Contextualizing climate science: applying social learning systems theory to knowledge production, climate services, and use-inspired research
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Owen_et_al_2019_FinalManuscript.pdf
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Final Accepted Manuscript
Affiliation
Univ Arizona, Inst Environm, Climate Assessment SouthwestIssue Date
2019-06-04Keywords
Social learning systemsCommunities of practice
Climate services
Use-inspired research
Evaluation
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SPRINGERCitation
Owen, G., Ferguson, D.B. & McMahan, B. Contextualizing climate science: applying social learning systems theory to knowledge production, climate services, and use-inspired research. Climatic Change 157, 151–170 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02466-xJournal
CLIMATIC CHANGERights
Copyright © Springer Nature B.V. 2019.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Scientists need to acknowledge the inherent social contexts that drive the scientific process if they want their research to improve complex societal problems such as vulnerability to climate change. Social interactions and relationships are essential elements for conducting use-inspired research, creating usable knowledge, and providing climate services. The Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) program was founded on theories of use-inspired research and co-producing knowledge with non-academic partners. A recent program evaluation illuminated gaps in these underlying program models and led to the inclusion of social learning systems theory and communities of practice. Using grounded examples, we demonstrate the CLIMAS program's ongoing role in fostering, maintaining, and expanding a climate resilience social learning system in the U.S. Southwest. Broader implications from the evaluation focus on the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships, increasing institutional and individual flexibility in response to change, and improving the practice of transdisciplinarity. These findings inform new program evaluation metrics and data collection techniques. This paper contributes to current theory and practice of use-inspired science and climate services by identifying and demonstrating how social interactions inform climate knowledge production. The reconceptualization of the CLIMAS program as part of a growing regional social learning system serves as an example for similar types of programs. We encourage climate services and use-inspired research programs to explore applications of this framework to their own operations.Note
12 month embargo; published online: 4 June 2019ISSN
0165-0009Version
Final accepted manuscriptae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1007/s10584-019-02466-x