New Strategies for Wicked Problems

According to Wikipedia: "A wicked problem is one that is impossible or difficult to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize.  The term 'wicked' refers to such a problem's resistance to resolution, not to an evil nature.  Classic examples of wicked problems include economic, environmental, and political issues.”
 
We now live in a world full of wicked problems, most of them urgent challenges calling out for creative, democratic, and effective solutions.  Ed Weber, Denise Lach, and Brent Steele, of the Oregon State University School of Public Policy, solicited papers from a wide variety of accomplished scholars in the fields of science, politics, and policy with significant research experience to address this challenge.  The resultant collection focuses on major contemporary environmental and natural resource policy issues, and proposes an assortment of alternative problem-solving methodologies to tackle such problems. 
 
New Strategies for Wicked Problems will appeal to scholars, students, and decision-makers wrestling with wicked problems and “post-normal” science settings beyond simply environmental and natural resource-based issues.  It will provide much needed guidance to policymakers, citizens, public managers, and various stakeholders who are struggling with wicked problems in their professional lives.

Other Contributors:
Tanya Heikkila
Helen Ingram
Ann C. Keller
Bob Lackey
Anna Pakenham Stevenson
Christopher M. Weible
Daniel R. Williams

Edward P. Weber is the Ulysses G. Dubach Professor of Political Science in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University. He has published widely on natural resource/environmental policymaking, policy implementation, democratic accountability, and the design and operation of alternative decision-making and governance institutions, particularly collaborative governance arrangements. He also is the Chair of the Committee for Family Forestlands for the Oregon Department of Forestry and the former leader of the Thomas Foley Public Policy Institute.
 
Denise Lach is Professor of Sociology and Director of the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University.  Her research focuses on the role of science and scientists in natural resources policymaking, including finding ways to visualize data to effectively communicate results.  Her interdisciplinary research and teaching engages scholars, students, and decision-makers from fields as diverse as nuclear engineering and salmon biology. 
 
Brent S. Steel is Professor and the Director of the Graduate Program in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University.  He has published numerous journal articles, book chapters and books concerning public policy in areas such as forestry, rangelands, endangered species, coastal and marine issues, environmental issues, sustainable development, and the politicization of science.

Other Contributors:
Tanya Heikkila
Helen Ingram
Ann C. Keller
Bob Lackey
Anna Pakenham Stevenson
Christopher M. Weible
Daniel R. Williams