Science into policy? Discourse, coastal management and knowledge

Melissa Nursey-Bray; Joanna Vince; Michael Scott; Marcus Haward; Kevin O'Toole; Timothy F Smith; Nick Harvey; Beverley Clarke

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2013.10.010

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Science into policy? Discourse, coastal management and knowledge

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Science into policy? Discourse, coastal management and knowledge

Melissa Nursey-Bray, Joanna Vince, Michael Scott, Marcus Haward, Kevin O'Toole, Timothy F Smith, Nick Harvey and Beverley Clarke

Environmental Science and Policy, Vol.38, pp.107-119

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2013.10.010

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Abstract

knowledge

science policy

coastal management

community knowledge

discourse

Indigenous

The world's coastal resources are under pressure, even more so under climate change with 90% of the world's population living near or along our coastal zone. Ecologically, this zone is also the most productive, and the mainstay of economic livelihoods on a global scale. Managing the coast effectively is crucial, but as an area it remains contested. Despite multiple efforts to manage the coast, it remains a contested space. This paper offers a reflection into the ways in which different discourses influence and impact on one specific dimension of coastal zone management-the transmission of science into the policy domain. Using historical and discourse analysis, we find that the science-policy interface is largely constructed within two knowledge discourses: (i) scientific knowledge and (ii) local knowledge. This arbitrary separation into a binary discursive landscape mitigates against science-policy integration in practice especially given each discourse in itself, encompasses multiple forms of knowledge. We argue that in order to better understand how to build scientific research outputs into policy, decision makers and researchers need to understand how knowledge works in practice, overcome this dichotomous construction of knowledge and specifically, re-construct or transition the notion of 'science as knowledge' into 'all knowledge types' into policy.

Details

Title: Science into policy? Discourse, coastal management and knowledge
Authors: Melissa Nursey-Bray (Author) - University of Adelaide
Joanna Vince (Author) - University of Tasmania
Michael Scott (Author) - Flinders University
Marcus Haward (Author) - University of Tasmania
Kevin O'Toole (Author) - Deakin University
Timothy F Smith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and Business
Nick Harvey (Author) - University of Adelaide
Beverley Clarke (Author) - Flinders University
Publication details: Environmental Science and Policy, Vol.38, pp.107-119
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2013.10.010
ISSN: 1462-9011
Organisation Unit: School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99447760402621
Output Type: Journal article

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