The complex problems associated with global change processes calls for close collaboration between science disciplines to create new, integrated knowledge. In the wake of global change processes, forests and other natural environments have been rapidly changing, highlighting the need for collaboration and integrative research development. Few tools are available to explore the potential for collaborations in research ventures that are just starting up. This study presents a useful approach for exploring and fostering collaborations between academics working in research teams and organizations comprising multiple science disciplines ( i.e., multi-disciplinary). The research aim was to reveal potential barriers, common ground, and research strengths between academics working in a new centre focused on forest and climate change research. This aim was based on the premise that raising awareness and working with this acquired knowledge fosters collaborations and integrative research development. An email survey was deployed amongst the academics to obtain: (i) their understanding of common themes (e.g., climate change, scale of investigation, woodland/forest health/decline); (ii) descriptions of the spatial and temporal scales of their research; and (iii) their approach and perceived contributions to climate change research. These data were analysed using a semi-quantitative content analysis approach. We found that the main potential barriers were likely to be related to differences in understanding of the common research themes, whilst similarities and disciplinary strengths provided critical elements to foster collaborations. These findings were presented and discussed amongst the centre academics to raise awareness and create a dialogue around these issues. This process resulted in the development of four additional research projects involving multiple disciplines. The approach used in this study provides a useful methodology of broader benefit to similar multi-disciplinary research teams and organizations elsewhere.
References
[1]
Tress, G.; Tress, B.; Fry, G. Clarifying integrative research concepts in Landscape Ecology. Landsc. Ecol. 2004, 20, 479–493, doi:10.1007/s10980-004-3290-4.
Tress, G.; Tress, B.; Fry, G. Analysis of the barriers to integration in landscape research projects. Land Use Policy 2007, 24, 374–385, doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2006.05.001.
[4]
Rayner, S.; Malone, E. Human Choice and Climate Change, Volume 1: The Societal Framework; Battelle Press: Columbus, OH, USA, 1998; p. 491.
[5]
Rosenzweig, C.; Wilbanks, T. The state of climate change vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation research: Strengthening knowledge base and community. Clim. Chang. 2010, 100, 103–106, doi:10.1007/s10584-010-9826-5.
[6]
Arnell, N. Adapting to climate change: An evolving research programme. Clim. Chang. 2010, 100, 107–111, doi:10.1007/s10584-010-9839-0.
[7]
Lindner, M.; Maroschek, M.; Netherer, S.; Kremer, A.; Barbati, A.; Garcia-Gonzalo, J.; Seidl, R.; Delzon, S.; Corona, P.; Kolstrom, M.; et al. Climate change impacts, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability of European forest ecosystems. For. Ecol. Manag. 2010, 259, 698–709, doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2009.09.023.
[8]
Medlyn, B.E.; Zeppel, M.; Brouwers, N.C.; Howard, K.; O’Gara, E.; Hardy, G.; Lyons, T.; Li, L.; Evans, B. Biophysical Impacts of Climate Change on Australia’s Forests; National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility: Gold Coast, Australia, 2011; p. 189.
[9]
Deconchat, M.; Gibon, A.; Cabanettes, A.; du Bus de Warnaffe, G.; Hewison, M.; Garine, E.; Gavaland, A.; Lacombe, J.-P.; Ladet, S.; Monteil, C.; et al. How to set up a research framework to analyze social-ecological interactive processes in a rural landscape. Ecol. Soc. 2007, 12. Available online: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol12/iss11/art15/ (accessed on 12 May 2012).
[10]
Jakobsen, C.H.; Hels, T.; McLaughlin, W.J. Barriers and facilitators to integration among scientists in transdisciplinary landscape analyses: A cross-country comparison. For. Policy Econ. 2004, 6, 15–31, doi:10.1016/S1389-9341(02)00080-1.
[11]
Phillips, C.; Allen, W.; Fenemor, A.; Bowden, B.; Young, R. Integrated catchment management research: Lessons for interdisciplinary science from the Motueka Catchment, New Zealand. Mar. Freshw. Res. 2010, 61, 749–763, doi:10.1071/MF09099.
