IntSci - Integrated science for sustainability
This e-conference (1-15 March) brought together researchers, policy makers, funders and others with an interest in looking at how science can contribute to change in the related areas of sustainability, environment and health. The conference included 340 people form more than 20 countries.
This is a growing area for science and society with questions related to sustainability, environment and health, amongst others. These areas are characterised by issues that require the different parties involved to rethink their perspectives, and maybe change their views. They are not characterised so much by problems for which an answer must be found, so much as a problem-solving process of ongoing and dynamic management. Problem solving in these areas requires stakeholders - including scientists - to engage in practices of joint inquiry, collaborative learning and adaptive management. We were particularly interested in how to broaden science teams from those with skills to answer problems (particularly from the hard sciences), to include social researchers with complementary skills in the management of participation, conflict and learning. This e-conference focussed on this, and the issues that arise from it. Archived material from the conference is provided below.
Collectively we covered a great deal of ground in our more than 200 postings. And as is often the way in these discussions we ended up with the last few postings raising yet another wave of questions. This e-conference has also extended our collective network of people with whom to share the challenge of answering those, and moving to the next level. The conference has now closed, but the IntSci discussion list is still operating as a forum and networking opportunity in this area. If you wish to subscribe to this discussion list you can from the IntSci subscription page.
Conference structure and operation
An archive of the e-conference discussion is provided here as both a resource for those already on the list, and an introduction to those joining:
- IntSci Moderators: Welcome and introduction
- IntSci Moderators: Guidelines for participation
- IntSci Moderators: Framework for discussion (topics, questions and times)
- IntSci Moderators: Topic 1 introduction
- Full list: Postings from Topic 1
- IntSci Moderators: Topic 1 summary
- IntSci Moderators: Topic 2 introduction
- Full list: Postings from Topic 2
- IntSci Moderators: Topic 2 summary
- IntSci Moderators: Topic 3 introduction
- Full list: postings from Topic 3
- IntSci Moderators: Topic 3 summary
- IntSci Moderators: Topic 4 introduction
- Full list: postings from Topic 4
- IntSci Moderators: Topic 4 summary
- Archived postings since Day One [a Web page resource]
About the conference moderators
This e-conference is part of research undertaken by the Landcare Research Collaborative Learning group. The moderators for this conference were Will Allen, Margaret Kilvington, and Chrys Horn.
More information on the moderators, and the group's work can be found on the Landcare Research Collaborative Learning for Environmental Management webpages. Appended here is a paper looking at the practicalities of managing integrated and interdisciplinary research initiatives.
- Allen W.J. and Kilvington M.J (2005) "Getting technical environmental information into watershed decision making" Chapter 3 in Ed. J.L. Hatfield "The Farmers' Decision: Balancing Economic Successful Agriculture Production with Environmental Quality" Publisher: Soil and Water Conservation Society. pp. 45-61
The e-conference and promotional software, hosting, discussion archiving and technical support was provided by the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) gateway site. LfS is hosting and managing the ongoing IntSci discussion group.