Shaping the future of marine socio-ecological systems research: when early-career researchers meet the seniors

Type Article
Date 2017-09
Language English
Author(s) Drakou Evangelia G.1, Kermagoret CharleneORCID4, Comte Adrien1, Trapman Brita2, Rice Jake C.3
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Brest, IFREMER, CNRS, AMURE UMR6308,IUEM, Plouzane, France.
2 : Wageningen Marine Res, Ijmuiden, Netherlands.
3 : Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Ecosyst Sci, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Meeting Marine Socio-Ecological Systems Symposium (MSEAS), Brest, FRANCE, MAY 30-JUN 03, 2016
Source Ices Journal Of Marine Science (1054-3139) (Oxford Univ Press), 2017-09 , Vol. 74 , N. 7 , P. 1957-1964
DOI 10.1093/icesjms/fsx009
WOS© Times Cited 11
Note Contribution to the Symposium: ‘Marine Socio-ecological Systems Symposium’. Quo Vadimus
Keyword(s) dialogue among research generations, future, governance, interdisciplinary science, marine socio-ecological systems, operational research
Abstract

As the environmental issues facing our planet change, scientific efforts need to inform the sustainable management of marine resources by adopting a socio-ecological systems approach. Taking the symposium on "Understanding marine socio-ecological systems: including the human dimension in Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (MSEAS)" as an opportunity we organized a workshop to foster the dialogue between early and advanced-career researchers and explore the conceptual and methodological challenges marine socio-ecological systems research faces. The discussions focused on: a) interdisciplinary research teams versus interdisciplinary scientists; b) idealism versus pragmatism on dealing with data and conceptual gaps; c) publishing interdisciplinary research. Another major discussion point was the speed at which governance regimes and institutional structures are changing and the role of researchers in keeping up with it. Irrespective of generation, training or nationality, all participants agreed on the need for multi-method approaches that encompass different social, political, ecological and institutional settings, account for complexity and communicate uncertainties. A shift is needed in the questions the marine socio-ecological scientific community addresses, which could happen by drawing on lessons learnt and experiences gained. These require in turn a change in education and training, accompanied by a change in research and educational infrastructures.

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