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Toward an effective practice of translational ecology

2017; Wiley; Volume: 15; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/fee.1738

1540-9309

Stephen T. Jackson, Gregg M. Garfin, Carolyn A. F. Enquist,

Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration

Aldo Leopold famously noted that “One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds…An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor…” (Leopold A. 1953. Round River. New York, NY: Oxford University Press). The kinds of wounds Leopold is alluding to are becoming more severe and widespread, and many ecologists feel increasingly compelled to step beyond their scientific research and adopt the role of doctors, intervening to curb the degradation of natural ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of ecosystem services. But all too often, ecologists, like other scientists, adopt a traditional “omniscient doctor” persona, spewing jargon, dictating to decision makers, and preparing esoteric prescriptions. Scientists are frequently frustrated when their efforts fail or fall short of expectations and, observing that they're having little impact on policy or decisions, sometimes blame their audience for not following instructions or paying sufficient attention. The medical community, having realized that medical practice covers much more than the application of biomedical science to patients, is being transformed by “translational medicine”, which attempts to bridge the gap between medical researchers and caregivers. Observing this trend, former ESA President Bill Schlesinger has argued that ecologists should draw inspiration from medicine to develop a parallel practice of “translational ecology”, to “connect end-users of environmental sciences to the field research carried out by scientists” by means of “constant two-way communication between stakeholders and scientists” (Schlesinger WH. 2010. Translational ecology. Science 329: 609). In translational science, the operative metaphor is “translation” – the rendering of meaning from one language to another, conserving as much information as possible. Effective translation, in this original sense, requires fluency in both languages, which in turn requires some understanding of the culture in which each language is embedded – otherwise, idioms, expressions, metaphors, and other nuances become “lost in translation”. An important but often overlooked component of translation is an ability to listen with particular sensitivity to the different ways in which the same information may be understood by each participant or group. Thus, translational ecology must comprise more than clear speech, lexical equivalence, and good intentions. To be effective, it requires understanding of the languages, cultures, and currencies of policy, management, and the communities in which relevant decisions are made. Translational ecologists must have not only a fundamental grasp of the science, but also an understanding of the real-world contexts in which the science is applied. They must live simultaneously in two or more cultures. Conventional training and experience in ecological science often lack this bicultural or multicultural element, and the aspirations of ecologists are often truncated when they try to influence management or policy decisions without careful attention to the cultural contexts. Many ecologists have been highly successful in translational practice, often learning by trial and error how to become effective at engaging with other communities. A parallel field, climate-adaptation science, has made great strides in translational practice, with advice and collaboration from the social sciences. In November 2015, we convened a working group of ecologists, social scientists, climate-adaptation scientists, and natural-resource decision makers at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) to discuss translational ecology, share perspectives and experiences, and identify pathways to make translational ecology more effective and widespread. The working group, supported by the US Geological Survey (via the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center and the Department of the Interior Southwest Climate Science Center), was necessarily small, and weighted toward the southwestern US and climate change, but it strove to develop broad perspectives on the topic. The participants developed a series of papers and perspectives, which now appear within this Special Issue. These papers aren't intended as canonical texts, but as substrates and catalysts for the further development and proliferation of translational ecology. Early-career ecologists are increasingly energized by the prospect of helping to solve real-world problems. By incorporating the perspectives of translational ecology, the “ecological education” that Leopold referred to can provide a capacity not only to identify and diagnose ecological afflictions, but also to help treat or prevent them. Stephen T Jackson Department of the Interior Southwest Climate Science Center, US Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ Gregg M Garfin Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Carolyn AF Enquist Department of the Interior Southwest Climate Science Center, US Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