Practices in Social Ecological Research: Interdisciplinary collaboration in 'adaptive doing'

Aimed at those at the forefront of social ecological thinking, this book presents a practice-oriented process to navigate the complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time. The book brings together insights from the social sciences and beyond to introduce readers to ‘adaptive doing’ -  a continuous and iterative process of experiential learning that provides an accessible structure and process for integrating a range of knowledge and practices. As part of the ‘adaptive doing’ learning cycle, the authors argue for a common platform, symbolically called ‘the agora’, where multiple ways of understanding can be discussed. In this space, participants can work from practice and narratives, toward meaning, knowledge formation and practice change.

The book demonstrates three reframing tools for social ecological practice that provide readers with multiple ways of holistically entering the social ecological domain and expanding their perspectives with a view to changing practice. ‘Adaptive doing’ is presented as a catalyst for a new generation of social ecological research, in which participants honour their disciplinary foundations while being ready to collaborate within each new system, and each new engagement: being able to act now, for social ecological recognition and change.

Andrea Rawluk is an environmental sociologist based at the University of Melbourne, Australia whose work focuses on complex social ecological challenges, such as communities and wildfires, and landscape transformation. She addresses interdisciplinary challenges at the nexus of policy, practice, and social change.

Ruth Beilin is Professor of Landscape and Environmental Sociology at the University of Melbourne, Australia. The author of more than 100 publications, her research addresses social ecological systems, landscape policy and planning, interdisciplinarity, social research methods, and community-based resource management.

Helena Bender is a behavioural ecologist at the University of Melbourne, Australia whose research path began in the management of kangaroo-human interactions, and has progressed to include interdisciplinary teaching practice and sustainability. Her teaching has focused on the social ecological challenges of the 21st century.

Rebecca Ford is a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She draws on psychological and interdisciplinary frameworks to study people and their interactions with forests and forest and fire management considering aspects such as experience, values, social acceptability, and decision-making.