Natural and social sciences: ICSU embraces the need to work more closel...(cial scientific knowledge is becoming ne...)
cial scientific knowledge is becoming necessary knowledge for policymakers, business and community leaders, and natural scientists alike. In this environment the ISSC has taken on the challenge of becoming the major global social scientific player alongside, and in collaboration with, ICSU in addressing key global challenges.
But its not all smooth sailing. There are barriers that must be overcome: natural and social scientists speak different languages; many institutions are not equipped to deal with interdisciplinary research; and there is resistance among some scientists from both sides of the table.
The key to success is that natural and social scientists must work together on research agenda setting. One field cannot merely provide services for the otherthey both must be involved in setting research goals. And you need to choose the right people, said Roberta Balstad of the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, at Columbia University in New York, and a member of CSPR.
Over the years, ICSU has actively involved the social sciences, particularly through its global environmental change programmes. The Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP) successfully integrates natural and social sciences in order to investigate how changes in the Earth System affect global and regional sustainability. And new ICSU programmes, such as Integrated Research on Disaster Risk and Ecosystem Change and Human Well-being, have involved both the natural and social sciences from the earliest planning stages.
Indeed, it could be argued that ICSU is at a point in its history where it is increasingly dependent on social science to fulfil its mission. Thus, better integration of the social sciences into ICSU is no longer an option, it is a necessity, said Balstad.
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| Contact: Jacinta Legg jacinta.legg@icsu.org 33-145-255-777 International Council for Science Source:Eurekalert |
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 Natural and social sciences: ICSU embraces the need to work more closely together |
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