[12]
White, P.C.L.; Cinderby, S.; Raffaelli, D.; de Bruin, A.; Holt, A.; Huby, M. Enhancing the effectiveness of policy-relevant integrative research in rural areas. Area 2009, 41, 414–424, doi:10.1111/j.1475-4762.2008.00871.x.
[13]
Morse, W.C.; Nielsen-Pincus, M.; Force, J.; Wulfhorst, J. Bridges and barriers to developing and conducting interdisciplinary graduate-student team research. Ecol. Soc. 2007, 12. Available online: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol12/iss12/art18/ (accessed on 16 May 2012).
[14]
Heemskerk, M.; Wilson, K.; Pavao-Zuckerman, M. Conceptual models as tools for communication across disciplines. Conserv. Ecol. 2003, 7. Available online: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol7/iss3/art8/ (accessed on 16 May 2012).
[15]
Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Woodland & Forest Health. Available online: www.foresthealth.com.au (accessed on 1 April 2013).
[16]
Archibald, R.D.; Bradshaw, J.; Bowen, B.J.; Close, D.C.; McCaw, L.; Drake, P.L.; Hardy, G.E.S.J. Understorey thinning and burning trials are needed in conservation reserves: The case of Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala D.C.). Ecol. Manag. Restor. 2010, 11, 108–112, doi:10.1111/j.1442-8903.2010.00527.x.
[17]
Brouwers, N.C.; Matusick, G.; Ruthrof, K.; Lyons, T.; Hardy, G. Landscape-scale assessment of tree crown dieback following extreme drought and heat in a Mediterranean eucalypt forest ecosystem. Landsc. Ecol. 2013, 28, 69–80, doi:10.1007/s10980-012-9815-3.
[18]
Brouwers, N.C.; Mercer, J.; Lyons, T.; Poot, P.; Veneklaas, E.; Hardy, G. Climate and landscape drivers of tree decline in a Mediterranean ecoregion. Ecol. Evol. 2012, 3, 67–79.
[19]
Matusick, G.; Ruthrof, K.; Brouwers, N.; Dell, B.; Hardy, G.J. Sudden forest canopy collapse corresponding with extreme drought and heat in a Mediterranean-type eucalypt forest in southwestern Australia. Eur. J. For. Res. 2013, doi:10.1007/s10342-10013-10690-10345.
[20]
Klausmeyer, K.R.; Shaw, M.R. Climate change, habitat loss, protected areas and the climate adaptation potential of species in mediterranean ecosystems worldwide. PLoS One 2009, 4, e6392, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006392.
[21]
Stemler, S. An overview of content analysis. Pract. Assess. Res. Eval. 2001, 7. Available online: http://PAREonline.net/getvn.asp?v=7&n=17 (accessed on 15 November 2010).
[22]
Buizer, M.; Kurz, T.; Ruthrof, K. Understanding restoration volunteering in a context of environmental change: In pursuit of novel ecosystems or historical analogues? Hum. Ecol. 2012, 40, 153–160, doi:10.1007/s10745-011-9445-4.
[23]
Milly, P.C.D.; Betancourt, J.; Falkenmark, M.; Hirsch, R.M.; Kundzewicz, Z.W.; Lettenmaier, D.P.; Stouffer, R.J. Stationarity is dead: Whither water management? Science 2008, 319, 573–574, doi:10.1126/science.1151915.
[24]
Proctor, J.D. The meaning of global environmental change: Retheorizing culture in human dimensions research. Glob. Environ. Chang. 1998, 8, 227–248, doi:10.1016/S0959-3780(98)00006-5.
[25]
Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Woodland & Forest Health: Bulletins. Available online: http://www.foresthealth.com.au/html/resources_bulletins.php (accessed on 1 April 2013).
[26]
Blog on Forest Health. Available online: http://blogonforesthealth.com/ (accessed on 1 April 2013).
[27]
Preserving Western Australia’s Ecosystem. State of the Future, Industry, Science and Innovation News, 24th; Department of Commerce, Government of Western Australia: Perth, Australia, 2013; pp. 1,4.
[28]
Klein, J.T. Evaluation of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research: A literature review. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2008, 35, S116–S123, doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2008.05.010.
