Managing Complex Environmental Problems: The Needs and the Challenges for Transdisciplinary Science and Training

The need for broader scientific perspectives to address complex marine resource problems has led to increased support for integrated science and opportunities for collaborative work that crosses not only disciplinary, but also epistemological boundaries. In multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary settings, individuals work in parallel to address a common problem with no integration (multidisciplinary) or some integration (interdisciplinary) of their respective disciplines. In a transdisciplinary framework, researchers with varied expertise work jointly to address a problem they define under a shared conceptual framework; this approach is intended to transcend disciplinary boundaries by developing shared language and problem-solving approaches. However, there are challenges to implementing these approaches in scientific and academic institutions, including: time investments, lack of effective training elements and opportunities for cross-disciplinary development, inter-departmental barriers, limited academic job opportunities for those with interdisciplinary skills, and researcher/student dispositions. However, examples of transdisciplinary research are emerging based upon the complexity of problems and management need. This session will provide examples of transdisciplinary research, evaluations of multi-disciplinary educational models, and guidance on emerging skills necessary for successfully navigating multidisciplinary topics in fisheries and marine resources science and management.