There is a growing appreciation for the skills of interdisciplinary ecologists and societally engaged scientists. There has been a lag, however, in translating these desired skillsets into coursework in academic programs. Although I earned a PhD focused largely on social-ecological systems, my training was primarily on quantitative analyses and qualitative study methods, rather than on genuine engagement with our focus communities. It was evident early on that, despite this lack of formal training, effective understanding of ecological impacts on social systems required concentrated efforts on outreach, engagement, and community building. An understanding of effective stakeholder engagement methodology, as well as an appreciation for the diversity of human experiences with the natural world, is necessary for developing equitable and resilient resource management strategies and transitioning from ‘learner’ to ‘practitioner’ in social-ecological systems.
Results/Conclusions
As an Assistant Professor of Practice, jointly supported by Oregon State University and Oregon Sea Grant, my job requires me to work directly with coastal communities, including commercial fishermen, small businesses, resource managers, non-governmental organizations, the US Coast Guard, and local government. I need to be well-educated on a huge variety of issues, able to effectively conduct research and help guide discussions on contentious issues with unusual coalitions of community members. However, without active community engagement, there is significant risk of a delayed or inappropriate response to issues such as shifting fish stocks, entanglement of whales, competition for ocean resources, and fishermen safety. During the talk, I will discuss strategies for effective community engagement, as well as how to build your own interdisciplinary skillset for working in and with social-ecological systems.