1
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Struebig MJ, Aninta SG, Beger M, Bani A, Barus H, Brace S, Davies ZG, Brauwer M, Diele K, Djakiman C, Djamaluddin R, Drinkwater R, Dumbrell A, Evans D, Fusi M, Herrera-Alsina L, Iskandar DT, Jompa J, Juliandi B, Lancaster LT, Limmon G, Lo MGY, Lupiyaningdyah P, McCannon M, Meijaard E, Mitchell SL, Mumbunan S, O'Connell D, Osborne OG, Papadopulos AST, Rahajoe JS, Rossiter SJ, Rustiami H, Salzmann U, Sudiana IM, Sukara E, Tasirin JS, Tjoa A, Travis JMJ, Trethowan L, Trianto A, Utteridge T, Voigt M, Winarni N, Zakaria Z, Edwards DP, Frantz L, Supriatna J. Safeguarding Imperiled Biodiversity and Evolutionary Processes in the Wallacea Center of Endemism. Bioscience 2022; 72:1118-1130. [PMID: 36325105 PMCID: PMC9618277 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Wallacea-the meeting point between the Asian and Australian fauna-is one of the world's largest centers of endemism. Twenty-three million years of complex geological history have given rise to a living laboratory for the study of evolution and biodiversity, highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures. In the present article, we review the historic and contemporary processes shaping Wallacea's biodiversity and explore ways to conserve its unique ecosystems. Although remoteness has spared many Wallacean islands from the severe overexploitation that characterizes many tropical regions, industrial-scale expansion of agriculture, mining, aquaculture and fisheries is damaging terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, denuding endemics from communities, and threatening a long-term legacy of impoverished human populations. An impending biodiversity catastrophe demands collaborative actions to improve community-based management, minimize environmental impacts, monitor threatened species, and reduce wildlife trade. Securing a positive future for Wallacea's imperiled ecosystems requires a fundamental shift away from managing marine and terrestrial realms independently.
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Goldsmith J, Sun Y, Fried LP, Wing J, Miller GW, Berhane K. The Emergence and Future of Public Health Data Science. Public Health Rev 2021; 42:1604023. [PMID: 34692178 PMCID: PMC8378512 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2021.1604023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Data science is a newly‐formed and, as yet, loosely‐defined discipline that has nonetheless emerged as a critical component of successful scientific research. We seek to provide an understanding of the term “data science,” particularly as it relates to public health; to identify ways that data science methods can strengthen public health research; to propose ways to strengthen education for public health data science; and to discuss issues in data science that may benefit from a public health perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Goldsmith
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yifei Sun
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Linda P Fried
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jeannette Wing
- Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gary W Miller
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kiros Berhane
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
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3
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Berke PR, Quiring SM, Olivera F, Horney JA. Addressing Challenges to Building Resilience Through Interdisciplinary Research and Engagement. Risk Anal 2021; 41:1248-1253. [PMID: 30261118 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Resilient communities are less affected by, and recover faster from, natural disasters. To be resilient in rapidly changing contemporary environments subject to the effects of complex factors such as climate change and urbanization, communities must effectively and efficiently adapt to new conditions to minimize future risks. To develop resilience, the hazards to which the community is exposed and vulnerable (i.e., future hurricanes, subsidence, salt water intrusion) must be accurately assessed, the systems (i.e., natural, built, and social) must be well understood, and the community must be engaged in the proactive planning and priority setting process. An approach to building resilience that utilizes the adaptive capacity of planning highlights opportunities to work collaboratively across disciplines to incorporate models and data from different disciplines to reduce uncertainty. We present one interdisciplinary group's approach to addressing challenges to building resilience through proactive planning, including: (1) characterizing hazards more accurately; (2) improving understanding of the vulnerability of natural (e.g., climate and infrastructure) systems subject to hazards; and (3) capturing potential synergies from interactions between planning and policies that govern decisions about the design of human settlements in hazardous areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip R Berke
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Steven M Quiring
- Department of Geography, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Francisco Olivera
- Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer A Horney
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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4
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Snedden CE, Makanani SK, Schwartz ST, Gamble A, Blakey RV, Borremans B, Helman SK, Espericueta L, Valencia A, Endo A, Alfaro ME, Lloyd-Smith JO. SARS-CoV-2: Cross-scale Insights from Ecology and Evolution. Trends Microbiol 2021; 29:593-605. [PMID: 33893024 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ecological and evolutionary processes govern the fitness, propagation, and interactions of organisms through space and time, and viruses are no exception. While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) research has primarily emphasized virological, clinical, and epidemiological perspectives, crucial aspects of the pandemic are fundamentally ecological or evolutionary. Here, we highlight five conceptual domains of ecology and evolution – invasion, consumer-resource interactions, spatial ecology, diversity, and adaptation – that illuminate (sometimes unexpectedly) the emergence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We describe the applications of these concepts across levels of biological organization and spatial scales, including within individual hosts, host populations, and multispecies communities. Together, these perspectives illustrate the integrative power of ecological and evolutionary ideas and highlight the benefits of interdisciplinary thinking for understanding emerging viruses.
