Science and Society—The Time to Interact

Historical Social Research, 2015

»Wie die Erdwissenschaften zu Sozialwissenschaften wurden«. Many major questions in earth science research today are not matters of the behavior of physical systems alone, but of the interaction of physical and social systems. Information and assumptions about human behavior, human institutions and infrastructures, and human reactions and responses, as well as consideration of social and monetary costs, play a role in climate prediction, hydrological research, and earthquake risk assessment. The incorporation of social factors into "physical" models by scientists with little or no training in the humanities or social sciences creates ground for concern as to how well such factors are represented, and thus how reliable the resulting knowledge claims might be. Yet science studies scholars have scarcely noticed this shift, let alone analyzed it, despite its potentially profound epistemic-and potentially social-consequences.

2012

The Earth system is an integrated, self-regulating system under increasing pressure from anthropogenic transformation. The Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP), which was established by the international global environmental change research programs (i.e., DIVERSITAS, IGBP, IHDP and WCRP) facilitates the study of this system in order to understand how and why it is changing, and to explore the implications of these changes for global and regional sustainability. Crucial to this scientific enterprise are interdisciplinary Joint Projects on carbon, food, water and health. This paper analyses the scientific and institutional evolution of ESSP as a framework for interdisciplinary and integrative research of societal relevance. Case studies on food systems, carbon budgets, water security and biodiversity conservation illustrate how these projects have advanced integrated Earth system knowledge. At the institutional level, we explain the transformation of the ESSP governance and how this has further enabled interdisciplinary research. The lessons learnt from ESSP research can contribute to the development of the next generation of Earth system science for sustainability.

2009

In this paper we trace the institutional history and rationale of the Earth System Science Partnership by studying the practical and epistemic contributions of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme and the International Human Dimensions Programme respectively. While the main aim of our study is to offer an empirical understanding of how this new partnership for the integrated study of the Earth System has come about, the paper also conceptualises the scientific practices and modes of thought represented by the ESSP as a central form of agency in Earth System governance. In order to understand the formation of governance practices in the Earth System, we argue that it is necessary to critically scrutinise the diverse set of knowledges and practices that have constituted the Earth System as a thinkable and governable domain.

Modern technology and innovation research needs to analyse and collect users' requirements from the outset of the project's design, according to the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach. Bringing in new services without involving end-users in the whole research process does not make for optimal results in terms of scientific, technological and economic impact. This commentary reports on research experience of stakeholder involvement and co-production in Italy, implemented in Earth Observation downstream services at regional level. It reports the participative approach and method adopted and the impacts and benefits derived. Abstract Participation and science governance; Public engagment with science and technology; Science communication: theory and models

knmi.nl

To better understand the different processes and interactions that govern the earth system and to determine whether recent human-induced changes could ultimately de-stabilise its dynamics, both natural system variability and the consequences of human activities have ...

Open-File Report, 2013

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) CDI was established in 2009 to address data and information management issues affecting the proficiency of earth science research. The CDI provides a forum for collaboration and brainstorming by bringing together expertise from external partners and representatives across the USGS who are involved in research, data management, and information technology. Through partnerships and working groups, the CDI leads the development of data management tools and practices, cyberinfrastructure, collaboration tools, and training in support of scientists and technology specialists throughout the project life cycle. The CDI represents a dynamic community of practice focused on advancing science data and information management and integration capabilities across the USGS. Welcome Megan Hines, cochair of the CSWG, welcomed in-room and virtual attendees to the USGS Citizen Science Workshop, as well as shared a brief set of logistics to the group in the room in Denver. Randy Updike, USGS Regional Executive for the Rocky Mountain Area, welcomed workshop participants to Denver and commented on citizen science-related initiatives in which he has been involved. He highlighted local community knowledge as a key component of success for the projects. Technology advances are expanding the interface with the public, and Randy is excited to see how these advances can support the science.

Proc. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 2009

This poster addresses the theme of the conference "Thriving on Diversity-Information Opportunities in a Pluralistic World" by discussing transdisciplinarity and what this paradigm means to librarians and information scientists. Transdisciplinary research is a means to address research problems, especially those in complex systems . The role of transdisciplinary research in earth and environmental sciences is explored, with particular attention to the challenges for information science researchers and professionals. Complex and global questions such as climate change may be best addressed using a transdisciplinary approach making the collaboration between scientists and information professionals more important. This collaboration is explored in relationship to DataONE (Observation Network for Earth), an NSF funded cyberinfrastructure project that supports the full data lifecycle for scientists in the diverse domains that are embodied in the earth and environmental sciences.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) CDI was established in 2009 to address data and information management issues affecting the proficiency of earth science research. The CDI provides a forum for collaboration and brainstorming by bringing together expertise from external partners and representatives across the USGS who are involved in research, data management, and information technology. Through partnerships and working groups, the CDI leads the development of data management tools and practices, cyberinfrastructure, collaboration tools, and training in support of scientists and technology specialists throughout the project life cycle. The CDI represents a dynamic community of practice focused on advancing science data and information management and integration capabilities across the USGS. Welcome Megan Hines, cochair of the CSWG, welcomed in-room and virtual attendees to the USGS Citizen Science Workshop, as well as shared a brief set of logistics to the group in the room in Denver. Randy Updike, USGS Regional Executive for the Rocky Mountain Area, welcomed workshop participants to Denver and commented on citizen science-related initiatives in which he has been involved. He highlighted local community knowledge as a key component of success for the projects. Technology advances are expanding the interface with the public, and Randy is excited to see how these advances can support the science.

2011

The hypothesis examined here is that Earth system scientists have become less relevant, or even irrelevant, to Earth system governance. We explore whether this proposition is true and, if it is, why this situation has arisen. By undertaking a review of current national efforts (in the UK and Australia) and a novel proposal regarding the use of the IPCC as a global governance tool, we try to discover under what, if any, circumstances Earth system science is valued in the development of environmental governance. These discussions lead us to the conclusion that targeted Earth system research (e.g. risk and resilience of systems and quantification of benefits of system components) can be genuinely valuable for future environmental governance. We, therefore, invite consideration of how Earth system researchers might be (re-) integrated into global Earth system governance development to the benefit of all.

2009