The Challenges of Interdisciplinary Research

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This document discusses crossing boundaries in interdisciplinary research. It describes a research project that brought together academics, policymakers, and practitioners from various organizations to study managing environmental change at the rural-urban fringe. The project sought to build an interdisciplinary team, develop new conceptual lenses, gather evidence through workshops and exercises, and deliver unconventional outputs to build interdisciplinarity across the rural domain. It concludes that interdisciplinary approaches are needed to address societal issues and an effective leader is required to bring different groups together outside their usual silos.

Crossing Boundaries in Research:
Critical Reflections from an
Interdisciplinary Bastard
Alister Scott
Centre for Environment and Society
Research

Managing Environmental Change at
the Rural Urban Fringe 2010-2012
relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
Alister Scott
Claudia Carter, Mark Reed, Peter Larkham, Nicki
Schiessel, Karen Leach, Nick Morton, Rachel Curzon
David Jarvis, Andrew Hearle, Mark Middleton, Bob
Forster, Keith Budden, Ruth Waters, David Collier,
Chris Crean, Miriam Kennet, Richard Coles and Ben
Stonyer

relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
To Boldly Go…

relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
Crossing academic, policy,
practice and scalar divides
 Birmingham City University -
Birmingham School of the
Built Environment/BIAD
 University of Aberdeen -
Aberdeen Centre for
Environmental Sustainability
 Forest Research
 National Farmers Union
 David Jarvis Associates
 Natural England
 Localise West Midlands
 Green Economics Institute
 Birmingham Environment Partnership
 West Midlands Rural Affairs Forum
 Worcestershire County Council
 West Midlands Regional Assembly
United Research
Team

relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
Seeking out new ‘lenses’
• Spatial Planning and
Ecosystem Approach
Paradigms (lenses)
• Critical thoughtpieces
• PI Synthesis
• Team builds new
conceptual lens

Crossing and simplifying
theoretical boundaries

relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
Seeking out evidence
• Workshops (Team led)
• Visioning exercises

relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
Delivering Unconventional
Outputs

relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
Delivering Unconventional
Outputs
Building interdisciplinarity across the
rural domain

• Embedding policy, practice and academia
within one research team reaps rewards
• Choose who you work with carefully
• Flexibility embedded in research method
• Important for researchers to go outside
comfort zone
relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
Lessons Learnt

• Interdisciplinary approaches needed to tackle
key issues we face as a society
• Need an effective ‘bastard’ to lead
interdisciplinary endeavours
• Role of a team prepared to go outside usual
silos
• Are BCU structures for teaching and research
enabling such approaches?
relu
Rural Economy and
Land Use Programme
Take Home Messages

This document discusses crossing boundaries in interdisciplinary research. It summarizes a research project that brought together academics from different universities with practitioners from organizations like the Forest Research and National Farmers Union to study managing environmental change at the rural-urban fringe. The project sought to develop new conceptual lenses by simplifying theoretical boundaries across disciplines and gathering evidence through workshops. It delivered unconventional outputs and lessons learned about the benefits of embedding policy, practice, and academia within one research team to flexibly tackle key societal issues.

Landscape Approaches to reconcile competing land uses

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This document discusses landscape approaches to reconcile competing land uses. It provides an overview of the development of landscape approaches and frameworks. A systematic review was conducted of case studies implementing landscape approaches in the tropics. The review found most studies had positive outcomes but lacked long-term monitoring. Barriers to effective implementation include lack of capacity, weak institutions, short-term funding, and institutional silos. Overcoming these barriers requires coordinated efforts, more evidence of effectiveness, long-term goals, stakeholder engagement, and tools for monitoring and evaluation.

Welsh member training - NRW

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Natural Resources Wales is a Welsh government body responsible for sustainably managing Wales's natural resources. Its purpose is to ensure Wales's natural resources are maintained, used, and enhanced now and in the future. It oversees several areas of natural beauty in Wales and designates sites of special scientific interest and areas of outstanding natural beauty. It provides landscape evidence and works to link ecosystem management to planning. It supports Welsh government priorities like the well-being of future generations act and new legislation around resources, planning and heritage.

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This document summarizes the methodology and preliminary findings of a systematic map reviewing research on integrated landscape approaches. Key points: - Over 78 terms were identified referring to integrated landscape management, showing lack of agreement on definitions. - A systematic map methodology was used to map the evolution of landscape approaches, review terminology, and document tropical landscape initiatives. - Preliminary screening found 13,290 publications, with 47 final studies meeting criteria of integrating land uses and stakeholders. - Most studies had a single objective focus, and 83% reported positive outcomes, though long-term monitoring was lacking. - Few case studies were found in peer-reviewed literature, suggesting relevant initiatives exist but are not being reported.

