Intsci Moderators: Topic 2 introduction
Topic 2: Practicing Integrated Science (Sat 4 Mar - Tue Mar 7)
That was a great first session. Thanks to all of you who have given us positive feedback on the running of the conference so far. Chrys, Margaret and I have shared out the various jobs. In this case, Margaret should take the credit for providing her two-page summary from the more that 20,000 words we have collectively shared on topic one.
Our first topic provided a chance for some introductions, and to provide a way for getting a common language and understanding around what we have called Integrated Science for the purpose of this discussion. Our second topic seeks to provide a framework for us to share more concrete examples of how we can work differently in practice to arrive at, as Elery put it, "an optimal state of learning". We imagine that this second discussion may have threads that talk about approaches/frameworks, tools and the contexts in which they are used.
In our work we see fertile ground for integrated science to be found in situations where people are setting out to develop an adaptive management approach within catchment management or conservation. Another area where we have found elements of integration is within teams that are trying to develop integrated models to solve a real-world problem. However, there will be lots of other areas where others of you work.
Many of you have already talked about tools, techniques and approaches, and others have asked for them - so this topic session provides the opportunity to expand on what they are and how they can be used.
The case studies or contexts that our different examples will have emerged from may well span the different areas of integration that Lorae van Kerkhoff pointed to as being within and/or beyond science, and across structures and/or activities. Similarly, I remember Margot Parkes referring to the need to integrate horizontally (across agencies and sectors) and vertically (agencies to communities to individuals).
As with first topic we have also suggested three questions that you could use as a guide for structuring your thoughts. Our three questions place quite an emphasis on learning as an important element or outcome of integrated science. As with our use of the term 'Integrated Science', we mean our use of the term 'Learning' in this discussion to be broadly interpreted. We see it as referring to the act of gaining a new perspective on the world, especially through sharing perspectives with others.
We appreciate that many of you may have additional comments to make. We plan for discussion on this first topic to run from today through to the close of Tuesday 7 March.
You can send a message to all the participants by sending an e-mail to IntSci@learningforsustainability.net. We look forward to your participation.
The following questions are suggested as a starting point for this second discussion:
Question 4. Adaptive management, integrated model development, and many other frameworks for this science are proposed. What kind of relationship between learning and management is at the heart of doing this kind of science?
Question 5. How can a learning approach help the science/user/policy dialogue?
Question 6. In Integrated Science, who is doing the learning and what is the role of individual and collective learning?
We look forward to your participation. To make a posting to the discussion just send an e-mail to IntSci@learningforsustainability.net.
If you have questions, concerns or suggestions about the operation of this list please feel free to contact us directly. In the meantime we'd like to wish you all a pleasant and relaxing weekend. If you have questions, concerns or suggestions about the operation of this list please feel free to contact us directly.
best regards
Margaret Kilvington, Will Allen & Chrys Horn
IntSci Conference Managers
E-mail: IntSci-owner@learningforsustainability.net
IntSci website http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/social/IntSci_info.asp