Friday, August 8, 2008: 8:00 AM-11:30 AM
104 A, Midwest Airlines Center
SYMP 24 - Research and Education About Ecosystem Functioning: Linking Perspectives From Ecology, Social Sciences, and the Humanities
In many areas of ecology and conservation, academic knowledge has reached limits where the provision of new data and models alone is not sufficient to engage the public in science or influence public policy. We increasingly realize that many pressing problems facing ecological research and society require insight and methodologies from beyond the traditional realm of the natural sciences. In this symposium, we will use one of the central foci of ecological research, namely the quantification and maintenance of ecosystem services and ecosystem functioning, to highlight the potential important contributions that disciplines such as philosophy, environmental ethics, history, education, and law can make toward the development of effective interactions between research, education, and public policy. We argue that the very notion of ecosystem functioning (as well as of biodiversity, which is often seen as closely related to it) cannot be grasped in purely scientific ways, as both philosophical and historical analyses show. In recent years, the issue has also become highly politicized, particularly by discussions related to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and its focus on ecosystem functioning, ecosystem services, and human well-being. Therefore, moving beyond a single-minded focus on research is essential to the development of full intellectual potential in the subject but also to secure public engagement and support. We will demonstrate that methods from the humanities and social sciences can contribute decisively to: (1) understanding the problem and clarifying research themes; (2) structuring research and education programs; (3) selecting reference states of functioning ecosystems based on both scientific input and societal values (“social choice”); (4) evaluating desired ecosystem states and the means to achieve them; and (5) communicating and translating social and scientific perceptions of nature and (functioning) ecosystems to both the public and policy makers. We suggest that this approach has the potential to change individual and institutional behaviors, reflect a wider set of values, and explicitly consider societal benefits in the establishment of research agendas. The speakers are drawn from ecology, humanities, and social sciences, all having long experiences in bridging the divide between these fields of knowledge and practice.
Organizer:Maria Uriarte, Columbia University
Co-organizers:Kurt Jax, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Kathleen C. Weathers, Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Moderator:Dan Flynn, Columbia University
8:00 AMSYMP 24-1Who decides what a “functioning ecosystem” is?
Kurt Jax, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
8:15 AM Discussion
8:20 AMSYMP 24-2Ecological value and environmental education
Eugene C. Hargrove, University of North Texas
8:35 AMSYMP 24-3Ecosystems, law, and policy: Seeking a greater synthesis
Bob Keiter, University of Utah
8:50 AMSYMP 24-4Field environmental ethics: Integrating ecology and philosophy for biocultural conservation in southern South America
Ricardo Rozzi, University of North Texas and Universty of Magallanes - Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Chile, Alexandria K. Poole, University of North Texas, Kurt Heidinger, University of North Texas and Omora Ethnobotanical Park, Chile, Kelli P. Moses, University of North Texas, Ximena Arango, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Omora Ethnobotanical Park, and University of Magallanes, Chile, Mitzi Acevedo, University Andres Bello and Omora Ethnobotanical Park, Jose Tomas Ibarra, Laboratorio Fauna Australis, P. Universidad Catolica, and Omora Ethnobotanical Park, Monica Lindemann, University of North Texas, Tamara A. Contador, University of North Texas and IEB-Chile, Christopher B. Anderson, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and Omora Park - University of Magallanes, Francisca Massardo, University of Magallanes and Omora Ethnobotanical Park, Juan J. Armesto, P. Universidad Catolica de Chile, IEB, Universidad de Chile; CASEB Departamento de Ecologia
9:05 AM Panel Discussion: Ethics, Law, and Policy (Hargrove, Keiter, Rozzi)
9:20 AM Break
9:30 AMSYMP 24-5The ecosystem metaphor: Bridging science and ecological education from the local community to the biosphere
Juan J. Armesto, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Chile and CASEB, P. Universidad Catolica de Chile, Ricardo Rozzi, University of North Texas, Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Universidad de Magallanes, Daniela I. Manuschevich, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and CASEB, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, M. Francisca Diaz, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and CASEB, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Martin Carmona, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and CASEB, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Andrea Troncoso, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and CASEB, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Rocio Jana-Prado, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and CASEB, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Ivan Diaz, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and CASEB, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Andres Charrier, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and CASEB, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
9:45 AMSYMP 24-6Constructing a broader definition of ecosystem services through research, education, and institutional change - CANCELLED
Maria Uriarte, Columbia University
10:00 AM Panel Discussion: Knowledge and education (Rhoten, Uriarte, Armesto)
10:15 AM Break
10:25 AMSYMP 24-7Functions of ecosystems, a matter of visions; Combining ecological and non-ecological perspectives
Henny J. Van der Windt, University of Groningen
10:40 AMSYMP 24-8Walking the talk: Results of a sabbatical experiment to link human passion about lakes with sound ecosystem science
Kathleen Weathers, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
10:55 AM Panel Discussion: Illustrative case studies (Nadkarni, van der Windt, Weathers)
11:10 AM Concluding Remarks

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See more of The 93rd ESA Annual Meeting (August 3 -- August 8, 2008)