Uncertainty, complexity and controversy in dolphin threat management: A role for post-normal science?

Palliser, Anna; Dodson, Giles

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2017.09.004

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…A current problem with science is that research which cannot produce definite answers or results, such as the abundance estimates discussed here, cannot easily be distinguished from research that can [Sarewitz, 2016]. The style of presentation is the same, the work is peer reviewed in academic journals and while other scientists may be able to quickly assess the uncertainties in the results, policy-makers and citizens may be less able [Palliser and Dodson, 2017]. This is a critical issue for public communication and engagement with science, especially as it relates to science-for-policy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The research presents results from an ongoing project focused on how science and other knowledge is handled within contentious environmental management processes. Specifically, the project examines stakeholder participation in management of Hector's and Maui dolphins in New Zealand [Palliser and Dodson, 2017]. The research findings are derived from 51 stakeholder interviews conducted in 2008 and in 2015/2016 as part of this project.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2008 (at the onset of the dolphin threat management planning process) 26 interviews were held with fishers, divers, government agency representatives, conservation NGOs, iwi Māori 11 and marine wildlife tour operators from the Banks Peninsula area of South Island [Palliser, 2015]. [Palliser and Dodson, 2017]. These interviews were conducted across New Zealand and concerned both the overall TMP and the 2012 review of the Māui dolphin portion of this plan.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the focus of this paper, the central themes discussed here are stakeholder distrust and the handling of scientific knowledge within the ongoing management of Hector's and Māui dolphins. Other aspects of the findings have been published elsewhere [Palliser and Dodson, 2017]. This paper is explicitly focused on how handling scientific knowledge can contribute to stakeholder conflict.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Often the median value 19 is the figure given rather than the range of possibilities indicated by terms such as 95%CI -the range within which an estimate is 95% likely. This makes the median value, and therefore the certainty of scientific knowledge, appear more certain than if the full range of uncertainties was presented [Palliser and Dodson, 2017]. c. Disagreement between researchers.…”

Section: B Dissemination Of Hector's Dolphin Population Abundance Esmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Avoiding post-truth environmental conflict in New Zealand: communicating uncertainties in endangered species science

Palliser¹,

Dodson²

2019

JCOM

Self Cite

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Keyes [2004, p. 15] says: “In the post-truth era we don't just have truth or lies but a third category of ambiguous statements that are not exactly the truth but fall short of a lie”. In this paper about Hector's and Maui dolphin management in New Zealand, we argue that some scientific knowledge about these speciespresented and disseminated in ways that equate to this third category and as such may be classed as ‘post-truth type communication’. This generates citizen mistrust in science, scientists and government agencies and inflames conflict among informed stakeholders. We argue trust may be rebuilt by a combination of deliberative approaches to environmental governance, transparency about uncertainties, information gaps and divergent scientific opinions, and reformulation of normal scientific approaches and assumptions to those advocated by post-normal science.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: B Dissemination Of Hector's Dolphin Population Abundance Esmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Avoiding post-truth environmental conflict in New Zealand: communicating uncertainties in endangered species science

Palliser¹,

Dodson²

2019

JCOM

Self Cite

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Conflicting perspectives on ecosystem conservation in a cultivated floodplain: The role of science and the challenge of pluralism in decision‐making in Lac Saint‐Pierre (Quebec, Canada)

Lévesque,

Bissonnette,

Vansintjan

et al. 2024

Env Pol Gov

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By generating and explaining facts, science holds an important role in environmental policy decision‐making. However, scientific knowledge is often framed as objective and neutral in policy debates, which can be challenged by stakeholders who have a different view of the issue. To counter this situation, we propose a novel scientific approach to analyze problems that are highly contested and seem difficult to resolve, that is, wicked problems. Our study combined post‐normal science and environmental justice perspectives to shed light on a wicked problem—the largely unsuccessful efforts to rehabilitate yellow perch stocks in Lac Saint‐Pierre (LSP), Quebec, Canada. The combination of these two perspectives allows us to investigate the causes of the decrease of yellow perch stocks and the social and institutional barriers to rehabilitation—which can only be overcome if the injustice perceived by different stakeholders is overcome. Our study presents an approach that addresses uncertainties, integrates various knowledge forms, reassesses decision‐making procedures, and highlights inequalities within a specified territory. The research also underlines the importance of the qualitative dimension in the development of knowledge and the need to address equity in the development of environmental policies.

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Implementing post-normal science with or for EU policy actors: using quantitative story-telling

et al. 2023

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There is increasing recognition of the wicked nature of the intertwined climate, biodiversity and economic crises, and the need for adaptive, multi-scale approaches to understanding the complexity of both the problems and potential responses. Most science underpinning policy responses to sustainability issues, however, remains overtly apolitical and focussed on technical innovation; at odds with a critical body of literatures insisting on the recognition of systemic problem framing when supporting policy processes. This paper documents the experience of implementing a mixed method approach called quantitative story-telling (QST) to policy analysis that explicitly recognises this normative dimension, as the methodology is part of a post-normal science (PNS) toolkit. The authors reflect on what was learnt when considering how QST fared as a tool for science–policy interaction, working with European Union (EU) level policy actors interested in sustainable agriculture and sustainable development goal 2. These goals—also known as UN Agenda 2030—are the latest institutionalisation of the pursuit of sustainable development and the EU has positioned itself as taking a lead in its implementation. Thus, the paper illustrates our experience of using PNS as an approach to science policy interfaces in a strategic policy context; and illustrates how the challenges identified in the science–policy literature are amplified when working across multiple policy domains and taking a complex systems approach. Our discussion on lessons learnt may be of interest to researchers seeking to work with policy-makers on complex sustainability issues.

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Uncertainty, complexity and controversy in dolphin threat management: A role for post-normal science?

Cited by 8 publications

References 27 publications

Avoiding post-truth environmental conflict in New Zealand: communicating uncertainties in endangered species science

Avoiding post-truth environmental conflict in New Zealand: communicating uncertainties in endangered species science

Conflicting perspectives on ecosystem conservation in a cultivated floodplain: The role of science and the challenge of pluralism in decision‐making in Lac Saint‐Pierre (Quebec, Canada)

Implementing post-normal science with or for EU policy actors: using quantitative story-telling

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