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Kusters R, Misevic D, Berry H, Cully A, Le Cunff Y, Dandoy L, Díaz-Rodríguez N, Ficher M, Grizou J, Othmani A, Palpanas T, Komorowski M, Loiseau P, Moulin Frier C, Nanini S, Quercia D, Sebag M, Soulié Fogelman F, Taleb S, Tupikina L, Sahu V, Vie JJ, Wehbi F. Interdisciplinary Research in Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities. Front Big Data 2020; 3:577974. [PMID: 33693418 PMCID: PMC7931862 DOI: 10.3389/fdata.2020.577974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in a variety of research fields is speeding up multiple digital revolutions, from shifting paradigms in healthcare, precision medicine and wearable sensing, to public services and education offered to the masses around the world, to future cities made optimally efficient by autonomous driving. When a revolution happens, the consequences are not obvious straight away, and to date, there is no uniformly adapted framework to guide AI research to ensure a sustainable societal transition. To answer this need, here we analyze three key challenges to interdisciplinary AI research, and deliver three broad conclusions: 1) future development of AI should not only impact other scientific domains but should also take inspiration and benefit from other fields of science, 2) AI research must be accompanied by decision explainability, dataset bias transparency as well as development of evaluation methodologies and creation of regulatory agencies to ensure responsibility, and 3) AI education should receive more attention, efforts and innovation from the educational and scientific communities. Our analysis is of interest not only to AI practitioners but also to other researchers and the general public as it offers ways to guide the emerging collaborations and interactions toward the most fruitful outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remy Kusters
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
| | - Dusan Misevic
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Loic Dandoy
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
| | - Natalia Díaz-Rodríguez
- Inria Flowers, Paris and Bordeaux, France
- ENSTA Paris, Institut Polytechnique Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marion Ficher
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
| | - Jonathan Grizou
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
| | - Alice Othmani
- Université Paris-Est, LISSI, Vitry sur Seine, France
| | - Themis Palpanas
- Université de Paris, France and French University Institute (IUF), Paris, France
| | | | - Patrick Loiseau
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Inria, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LIG, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Santino Nanini
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
| | | | - Michele Sebag
- TAU, LRI-CNRS–INRIA, Universite Paris-Saclay, France
| | | | - Sofiane Taleb
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
| | - Liubov Tupikina
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
- Nokia Bell Labs, Paris, France
| | - Vaibhav Sahu
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
| | | | - Fatima Wehbi
- INSERM U1284, Université de Paris, Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Paris, France
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Swift JA, Bunce M, Dortch J, Douglass K, Faith JT, Fellows Yates JA, Field J, Haberle SG, Jacob E, Johnson CN, Lindsey E, Lorenzen ED, Louys J, Miller G, Mychajliw AM, Slon V, Villavicencio NA, Waters MR, Welker F, Wood R, Petraglia M, Boivin N, Roberts P. Micro Methods for Megafauna: Novel Approaches to Late Quaternary Extinctions and Their Contributions to Faunal Conservation in the Anthropocene. Bioscience 2019; 69:877-887. [PMID: 31719710 PMCID: PMC6829010 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biz105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Drivers of Late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions are relevant to modern conservation policy in a world of growing human population density, climate change, and faunal decline. Traditional debates tend toward global solutions, blaming either dramatic climate change or dispersals of Homo sapiens to new regions. Inherent limitations to archaeological and paleontological data sets often require reliance on scant, poorly resolved lines of evidence. However, recent developments in scientific technologies allow for more local, context-specific approaches. In the present article, we highlight how developments in five such methodologies (radiocarbon approaches, stable isotope analysis, ancient DNA, ancient proteomics, microscopy) have helped drive detailed analysis of specific megafaunal species, their particular ecological settings, and responses to new competitors or predators, climate change, and other external phenomena. The detailed case studies of faunal community composition, extinction chronologies, and demographic trends enabled by these methods examine megafaunal extinctions at scales appropriate for practical understanding of threats against particular species in their habitats today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian A Swift
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
- Anthropology Department of Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai’i
| | - Michael Bunce
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Joe Dortch
- Centre for Rock Art Research and Management, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Kristina Douglass
- Department of Anthropology and with the Institutes for Energy and the Environment, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
