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A science of integration: frameworks, processes, and products in a place-based, integrative study

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Abstract

Integrative research is increasingly a priority within the scientific community and is a central goal for the evolving field of sustainability science. While it is conceptually attractive, its successful implementation has been challenging and recent work suggests that the move towards interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity in sustainability science is being only partially realized. To address this from the perspective of social-ecological systems (SES) research, we examine the process of conducting a science of integration within the Southcentral Alaska Test Case (SCTC) of Alaska-EPSCoR as a test-bed for this approach. The SCTC is part of a large, 5 year, interdisciplinary study investigating changing environments and adaptations to those changes in Alaska. In this paper, we review progress toward a science of integration and present our efforts to confront the practical issues of applying proposed integration frameworks. We: (1) define our integration framework; (2) describe the collaborative processes, including the co-development of science through stakeholder engagement and partnerships; and (3) illustrate potential products of integrative, social-ecological systems research. The approaches we use can also be applied outside of this particular framework. We highlight challenges and propose improvements for integration in sustainability science by addressing the need for common frameworks and improved contextual understanding. These insights may be useful for capacity-building for interdisciplinary projects that address complex real-world social and environmental problems.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the support of the National Science Foundation through awards OIA-1208927 (Alaska ACE), DEB-1231233 (MtnSEON), and OIA-1301792 (Idaho MILES). This paper as an official product of the Center for Resilient Communities (University of Idaho). We would like to thank Dr. Jim Gosz for sharing his time and expertise in reviewing an earlier version of this manuscript, and to two anonymous reviewers for their valuable critiques. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors alone and it does not represent any official NSF or USGS finding or policy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Resilient Communities, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA

    Andrew Kliskey & Lilian Alessa

  2. University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA

    Sarah Wandersee & Paula Williams

  3. Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA

    Jamie Trammell

  4. University of Alaska Southeast, 11120 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK, 99801, USA

    Jim Powell

  5. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geographic Information Network of Alaska, Box 757275, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Jess Grunblatt

  6. Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, US Geological Survey, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Box 757020, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Mark Wipfli

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  1. Andrew Kliskey
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Correspondence to Andrew Kliskey.

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Handled by Daniel J. Lang, University of Lueneburg, Germany.

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Kliskey, A., Alessa, L., Wandersee, S. et al. A science of integration: frameworks, processes, and products in a place-based, integrative study. Sustain Sci 12, 293–303 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-016-0391-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-016-0391-3

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