Integrated Landscape Approaches: A systematic map of the evidence

CIFOR-ICRAF

This document outlines the objectives and methodology for a systematic map of evidence on integrated landscape approaches. It discusses defining integrated landscape approaches, challenges in terminology, and objectives to map the evolution of the concept, review terminology, and document examples of landscape-scale initiatives in the tropics. It seeks input on framing the research questions, suggesting search terms to identify relevant literature, and identifying key actors and locations implementing integrated landscape approaches. The overall goal is to support decision-making by clarifying integrated landscape approaches and making an accessible database of initiatives freely available online.

What are integrated landscape approaches and how effectively have they been i...

CIFOR-ICRAF

This document summarizes a systematic review of integrated landscape approaches in the tropics. It finds that while integrated landscape approaches aim to concurrently address conservation and development, there is still confusion over definitions and implementation. The review screened over 400 documents and identified 82 case studies for analysis. Preliminary results found case studies mainly focused on livelihoods, water, and forests, and had mixed success, with challenges including short-term funding, lack of integration, and weak governance. The review seeks to provide clarity on integrated landscape approaches but finds further work is needed to develop shared understandings and monitoring.

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Green Campus Career Preparation

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The document discusses the landscape approach for sustainable development. It defines landscapes as areas that include both biophysical and human/social components. The landscape approach has evolved over time from integrated conservation and development projects in the 1980s to more modern frameworks that aim to concurrently address conservation, development, and restoration. Key aspects of the modern landscape approach include adaptive management, stakeholder involvement, integration of multiple objectives like poverty alleviation and food security, and consideration of trade-offs. The document outlines 10 principles of the landscape approach and provides initial examples of projects applying this framework. It also discusses aligning the landscape approach with achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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This document discusses methodologies for developing energy policies in India that account for multiple objectives. It outlines a collaboration between research organizations to inform India's climate plans and energy planning. The collaboration will review scenario studies and use multiple criteria decision analysis to evaluate policies with attention to mitigation, adaptation, and other objectives. Two case studies will use this approach to analyze policies for buildings and cooking in India, with the goal of discussing how to apply multiple objectives methodologies to policymaking.

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David Oram

The role of participatory monitoring in forest landscape restoration

CIFOR-ICRAF

This document discusses the role of participatory monitoring in forest landscape restoration. It argues that local involvement is necessary for long-term restoration success as it creates ownership, increases decision-making speed and effectiveness, and fosters social learning. Participatory monitoring can provide reliable data when locals are trained appropriately. While challenging, it is important to involve locals to track progress towards restoration goals and ensure community benefits. Key elements include setting clear monitoring plans and goals, dedicating funds, involving marginalized groups, and encouraging social learning without imposing high costs locally.

Anchor Collaboration Models for Collective Impact - Eric Muschler

University Economic Development Association

The panel will highlight colleges and universities engaged in formal collaboration initiatives aimed at place-based development that include a diverse set of partners. The discussion will be placed in the context of the anchor strategic framework developed by ICIC and Michael Porter. Representatives from successful collaboration initiatives in Minneapolis and Syracuse will share insights from their experience with this approach including the challenges associated with effectively managing and aligning multiple partners.

2012 ISCN Symposium Chatham University New School of Sustainability and the E...

ISCN_Secretariat

This case study describes Chatham University's efforts to develop a new School of Sustainability and the Environment campus using sustainable and regenerative design principles. An integrated design process was used involving students, faculty, administration, and other stakeholders. The approved master plan aims to create a LEED Platinum, net energy positive campus with zero waste, onsite water management, and sustainable agriculture. So far a campus master plan has been completed, construction documents finished for phase 1, and the first cohorts of sustainability graduate programs have begun. Lessons learned include the importance of inclusive planning, holistic solutions, challenges of phasing, and engaging the broader community.

Integrated landscape approaches to manage societal and environmental issues i...

CIFOR-ICRAF

1.3 Funding opportunities for environmental challenges & climate change oppor...

Stevie Swenne

This document summarizes various EU funding opportunities for environmental challenges and climate change, including the Horizon 2020 program which has a €78 billion budget to fund research and innovation. It also discusses other programs like LIFE, Interreg, and initiatives from the European Investment Bank and European Regional Development Fund that provide funding through grants, loans, and other financial instruments for projects related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Contact information is provided for an agency that can provide assistance in identifying and applying for relevant EU funding opportunities.

Inter-disciplinarity and securing global biodiversity: breaking down the barr...