| | - J Tyler Faith
- Natural History Museum of Utah and with the Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - James A Fellows Yates
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Judith Field
- School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Simon G Haberle
- College of Asia and the Pacific and the School of Culture, History, and Language, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence, Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eileen Jacob
- Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, England
| | - Chris N Johnson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence, Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Emily Lindsey
- La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, part of the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California
| | - Eline D Lorenzen
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julien Louys
- Australian Research Center for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gifford Miller
- INSTAAR and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder
| | - Alexis M Mychajliw
- La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, part of the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California
| | - Viviane Slon
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Natalia A Villavicencio
- Departamento de Ecología, in the Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología and Biodiversidad, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael R Waters
- Center for the Study of the First Americans, the Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Frido Welker
- Evolutionary Genomics Section of the GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, and with the Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rachel Wood
- Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Michael Petraglia
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Nicole Boivin
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Patrick Roberts
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
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7
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Norconk MA. Commentaries on field-laboratory collaborations in primatology: Introduction to a special section of the American Journal of Primatology. Am J Primatol 2019; 81:e22979. [PMID: 31016742 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Finding better approaches to bridge field and laboratory primate research was identified as an important goal in a recent (2017) member survey of the American Society of Primatologists. Collaborative field-captive research was identified by >60% of respondents as somewhat or very underrepresented in the Society. In this introductory essay for a special section of American Journal of Primatology, I review commonalities and differences in the papers that were requested from field-captive primate collaborative teams. Each team approached important primate biology or welfare problems from different perspectives. The five commentaries in this section addressed how the collaborations began, scientific benefits that accrued, and insights or challenges that researchers faced in the collaboration. Despite the fact that the specific fields of inquiry were different (conservation genetics, chimpanzee captive welfare, environmental physiology, feeding biology, and reproductive physiology), the commentaries converged on the concept that an intentional, interdisciplinary approach, that included field observations and experiments informed by laboratory expertise, were essential to achieving innovative results.
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8
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Suryanarayanan S, Kleinman DL, Gratton C, Toth A, Guedot C, Groves R, Piechowski J, Moore B, Hagedorn D, Kauth D, Swan H, Celley M. Collaboration Matters: Honey Bee Health as a Transdisciplinary Model for Understanding Real-World Complexity. Bioscience 2018; 68:990-995. [PMID: 30524133 PMCID: PMC6278639 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biy118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We develop a transdisciplinary deliberative model that moves beyond traditional scientific collaborations to include nonscientists in designing complexity-oriented research. We use the case of declining honey bee health as an exemplar of complex real-world problems requiring cross-disciplinary intervention. Honey bees are important pollinators of the fruits and vegetables we eat. In recent years, these insects have been dying at alarming rates. To prompt the reorientation of research toward the complex reality in which bees face multiple challenges, we came together as a group, including beekeepers, farmers, and scientists. Over a 2-year period, we deliberated about how to study the problem of honey bee deaths and conducted field experiments with bee colonies. We show trust and authority to be crucial factors shaping such collaborative research, and we offer a model for structuring collaboration that brings scientists and nonscientists together with the key objects and places of their shared concerns across time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sainath Suryanarayanan
- Population Health Institute and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies in the University of Wisconsin–Madison
| | | | - Claudio Gratton
- Department of Entomology in the University of Wisconsin–Madison
| | - Amy Toth
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology and the Department of Entomology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa
| | | | - Russell Groves
- Department of Entomology in the University of Wisconsin–Madison
| | | | | | | | | | - Heather Swan
- Heather Swan is in the Department of English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
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9
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Qiu J, Game ET, Tallis H, Olander LP, Glew L, Kagan JS, Kalies EL, Michanowicz D, Phelan J, Polasky S, Reed J, Sills EO, Urban D, Weaver SK. Evidence-Based Causal Chains for Linking Health, Development, and Conservation Actions. Bioscience 2018; 68:182-193. [PMID: 29988312 PMCID: PMC6019009 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustainability challenges for nature and people are complex and interconnected, such that effective solutions require approaches and a common theory of change that bridge disparate disciplines and sectors. Causal chains offer promising approaches to achieving an integrated understanding of how actions affect ecosystems, the goods and services they provide, and ultimately, human well-being. Although causal chains and their variants are common tools across disciplines, their use remains highly inconsistent, limiting their ability to support and create a shared evidence base for joint actions. In this article, we present the foundational concepts and guidance of causal chains linking disciplines and sectors that do not often intersect to elucidate the effects of actions on ecosystems and society. We further discuss considerations for establishing and implementing causal chains, including nonlinearity, trade-offs and synergies, heterogeneity, scale, and confounding factors. Finally, we highlight the science, practice, and policy implications of causal chains to address real-world linked human-nature challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangxiao Qiu
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center at the University of Florida, in Davie, Florida
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, in Arlington, Virginia
- University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia
| | - Heather Tallis
- The Nature Conservancy, in Arlington, Virginia
- University of California, in Santa Cruz, California
| | - Lydia P Olander
- Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - James S Kagan
- Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University, in Corvallis
- Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon
| | | | - Drew Michanowicz
- Department of Environmental Health at Harvard University, in Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer Phelan
- National Atmospheric Deposition Program—Critical Loads of Atmospheric Deposition, at the University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, and Research Triangle Institute International, in North Carolina
| | - Stephen Polasky
- College of Biological Sciences and Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota, in St. Paul
| | - James Reed
- Center for International Forestry Research, in Bogor, Indonesia, and with the Lancaster Environment Centre at the University of Lancaster, in the United Kingdom
| | - Erin O Sills
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh
| | - Dean Urban
- Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina
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10
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Abstract
To a large extent, the pursuit of science takes place in universities. In this essay, I ask the following questions. Supposing there were no universities, and that all the knowledge mankind has ever collected and generated is somehow accessible, would we invent universities to make this knowledge available to address the problems humanity faces? What should those universities perform, and what role would science play in such universities? To look for answers to those questions, I consider the nature of the problems dealt with by science, the knowledge needed to address those problems, the gap between the two, the need for interdisciplinarity and the need to educate the leaders of the future, and finally, the boundaries of scientific knowledge.
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11
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Sundstrom L. Translational research needs us to go back to basics and collaborate: interview with Lars Sundstrom. Future Sci OA 2016; 2:FSO134. [PMID: 28031978 DOI: 10.4155/fsoa-2016-0046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lars Sundstrom is Director of Enterprise and Translation at the West of England Academic Health Sciences Network [1] (UK), a Professor of Practice in Translational Medicine and Co-Director of the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research at Bristol University [2] (UK), and an honorary Professor of Medicine at Cardiff University (UK). He has extensive experience in translational medicine and clinical neurosciences, holding positions at several eminent universities. He has also held executive and board-level positions at several SMEs, developing new therapeutics for neurological conditions and tools for drug discovery. He has also been an advisor to several UK and local government task forces and to the European Commission and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations. He was a founding member of the European Brain Council in Brussels, and set up the Severnside Alliance for Translational Research, developing a regional network partnership to link clinical and basic scientists. He was also involved in the creation of Health Research Wales.
