“…Boundary work can be carried out by individuals on the research team or boundary organizations, whose function is explicitly aimed at boundary work (for example, LCCs often function as boundary organizations, creating a bridge between researchers and research results and the end users of the results, such as resource or water managers), and assumes even greater importance as political stakes increase or as marginalized populations play a larger role in user‐driven and collaborative science (McNie et al . ). For example, Mott Lacroix and Megdal () examined social learning and infusion of science in water‐management decision making in Arizona.…”
Section: How To Engage With End Usersmentioning
confidence: 97%
“…Although there are many approaches to user‐driven research, they tend to involve end users in ways that range from highly collaborative (co‐produced research) to more intermittent yet ongoing (consultative) (McNie et al . ; Meadow et al . ).…”
Section: Why Engage With End Users?mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…One challenge often faced by scientists who work closely with end users is how to most effectively manage the relationship, or boundary, between the distinct worlds of science and society. Successful "boundary management" can ensure the production of information that is useful, salient, legitimate and credible, and that responds to users' needs, while simultaneously avoiding politicization of science or the "scientization" of politics (Guston 1999(Guston , 2001Sarewitz 2004;McNie et al 2016). Boundary management requires effective communication between scientists and stakeholders, translation of information into forms that are understandable by end users, and scientiststakeholder mediation, all of which may require substantial time and resource commitments from researchers who are often already stretched thin by multiple obligations and responsibilities.…”
Section: J Research Context -Inputs To and External Influences On Thementioning
confidence: 99%
“…An important but often overlooked component of the translational research process, social capital is needed to build and maintain productive relationships -based on mutual trust and respect -when creating, transferring, and utilizing usable science for decision support (Levin and Cross 2004;McNie et al 2016;Simpson et al 2016). Like any form of capital, social capital can be generated, spent, and lost, and so great care must be taken to manage it according to the situation.…”
Section: Social Capital and "Soft Skills" In Translational Researchmentioning
A growing body of research in translational science provides a foundation for translational ecologists to consider the practices that show the most promise, as well as the potential pitfalls of those practices. These research approaches (eg user-inspired climate science) require deliberate engagement with end users, and an understanding of the social and cultural contexts in which a research project functions. We examine the climate science translation literature (looking at how research can inform decision making) to identify key issues related to how the social sciences have helped guide researchers engaged in user-inspired research. We focus on understanding the more intangible inputs to research projects, including the social and cultural contexts; stakeholder engagement; the role of social capital; and evaluating the outputs, outcomes, and impacts of translational science projects and initiatives. Research on return-on-investment metrics for translational science is increasingly pointing to the conclusion that intentional, structured processes, such as those found in translational sciences, boost the likelihood of science being successfully incorporated into environmental decision making and policy.
“…Boundary work can be carried out by individuals on the research team or boundary organizations, whose function is explicitly aimed at boundary work (for example, LCCs often function as boundary organizations, creating a bridge between researchers and research results and the end users of the results, such as resource or water managers), and assumes even greater importance as political stakes increase or as marginalized populations play a larger role in user‐driven and collaborative science (McNie et al . ). For example, Mott Lacroix and Megdal () examined social learning and infusion of science in water‐management decision making in Arizona.…”
Section: How To Engage With End Usersmentioning
confidence: 97%
“…Although there are many approaches to user‐driven research, they tend to involve end users in ways that range from highly collaborative (co‐produced research) to more intermittent yet ongoing (consultative) (McNie et al . ; Meadow et al . ).…”
Section: Why Engage With End Users?mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…One challenge often faced by scientists who work closely with end users is how to most effectively manage the relationship, or boundary, between the distinct worlds of science and society. Successful "boundary management" can ensure the production of information that is useful, salient, legitimate and credible, and that responds to users' needs, while simultaneously avoiding politicization of science or the "scientization" of politics (Guston 1999(Guston , 2001Sarewitz 2004;McNie et al 2016). Boundary management requires effective communication between scientists and stakeholders, translation of information into forms that are understandable by end users, and scientiststakeholder mediation, all of which may require substantial time and resource commitments from researchers who are often already stretched thin by multiple obligations and responsibilities.…”
Section: J Research Context -Inputs To and External Influences On Thementioning
confidence: 99%
“…An important but often overlooked component of the translational research process, social capital is needed to build and maintain productive relationships -based on mutual trust and respect -when creating, transferring, and utilizing usable science for decision support (Levin and Cross 2004;McNie et al 2016;Simpson et al 2016). Like any form of capital, social capital can be generated, spent, and lost, and so great care must be taken to manage it according to the situation.…”
Section: Social Capital and "Soft Skills" In Translational Researchmentioning
A growing body of research in translational science provides a foundation for translational ecologists to consider the practices that show the most promise, as well as the potential pitfalls of those practices. These research approaches (eg user-inspired climate science) require deliberate engagement with end users, and an understanding of the social and cultural contexts in which a research project functions. We examine the climate science translation literature (looking at how research can inform decision making) to identify key issues related to how the social sciences have helped guide researchers engaged in user-inspired research. We focus on understanding the more intangible inputs to research projects, including the social and cultural contexts; stakeholder engagement; the role of social capital; and evaluating the outputs, outcomes, and impacts of translational science projects and initiatives. Research on return-on-investment metrics for translational science is increasingly pointing to the conclusion that intentional, structured processes, such as those found in translational sciences, boost the likelihood of science being successfully incorporated into environmental decision making and policy.
