Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Marine natural sciences have been instrumental in helping society understand how ocean systems operate and the threats they face. However, there is a growing realisation that the societal challenges related to the marine environment can only be addressed through more effective integration with all aspects of social sciences. Nevertheless, to date, social sciences remain insufficiently integrated into marine research. Recognising historical weaknesses and drawing on the authors’ own experience of interdisciplinary research, albeit writing primarily from a natural marine science perspective, we propose a series of steps to promote integrated marine research inclusive of strong social science. We suggest that changing the perspectives and attitudes of natural scientists is key. The inherent interconnectivity between the ocean and society ensures that nearly everything we do in the marine natural sciences has the potential to influence and, perhaps address, ongoing and future societal challenges. Consequently, a key challenge for natural scientists is to recognise and communicate this in an accessible manner outside their own disciplines. To attempt to address these issues, we introduce the concept of “Socio-oceanography” which we define as an area of research that takes a “whole system” approach to the marine environment. It focuses on the challenges which require advancement of both natural and social science components, especially on those where the feedbacks between social and natural components are beginning to emerge. Here, we discuss its scope, challenges to its effective application and key steps to catalyse interdisciplinary approaches using this concept.
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
Authors: Ekaterina Popova, Yevgeny Aksenov, Laurent O. Amoudry, Amani Becker, Lucy Bricheno, Jennifer M. Brown, Michael A. Clare, Alan Evans, Claire Evans, Sara E. Fowell, Svetlana Jevrejeva, Zoe Jacobs, Daniel O. B. Jones, Angela Hibbert, Fran O’Hara, Emma McKinley, Marta Payo-Payo, Christopher R. Pearce, Sarah F. W. Taylor, Christine Sams, Andrew Yool
Institutions: National Oceanography Centre, Cardiff University
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems and Management
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,295
Awards: G1190318087, G1821804007, G1948039905, G2043934909, Our common future ocean in the Earth system – quantifying coupled cycles of carbon, oxygen, and nutrients for determining and achieving safe operating spaces with respect to tipping points, Sustainable Oceans, Livelihoods and food Security Through Increased Capacity in Ecosystem research in the Western Indian Ocean (SOLSTICE-WIO), G316067346, G3305931967, Solutions to measuring and managing economic risks and Opportunities in Sustainable ocean development (SOS), CANARI: Climate change in the Arctic-North Atlantic Region and Impacts on the UK, G3751531689, G4041659576, Resilient coasts: optimising co-benefit solutions (Co-Opt), Marine LTSS: Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science, G4227455053, G434337789, G4584952626, G5402437505, G5658134624, G5700176411, G6086642266, G627938135, G6662901448, G7495871399, Biogeochemical processes and ecosystem function in changing polar systems and their global impacts (BIOPOLE), TerraFIRMA: Future Impacts Risks and Mitigation Actions, Recovery of Seagrass for Ocean Wealth UK, G874857898
OpenAlex ID: W4385799528