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12
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Ameredes BT, Hellmich MR, Cestone CM, Wooten KC, Ottenbacher KJ, Chonmaitree T, Anderson KE, Brasier AR. The Multidisciplinary Translational Team (MTT) Model for Training and Development of Translational Research Investigators. Clin Transl Sci 2015; 8:533-41. [PMID: 26010046 DOI: 10.1111/cts.12281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiinstitutional research collaborations now form the most rapid and productive project execution structures in the health sciences. Effective adoption of a multidisciplinary team research approach is widely accepted as one mechanism enabling rapid translation of new discoveries into interventions in human health. Although the impact of successful team-based approaches facilitating innovation has been well-documented, its utility for training a new generation of scientists has not been thoroughly investigated. We describe the characteristics of how multidisciplinary translational teams (MTTs) promote career development of translational research scholars through competency building, interprofessional integration, and team-based mentoring approaches. Exploratory longitudinal and outcome assessments from our experience show that MTT membership had a positive effect on the development of translational research competencies, as determined by a self-report survey of 32 scholars. We also observed that all trainees produced a large number of collaborative publications that appeared to be associated with their CTSA association and participation with MTTs. We conclude that the MTT model provides a unique training environment for translational and team-based learning activities, for investigators at early stages of career development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill T Ameredes
- Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Mark R Hellmich
- Departments of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, and Surgery, Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Christina M Cestone
- Office of Research Education and Training, Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin C Wooten
- Department of Management, School of Business and Public Administration, University of Houston, Clear Lake, Houston, Texas, USA.,the Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Kenneth J Ottenbacher
- Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Occupational Therapy and Division of Geriatrics, Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Tasnee Chonmaitree
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Karl E Anderson
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Allan R Brasier
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
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13
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Luke DA, Carothers BJ, Dhand A, Bell RA, Moreland-Russell S, Sarli CC, Evanoff BA. Breaking down silos: mapping growth of cross-disciplinary collaboration in a translational science initiative. Clin Transl Sci 2014; 8:143-9. [PMID: 25472908 DOI: 10.1111/cts.12248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of transdisciplinary collaboration is growing, though not much is known about how to measure collaboration patterns. The purpose of this paper is to present multiple ways of mapping and evaluating the growth of cross-disciplinary partnerships over time. Social network analysis was used to examine the impact of a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) on collaboration patterns. Grant submissions from 2007 through 2010 and publications from 2007 through 2011 of Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) members were examined. A Cohort Model examining the first-year ICTS members demonstrated an overall increase in collaborations on grants and publications, as well as an increase in cross-discipline collaboration as compared to within-discipline. A Growth Model that included additional members over time demonstrated the same pattern for grant submissions, but a decrease in cross-discipline collaboration as compared to within-discipline collaboration for publications. ICTS members generally became more cross-disciplinary in their collaborations during the CTSA. The exception of publications for the Growth Model may be due to the time lag between funding and publication, as well as pressure for younger scientists to publish in their own fields. Network analysis serves as a valuable tool for evaluating changes in scientific collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas A Luke
- Center for Public Health Systems Science, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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14
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Meinard Y, Quétier F. Experiencing biodiversity as a bridge over the science-society communication gap. Conserv Biol 2014; 28:705-712. [PMID: 24372716 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2012] [Accepted: 08/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Drawing on the idea that biodiversity is simply the diversity of living things, and that everyone knows what diversity and living things mean, most conservation professionals eschew the need to explain the many complex ways in which biodiversity is understood in science. On many biodiversity-related issues, this lack of clarity leads to a communication gap between science and the general public, including decision makers who must design and implement biodiversity policies. Closing this communication gap is pivotal to the ability of science to inform sound environmental decision making. To address this communication gap, we propose a surrogate of biodiversity for communication purposes that captures the scientific definition of biodiversity yet can be understood by nonscientists; that is, biodiversity as a learning experience. The prerequisites of this or any other biodiversity communication surrogate are that it should have transdisciplinary relevance; not be measurable; be accessible to a wide audience; be usable to translate biodiversity issues; and understandably encompass biodiversity concepts. Biodiversity as a learning experience satisfies these prerequisites and is philosophically robust. More importantly, it can effectively contribute to closing the communication gap between biodiversity science and society at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves Meinard
- Gereco, Espace Saint-Germain Bâtiment le Saxo, 30 avenue du Général Leclerc, 38217 Vienne Cedex, France; Institut für Evolutionsbiologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Zürich, Zürich, S-8057, Switzerland
