Workshop Abstract:
    Linking physical, biological, and social sciences has become an area of great interest in the LTER Network. Social scientists have begun working at several LTER sites to add to our understanding of these ecosystems by exploring the interaction of humans with other populations, energy flow, and nutrient cycling, etc. To further this research interest, the LTER network established two urban LTER sites (Phoenix and Baltimore) in 1997, where   interdisciplinary work is used extensively to understand ecosystems heavily influenced by humans. These new ecological research efforts in urban environments has made it evident that there is a pressing need for scientists who are able to work effectively in interdisciplinary groups.
     A number of methods, tools, and techniques for integration have begun to emerge already: GIS and maps (spatial analyses); hierarchical approaches (scale); historical analyses; comparative studies; place-based, problem-focused research; checklists of core areas and concepts; explicit use and linkages of theory across disciplines; integrated data protocols, and models as heuristic devices. The purpose of this workshop is to further explore methods, tools, and techniques for integration. We propose to use case studies from existing work as fodder for discussion.
 

Workshop leaders and their visual aids:
Neely Law, Univeristy of North Carolina (Baltimore Ecosystem Study):  nlaw@email.unc.edu
Christian Leveque, Center National De La Recherché Scientifique: christian.leveque@cnrs-bellevue.fr
Sarah Robinson, Arizona State University (Central Arizona Project): ser@asu.edu
Matthew A. Wilson, University of Wisconsin (North Temperate Lakes): mawilso1@students.wisc.edu
 
 

Workshop Schedule:
    9:00- 9:15am: Introductory remarks
    9:15- 9:45am: Case study #1- Matthew Wilson: Valuing Ecosystem Goods and Services in the Field: Exploring the Role
                                                  of Survey Questionnaires and Face-To-Face Interviews
    9:45- 10:10am: Case study #2- Christian Leveque
   10:10- 10:20am: Case study #3- Sarah Robinson
   10:20- 10:40am: Case study #4- Neely Law: Households as Ecological Agents- Integrating household survey
                                                     information in a spatially-explicit, dynamic urban watershed model.
   10:45- 11:45am: Panel discussion based around 4 discussion questions (see below)

Workshop Discussion Summary
The first step to interdisciplinary work that spans two or more disciplines and/or crosses the "great divide" between life/earth sciences and social sciences is to emphasize integrated questions.
Dr. Leveque's talk gave an excellent overview of the importance of seeking questions that are intersting to both natural and social scientist from the inception of any reserach agenda.

Discussion also focused on routines for decision makers' involvement at LTER sites, and how valuable it could be to have a policy maker/ enforcerer present at the table when reserach questions are formulated.

There are many institutional barriers to integrated research.  To overcome these, we can use group techniques, surveys, or cross-site comparisons.  These exercises  might provide foder for arguement at own site. We want to know, who asks the research questions? The answer is often what determines our perception of where the bias in the question derives, whether or not it exists.

What do you consider to be important or interesting issues related to:
    (1) How the socio-natural system you work with developed (co-organize) and the directions in which it is going?

(a) The unit of analysis differs by discipline. In Neely's analysis, it could be the household, larger settlement units, or the "sewage shed".   The unit of analysis must be determined after identifying the relative significant drivers, which may differ at different scales.
(b) Spatial heterogeneity is important to consider.  We need to link scale(s) to reserach/decision making questions.
(c) Feedback to humans from environment are not pursued by social scientists; may be a disservice to the integration.

(a) This is an area that may be ignored by social scientist; the feedbacks from the environment back to human systems does exist.
(b) Attitudes and values affect perceived realities, hence identifying these values is important.
(c) The importance of multiple actors should be emphasized.

(a) Need more funding to answer these questions.

(a) Key social concept that has only been explored in certain cases (including Grove dissertation) is social stratification.
(b) Who decides what the questions are?  Discipline, institution?  Does the inclusion of decision makers affect the scope and nature of interdisciplinary research?

Workshop Participants
        asujaarsueld@zoology.up.ac.sa,
            asvjaarsueld@zoology.up.ac.za,
            boone@ohio.edu,
            clarkea@fiu.edu,
            craig.harris@ssc.msu.edu,
            dalton1@umbc.edu,
            jkuehner@nmt.edu,
            jmgrove@att.net,
            johan@nrel.colostate.edu,
            jozg@unm.edu,
            kacymroc@unm.edu,
            king2clio@hotmail.com,
            lauren.kuby@asu.edu,
            mab@kav.cas.cz,
            mark.twery@uvm.edu,
           mratclif@census.gov,
            mshudson@unm.edu,
            mtwery@fs.fed.us,
            nlynpow@arches.uga.edu,
            patrick.bourgerou@colorado.edu,
            pnowak@facstaff.wisc.edum.edu,
            rlathrop@facstaff.wisc.edu,
            standere@ecostudies.org,
            thyp@asu.edu,
            timber@ksu.edu,
            vivien@cnrs-bellevue.fr,
            william.burch@yale.edu,
            zucker@sparc.ecology.uga.edu  

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