January 21 and 22, 2003

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

Our hope for these sessions is to foster lively discussion on broad themes linking scientific knowledge and environmental policy-making. This colloquium marks the inauguration of the University of Miami’s Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy. The proceedings will be influential in guiding our research and teaching priorities as we plan CESP’s curriculum and future programs.

The debate is ongoing as to whether academic research should be targeted toward solving defined societal problems (problem-driven research) or toward fundamental research (pursuing knowledge for its own sake).  This session will consider aspects of this debate. Topics will include:  the demonstrated utility of each approach in solving environmental problems; how current funding policies influence which approach is emphasized; what ethical issues are implicated in the debate; how the physical, natural and social sciences differ in their views of the two approaches; whether the problem-driven approach and the more abstract pursuit-of-knowledge approach are in fact competitive, or whether they can be reconciled.

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Recognizing the complexity of the inter-acting factors that result in environmental problems, and our limited ability to predict the behavior of physical, natural and social systems, where should academic research priorities lie?  Where are the gaps in our knowledge and understanding that most urgently need to be addressed? Are there areas in which sound policy could effect improvement if scientific uncertainty were reduced or eliminated?  What role can academics plan in influencing socio-political factors that hinder action on serious environmental problems where science has agreed on a solution?

The Colloquium participants are distinguished academics who have created and implemented various types of inter-disciplinary programs in prominent universities. They will be asked to share their experiences and lessons learned as to the pitfalls to avoid in such endeavors and strategies for success.  All participant discussion.

ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COLLOQUIUM 2003

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2003 

The discussion will be focused around the following questions: What was the role of science in the start-up phase of your project? How was the science involved in the planning phase? How will science continue to be incorporated in the project's implementation? What are the major scientific uncertainties you have confronted? What have been the major scientific controversies in your project? How have they been dealt with? Have you implemented adaptive assessment, and, if so, how? How have you managed scientific peer review?

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2003

The discussion will be focused around the following questions: What legislative approvals were you required to pursue? What were the major hurdles in securing the necessary legislation? What were/are your funding requirements, and how have they or will they be met? Have you felt the need to build consensus among parties interested in the project, and if so, how have you approached this challenge? How have you coordinated the participation of government and non-government players? What efforts have you made to educate and involve the public?

The colloquium will conclude by sharing important lessons learned in the process of ecosystem restoration and identifying common themes and divergences.

Read about the UM Colloquium

01/28/03