“…Usable research outputs make an impact by informing potential beneficiaries, increasing their awareness and knowledge of the solution options available or potential improvements (Given, Kelly, & Willson, ; McNie, Parris, & Sarewitz, ). REF acknowledges such informational impact, such as research leading to debates: [T]here may be impact arising from research which take forms such as holding public or private bodies to account or subjecting proposed changes in society, public policy, business practices, and so on to public scrutiny.…”
Section: How To Demonstrate Impact? the 3u Frameworkmentioning
In addition to innate curiosity, many of us also see scientific research as a way of making the world a better place. There has been a drive to better understand and observe the practical and societal impact of research, led by researchers seeking to find meaning and purpose in their work, as well as government agencies responsible for allocating research funding to maximum effect. Despite a wealth of guidance from researchers discussing impact and agencies evaluating impact, making practice impact visible and demonstrable remains arduous to researchers because it appears to be possible only at the end of a long and winding pathway to impact. This article presents a framework for demonstrating practice impact as it is being realized progressively, rather than only at the end of the pathway. It identifies usable, in‐use, and useful research outputs, with each having cumulative and demonstrable practice impact. Our analyses of existing impact evaluation guidelines and top‐ranked impact cases submitted to the Research Excellence Framework 2014 showed that all three forms of impact can be demonstrated and are recognized as practice impact. Framing impact in terms of “use” inherently connects the perspectives of researchers and beneficiary users and positions users as co‐producers of impact rather than passive objects and recipients of research. The 3U framework is descriptive as well as prescriptive. It identifies impact indicators for each form of impact. It also indicates the necessary actions for strengthening impact. When applied iteratively, the 3U framework facilitates the identification and pursuit of new research questions that will further solidify a research endeavour's practice impact.
Abstract. Simulation models can represent complexities of the real world and serve as virtual laboratoriesfor asking "what if. . .?" questions about how systems might respond to different scenarios. However, simulation models have limited relevance to real-world applications when designed without input from people who could use the simulated scenarios to inform their decisions. Here, we report on a state-and-transition simulation model of vegetation dynamics that was coupled to a scenario planning process and co-produced by researchers, resource managers, local subject-matter experts, and climate change adaptation specialists to explore potential effects of climate scenarios and management alternatives on key resources in southwest South Dakota. Input from management partners and local experts was critical for representing key vegetation types, bison and cattle grazing, exotic plants, fire, and the effects of climate change and management on rangeland productivity and composition given the paucity of published data on many of these topics. By simulating multiple land management jurisdictions, climate scenarios, and management alternatives, the model highlighted important tradeoffs between grazer density and vegetation composition, as well as between the short-and long-term costs of invasive species management. It also pointed to impactful uncertainties related to the effects of fire and grazing on vegetation. More broadly, a scenario-based approach to model co-production bracketed the uncertainty associated with climate change and ensured that the most important (and impactful) uncertainties related to resource management were addressed. This cooperative study demonstrates six opportunities for scientists to engage users throughout the modeling process to improve model utility and relevance: (1) identifying focal dynamics and variables, (2) developing conceptual model(s), (3) parameterizing the simulation, (4) identifying relevant climate scenarios and management alternatives, (5) evaluating and refining the simulation, and (6) interpreting the results. We also reflect on lessons learned and offer several recommendations for future co-production efforts, with the aim of advancing the pursuit of usable science.
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