CIFOR-ICRAF

The document discusses the need for interdisciplinarity in biodiversity conservation efforts. It notes that conservation biology has often lacked meaningful engagement with social sciences, resulting in debates that are highly dichotomous. An example from Central Africa shows differing views on whether conservation areas have displaced local people. The document calls for better integration of human, socio-economic and policy issues into conservation work. It provides examples of initiatives that aim to foster more interdisciplinary collaboration, and argues that only considering biological, economic and social dimensions can negotiations around conservation be more open and effective.

GFI: Research and Advocacy

World Resources Institute (WRI)

The document discusses the Electricity Governance Initiative (EGI), a joint effort between WRI and Prayas Energy Group to assess governance in the electricity sector given global restructuring and reform. EGI provides tools and analysis to empower marginalized groups to understand decision-making processes, define problems and priorities, and work to address issues. Potential outcomes of EGI include upholding high sector standards, increasing citizen awareness, expanding coalitions, and identifying opportunities to better meet energy needs and manage conflicts. Ideal coalitions are broad, technically competent, and include advocacy experts.

Building Capacity for Collaborative Action: Can Collective Impact Help Advanc...

Arbor Day Foundation

This document discusses how collective impact can help build capacity for urban forestry efforts. It introduces collective impact as a framework with five conditions: common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and a backbone organization. It then summarizes a regional urban forestry strategy project in Portland and Vancouver that applied collective impact. By bringing different organizations together toward shared goals of increasing tree canopy and collaboration, the project helped advance urban forestry in the region.

7.3.1 A system approach to the integration of the agriculture sector in the NAP

NAP Events

This document provides guidance for a group work activity. It instructs participants to choose a chair and rapporteur, collect names, prepare a 5 minute report, and write a summary of discussions. It also includes 3 questions for the group to answer about coordination mechanisms for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and related sectors in their countries as part of national adaptation planning processes.

NAP Global Network: Coordinating Climate-Resilient Development

ExternalEvents

Session 10_Mayukh Hajra

International Institute for Environment and Development CBA5 Conference Presentations

The document describes a community-led program in Himachal Pradesh, India to increase awareness of climate change and reduce carbon footprints through assessment, advocacy, and action. The program will use participatory exercises and data collection at the village level, analyze the data using IPCC guidelines customized to the local context, and communicate findings through simple report cards to incentivize environmental protection efforts and inform priority actions. The 4A approach of assessment, analysis, information and action will engage communities and stakeholders at all levels to develop village action plans. Factors that could aid scaling up the program include integrating it with local development processes, building networks, and sharing knowledge with policymakers.

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ruralfringe

This document discusses managing environmental change at the rural-urban fringe (RUF). It defines the RUF and notes differing perspectives on it. The RUF is seen as a misunderstood, placeless transition phase between urban and rural areas. It discusses the RUF's multiple identities and how it is imagined and contested by stakeholders. Problems with the RUF include it being a forgotten zone of expansion and change that lacks champions. The research project aims to improve understanding of the RUF using spatial planning and ecosystem services approaches. It identifies key areas like long-term perspectives and partnerships. The project involves workshops and will produce briefs and principles to help manage change at the RUF.

ISCN 2016: Pre-conference workshop

ISCN_Secretariat

This document provides an overview of the agenda for the ISCN 2016 pre-conference. It includes: - A joint session on insights from ISCN and IARU with presentations on overviews of both organizations and member experiences. - A workshop scenario where participants convene as university executives to develop guiding principles for a new sustainable university. They discuss functions represented and challenges in choosing principles. - A second activity where groups determine focus areas for the new university in the first 3, 5, and 10 years and how the focus would scale over time. Discussion follows on fitting these principles within existing universities and reimagining frameworks.

Rural urban Fringe Presentation to Malmo

ruralfringe

The document discusses a research project on managing environmental change in rural-urban fringe areas. It aims to take an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together researchers from different backgrounds. The project will investigate fringe spaces where town and country meet, explore stakeholder perspectives, and develop new ways of thinking about these areas. Field visits and workshops will collect evidence to inform development of an interactive game called "Rufopoly" to better understand fringe areas. The goal is to break down divides between natural and built environment paradigms and build understanding across disciplines.

relu summary and abstract

ruralfringe

This project aims to better understand and manage environmental change in rural-urban fringe areas through interdisciplinary research. It will explore concepts from spatial planning and ecosystem services to identify management issues and needs. The research team, consisting of academics and practitioners, will apply the findings to two case study areas and involve local stakeholders. The project seeks to develop new tools and approaches for managing uncertainty and transition in these spaces and promote integrated rural-urban fringe management.

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Editor's Notes