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Engaging the Social Sciences to LTER Network-Level Science & Synthesis Athens, GA August 3-5, 2005

Engaging the Social Sciences to LTER Network-Level Science & Synthesis Athens, GA August 3-5, 2005. Workshop sponsored by NSF-SBE and attended by social scientists and others (anthropology, economics, geography, political science, rural sociology, sociology) from 23 of the 26 LTERs.

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Engaging the Social Sciences to LTER Network-Level Science & Synthesis Athens, GA August 3-5, 2005

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  1. Engaging the Social Sciences to LTER Network-Level Science & SynthesisAthens, GA August 3-5, 2005 Workshop sponsored by NSF-SBE and attended by social scientists and others (anthropology, economics, geography, political science, rural sociology, sociology) from 23 of the 26 LTERs

  2. Workshop Goals: Addressing the Coupled Human-Natural Ecosystem Challenge • To make recommendations for how sophisticated social science concepts and approaches can help fulfill the goal of moving LTER science to a higher level of research collaboration, synthesis, and integration. • To provide a concrete set of recommendations and associated costs to Tom Baerwald (SBE) and Henry Gholz (DEB) for advancing the social sciences in the LTER network with long-term support.

  3. Present State of Social Sciences in LTER (based on 19 LTER survey responses) • 51 social scientists in several disciplines currently participate in LTERs across the Network • Maximum number at a single site = 20 • Eight sites have none • Typical ratio of biophysical-to-social science ratio = 20:1 • Research at 11 sites has produced core social science datasets (but biophysical scientists use them at only 3 sites) • Social scientists play a significant role at 3 sites

  4. Significant Barriers to Mobilizing Social Science Capacity in the Network • Funding: only nominal, short-term, ad hoc funding available • Lack of incentives (disincentives) to participate in interdisciplinary research • Non-specialists carry out social science research • Social sciences not institutionalized in the LTER program

  5. Participants Identified Collaborative Foundations for LTER Social Science • Fundamental cross-cutting research questions • 25 core social science datasets that should be constructed for LTER sites • Measures and indices that draw upon the conceptual sophistication of the social sciences • Methodologies and procedures to ensure comparability of practice and results

  6. Incubating Success through Integration of SS across LTER Sites (NSF $$$) • Establish and maintain a threaded listserv (LTER Network) • Create a digital archive of information and data that can be queried (Network $300k) • Sponsor a thematic social science meeting (Luquillo LTER $65k) • Establish long-term funding for inter-disciplinary science ($300k per year per site)

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