each other's background, experiences, and perspectives (Roux et al .…”

Section: Boundary Productsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Linking knowledge to action: the role of boundary spanners in translating ecology

Safford

Sawyer

Kocher³

et al. 2017

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

106

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…One author (Brunson) attended both. Attendees emerged with suggestions for formalizing a new specialization called “translational ecology”—arguing that “applied ecology” is distinctly different (Wall et al ). The resulting papers (Table ) offer definitions that also describe “adaptive management”—a term with precedence and a much larger literature (Walters & Hilborn ; see reviews of Wiens et al , Zedler , and Leaflet 40 ).…”

Section: So What Is My Concern?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Communicating useful results from restoration ecology research

Zedler

2018

Restoration Ecology

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Interactions between restoration ecologists and stakeholders (policy makers and decision makers, volunteers, public supporters) benefit from clear communication of research findings. Given that adaptive management (e.g. learning while restoring) already stresses frequent and effective discourse among researchers and stakeholders, it seems that a new specialty under a new term, “translational ecology,” adds more confusion than clarity. Communicating technical information to nontechnical audiences benefits from simple rules—be clear and concise, retain familiar terms that serve well, and use fewer words.

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“…Although the case studies reviewed here do not emphasize the role of social scientists, Wall et al . () argue that such scientists are critical to successful TE. On a project team, social scientists can manage the knowledge exchange process and facilitate mutual learning; for instance, in the agricultural watershed examples below, social scientists provided valuable assessment of farmers' perceptions of costs and benefits of various changes in management practices.…”

Section: Dimensions Of Te From the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building translational ecology communities of practice: insights from the field

Lawson

Hall

Yung

et al. 2017

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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Translational ecology (TE) prioritizes the understanding of social systems and decision contexts in order to address complex natural resource management issues. Although many practitioners in applied fields employ translational tactics, the body of literature addressing such approaches is limited. We present several case studies illustrating the principles of TE and the diversity of its applications. We anticipate that these examples will help others develop scientific products that decision makers can use "off the shelf" when solving critical ecological and social challenges. Our collective experience suggests that research of such immediate utility is rare. Long-term commitment to working directly with partners to develop and reach shared goals is central to successful translation. The examples discussed here highlight the benefits of translational processes, including actionable scientific results, more informed policy making, increased investment in science-driven solutions, and inspiration for partnerships. We aim to facilitate future TE-based projects and build momentum for growing this community of practice. T ranslational ecology (TE) emphasizes the social and decision-making context in which an ecological question is posed, with the goal of producing actionable science to address complex environmental problems Wall et al. 2017). define TE as "an approach in which ecologists, stakeholders, and decision makers work together to develop research that addresses the sociological, ecological, and political contexts of an environmental problem", and state that TE is distinct from conventional ecological research in that it seeks "to link ecological knowledge to decision making by integrating ecological science with the full complement of social dimensions that underlie today's complex environmental issues" . To succeed in helping society address the many challenges that require an understanding and application of ecological knowledge, TE-based projects must build communities of practice.Communities of practice have a common sense of purpose and shared methods for learning and innovation (Wenger 1998). These communities are more likely to be successful over time if they develop and communicate clear mechanisms for engagement, resolution of differences, and knowledge exchange. The field of TE brings together two types of communities of practice, as identified by Amin and Roberts (2008): epistemic communities (researchers), which focus on the creation of new knowledge, and professional communities, which focus on land and natural resource management, typically in partnership with stakeholders. In the context of improving the use of sound science in environmental decision making, these two communities share a common sense of purpose, yet they work, learn, teach, and innovate differently. To fuse these groups into a common community of practice, we need to share detailed stories about TE processes, which motivate participation and provide evidence of positive outcomes (Probst and Borzillo 2008). Furthermore, the me...

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Use‐inspired science: making science usable by and useful to decision makers

Cited by 100 publications

References 32 publications

Linking knowledge to action: the role of boundary spanners in translating ecology

Linking knowledge to action: the role of boundary spanners in translating ecology

Communicating useful results from restoration ecology research

Building translational ecology communities of practice: insights from the field

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