Assessing Interdisciplinary and Social Science Research in Long Term Ecological Research

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Background

The LTER network began to be include the social sciences with the regionalization of two LTER sites—Coweeta and North Temperate Lakes; were expanded substantially with the two urban sites—Phoenix and Baltimore; and grew further through ISSE and other sites’ own inclinations such as Florida Coastal, Plum Island, Harvard Forest, Bonanza Creek, and Luquillo. Other research platforms include NSF’s Human-Environment Regional Observatory (HERO) program and the USDA Forest Service’s Urban Field Station network.

This workshop is a brainstorming activity to discuss: so what? In the context of long term science:

1.     What have we learned in terms of theories; methods for data collection and analysis; applications; interactions with ecologists; and future opportunities for multi-site collaboration?

2.     What contributions have we made to disciplinary, inter-, and trans-disciplinary science?

This workshop builds upon a special issue in Society and Natural Resources in 2006 and LTER ASM plenary presentations by Laura Ogden in 2009 and Robert Kates in 2012. The format for the workshop is 1) introductory remarks from socially and ecologically oriented scientists and 2) general discussion.

Workshop Goals.

The goals for the workshop are to:

1.     Provide feedback to and discussion with the LTER community and NSF;

2.     Identify topics for publication and/or new proposals; and

3.     Take some pride and pleasure in what we have accomplished and renew our vigor for new horizons.

Workshop Outcomes

The anticipated outcomes for this workshop are several:

1.     Identify opportunities for strengthening or creating new opportunities for collaboration;

2.     Publications: a report from the workshop and, potentially, a peer-reviewed journal article or special issues, following-up on the SNR issue in 2006;

3.     A follow-up workshop, possibly at SESYNC or Florida Atlantic University, sponsored by Colin Polsky and his program.