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15
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Coetzer KL, Witkowski ETF, Erasmus BFN. Reviewing Biosphere Reserves globally: effective conservation action or bureaucratic label? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2013; 89:82-104. [PMID: 23701641 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Revised: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The Biosphere Reserve (BR) model of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme reflects a shift towards more accountable conservation. Biosphere Reserves attempt to reconcile environmental protection with sustainable development; they explicitly acknowledge humans, and human interests in the conservation landscape while still maintaining the ecological values of existing protected areas. Conceptually, this model is attractive, with 610 sites currently designated globally. Yet the practical reality of implementing dual 'conservation' and 'development' goals is challenging, with few examples successfully conforming to the model's full criteria. Here, we review the history of Biosphere Reserves from first inception in 1974 to the current status quo, and examine the suitability of the designation as an effective conservation model. We track the spatial expansion of Biosphere Reserves globally, assessing the influence of the Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and Seville strategy in 1995, when the BR concept refocused its core objectives on sustainable development. We use a comprehensive range of case studies to discuss conformity to the Programme, the social and ecological consequences associated with implementation of the designation, and challenges in aligning conservation and development. Given that the 'Biosphere Reserve' label is a relatively unknown designation in the public arena, this review also provides details on popularising the Biosphere Reserve brand, as well as prospects for further research, currently unexploited, but implicit in the designation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaera L Coetzer
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa
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16
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Kinzig AP, Ehrlich PR, Alston LJ, Arrow K, Barrett S, Buchman TG, Daily GC, Levin B, Levin S, Oppenheimer M, Ostrom E, Saari D. Social Norms and Global Environmental Challenges: The Complex Interaction of Behaviors, Values, and Policy. Bioscience 2013; 63:164-175. [PMID: 25143635 PMCID: PMC4136381 DOI: 10.1525/bio.2013.63.3.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Government policies are needed when people's behaviors fail to deliver the public good. Those policies will be most effective if they can stimulate long-term changes in beliefs and norms, creating and reinforcing the behaviors needed to solidify and extend the public good.It is often the short-term acceptability of potential policies, rather than their longer-term efficacy, that determines their scope and deployment. The policy process should consider both time scales. The academy, however, has provided insufficient insight on the coevolution of social norms and different policy instruments, thus compromising the capacity of decision makers to craft effective solutions to the society's most intractable environmental problems. Life scientists could make fundamental contributions to this agenda through targeted research on the emergence of social norms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann P Kinzig
- Professor, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85281,
| | - Paul R Ehrlich
- Bing Professor of Population Studies, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,
| | - Lee J Alston
- Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309,
| | - Kenneth Arrow
- Joan Kenney Professor of Economics & Professor of Operations Research, Department of Economics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,
| | - Scott Barrett
- Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027,
| | - Timothy G Buchman
- Professor of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Woodruff Health Science Center Administration Building, 1440 Clifton Road NW, Suite 313A, Atlanta, GA 30322,
| | - Gretchen C Daily
- Bing Professor of Environmental Science, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,
| | - Bruce Levin
- Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Biology, Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322,
| | - Simon Levin
- Moffett Professor of Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544,
| | - Michael Oppenheimer
- Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs, Department of Geosciences and Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Robertson Hall 448, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544,
| | - Elinor Ostrom
- Distinguished Professor and Arthur F. Bentley Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405,
| | - Donald Saari
- UCI Distinguished Professor, Mathematics and Economics, Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-5100,
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Abstract
The rise of interdisciplinary research programs in recent years has spawned numerous questions regarding the best way to organize interdisciplinary programs and how to best train new interdisciplinary scientists in ways that will catalyze novel discoveries in biology. Systems biology, a relatively new branch of science, can be considered in many respects a poster child for modern interdisciplinary science. It not only requires that people from different traditional disciplines work closely together but it also requires the development of unique training environments to educate the next generation of systems biologists. The unique scientific and training challenges associated with the development of systems biology are certainly faced across the spectrum of interdisciplinary endeavors. Therefore, it is useful for scientists interested in building interdisciplinary research programs to consider the merits of successful systems biology initiatives. Institute for Systems Biology is one such example, and in the following, several key aspects of Institute for Systems Biology that make it both a unique and successful interdisciplinary science and training center are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc T. Facciotti
- University of California, Davis, Department of Biomedical Engineering and U.C. Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA
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