Transdisciplinary synthesis for ecosystem science, policy and management: The Australian experience

A J J Lynch; R Thackway; A Specht; P J Beggs; S Brisbane; E. L Burns; M Byrne; S J Capon; M. T Casanova; P A Clarke; J M Davies; S Dovers; Ross G Dwyer; E Ens; D O Fisher; M Flanigan; E Garnier; S M Guru; K Kilminster; R Mac Nally; J Locke; K. M McMahon; P J Mitchell; J. C Pierson; E. M Rodgers; J Russell-Smith; J Udy; M Waycott

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.100

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Transdisciplinary synthesis for ecosystem science, policy and management: The Australian experience

Journal article

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Transdisciplinary synthesis for ecosystem science, policy and management: The Australian experience

A J J Lynch, R Thackway, A Specht, P J Beggs, S Brisbane, E. L Burns, M Byrne, S J Capon, M. T Casanova, P A Clarke, …

Science of the Total Environment, Vol.534, pp.173-184

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.100

PMID: 25957785

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Abstract

Environmental management

interdisciplinary

multidisciplinary

cross-disciplinary

synthesis centre

Mitigating the environmental effects of global population growth, climatic change and increasing socio-ecological complexity is a daunting challenge. To tackle this requires synthesis: the integration of disparate information to generate novel insights from heterogeneous, complex situations where there are diverse perspectives. Since 1995, a structured approach to inter-, multi-and trans-disciplinary(1) collaboration around big science questions has been supported through synthesis centres around the world. These centres are finding an expanding role due to ever-accumulating data and the need for more and better opportunities to develop transdisciplinary and holistic approaches to solve real-world problems. The Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (ACEAS http://www.aceas.org.auN) has been the pioneering ecosystem science synthesis centre in the Southern Hemisphere. Such centres provide analysis and synthesis opportunities for time-pressed scientists, policy-makers and managers. They provide the scientific and organisational environs for virtual and face-to-face engagement, impetus for integration, data and methodological support, and innovative ways to deliver synthesis products. We detail the contribution, role and value of synthesis using ACEAS to exemplify the capacity for synthesis centres to facilitate trans-organisational, transdisciplinary synthesis. We compare ACEAS to other international synthesis centres, and describe how it facilitated project teams and its objective of linking natural resource science to policy to management. Scientists and managers were brought together to actively collaborate in multi-institutional, cross-sectoral and transdisciplinary research on contemporary ecological problems. The teams analysed, integrated and synthesised existing data to co-develop solution-oriented publications and management recommendations that might otherwise not have been produced. We identify key outcomes of some ACEAS working groups which used synthesis to tackle important ecosystem challenges. We also examine the barriers and enablers to synthesis, so that risks can be minimised and successful outcomes maximised. We argue that synthesis centres have a crucial role in developing, communicating and using synthetic transdisciplinary research. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Title: Transdisciplinary synthesis for ecosystem science, policy and management: The Australian experience
Authors: A J J Lynch (Author) - University of Canberra
R Thackway (Author) - University of Queensland
A Specht (Author) - University of Queensland
P J Beggs (Author) - Macquarie University
S Brisbane (Author) - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
E. L Burns (Author) - Australian National University
M Byrne (Author) - Department of Parks and Wildlife
S J Capon (Author) - Griffith University
M. T Casanova (Author) - Federation University
P A Clarke (Author) - Griffith University
J M Davies (Author) - University of Queensland
S Dovers (Author) - Australian National University
Ross G Dwyer (Author) - University of Queensland
E Ens (Author) - Macquarie University
D O Fisher (Author) - University of Queensland
M Flanigan (Author)
E Garnier (Author) - University of Montpellier
S M Guru (Author) - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
K Kilminster (Author) - Department of Water
R Mac Nally (Author) - University of Canberra
J Locke (Author) - Biocultural Consulting Pty Ltd.
K. M McMahon (Author) - Edith Cowan University
P J Mitchell (Author) - CSIRO Land and Water
J. C Pierson (Author) - Australian National University
E. M Rodgers (Author) - University of Queensland
J Russell-Smith (Author) - Charles Darwin University
J Udy (Author) - Healthy Waterways
M Waycott (Author) - University of Adelaide
Publication details: Science of the Total Environment, Vol.534, pp.173-184
Publisher: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.100
ISSN: 1879-1026
PMID: 25957785
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99629339202621
Output Type: Journal article

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