The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science?
Abstract The researcher's lament is shared by many environmental and conservation scientists who complain about the little support they receive for their research proposals during the review and selection process. Understandably, any hopes of having their anticipated scientific findings applied...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4044 |
| _version_ | 1811332016450306048 |
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| author | Gustavo A. Bisbal |
| author_facet | Gustavo A. Bisbal |
| author_sort | Gustavo A. Bisbal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The researcher's lament is shared by many environmental and conservation scientists who complain about the little support they receive for their research proposals during the review and selection process. Understandably, any hopes of having their anticipated scientific findings applied toward the formulation of environmental management decisions or natural resource policy action are shattered. They attribute this lack of endorsement to shortcomings and limitations among decision makers and proposal selection officials when, in many cases, the rejection of project proposals is often a function of a handful of self‐inflicted failures by applied scientists who anchor themselves stubbornly to doomed approaches. Familiar deficiencies in their research proposals perpetuate the disconnect between the enterprise of science and real‐world resource management challenges. Researchers themselves can affect conditions that turn up the appetite for their scientific endeavors as a more meaningful component of the decision‐making process, namely, to stage and deliver science that is more readily “actionable.” Perhaps it is time for them to consider a course correction to improve the viability of their actionable science proposals. A few basic steps may help rejigger the science planning process in this direction and, consequently, help avoid the researcher's lament. The likelihood of gaining support during the proposal review and award adjudication process, and securing practical application of scientific products, increases when the products are (1) the result of active engagement of researchers with decision makers; (2) better connected to social and political priorities; (3) clearly designed to inform specific management decisions; and (4) tailored to fit the needs of targeted end users. These considerations and activities exist beyond the comfort zone of many environmental or conservation scientists. Yet, those who adopt them will spend less time lamenting rejection and become more influential in the production of actionable knowledge. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:29:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b1ed6ad4ce34252b009d544ef45b927 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:29:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b1ed6ad4ce34252b009d544ef45b9272022-12-22T02:39:37ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252022-05-01135n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.4044The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science?Gustavo A. Bisbal0United States Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center Reston Virginia USAAbstract The researcher's lament is shared by many environmental and conservation scientists who complain about the little support they receive for their research proposals during the review and selection process. Understandably, any hopes of having their anticipated scientific findings applied toward the formulation of environmental management decisions or natural resource policy action are shattered. They attribute this lack of endorsement to shortcomings and limitations among decision makers and proposal selection officials when, in many cases, the rejection of project proposals is often a function of a handful of self‐inflicted failures by applied scientists who anchor themselves stubbornly to doomed approaches. Familiar deficiencies in their research proposals perpetuate the disconnect between the enterprise of science and real‐world resource management challenges. Researchers themselves can affect conditions that turn up the appetite for their scientific endeavors as a more meaningful component of the decision‐making process, namely, to stage and deliver science that is more readily “actionable.” Perhaps it is time for them to consider a course correction to improve the viability of their actionable science proposals. A few basic steps may help rejigger the science planning process in this direction and, consequently, help avoid the researcher's lament. The likelihood of gaining support during the proposal review and award adjudication process, and securing practical application of scientific products, increases when the products are (1) the result of active engagement of researchers with decision makers; (2) better connected to social and political priorities; (3) clearly designed to inform specific management decisions; and (4) tailored to fit the needs of targeted end users. These considerations and activities exist beyond the comfort zone of many environmental or conservation scientists. Yet, those who adopt them will spend less time lamenting rejection and become more influential in the production of actionable knowledge.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4044actionable sciencedecision makingenvironmental managementpolicy‐relevant researchusable knowledge |
| spellingShingle | Gustavo A. Bisbal The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science? Ecosphere actionable science decision making environmental management policy‐relevant research usable knowledge |
| title | The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science? |
| title_full | The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science? |
| title_fullStr | The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science? |
| title_short | The researcher's lament: Why do they ignore my science? |
| title_sort | researcher s lament why do they ignore my science |
| topic | actionable science decision making environmental management policy‐relevant research usable knowledge |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4044 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gustavoabisbal theresearcherslamentwhydotheyignoremyscience AT gustavoabisbal researcherslamentwhydotheyignoremyscience |