14
Educational Investments in
Environmental Science and
Management
Thomas P. Maxwell, Jim Berkson, Tania Schoennagel,
Karen A. Poiani, and Robert Costanza
263
14.1 Introduction
Modern society is driving changes in a number of ecological, political, and
economic systems that are interacting in complex and often unpredictable
ways with potentially disastrous consequences. These systemic problems are
impossible to address in isolation, requiring an integration and transcendence of existing boundaries of knowledge across the natural and social
sciences (Costanza et al. 1997). A shift in emphasis is required from studying and managing problems in isolation to studying whole systems and the
complex, dynamic interactions between the parts. Analytical models can
play a crucial role in organizing and synthesizing knowledge about these
complex systems.
Modeling is an essential prerequisite for the comprehension of system
dynamics and for choosing among alternative management scenarios. Challenges facing natural resource managers and decision makers increasingly
occur at broad spatial and temporal scales, requiring the use of mathematical models to evaluate alternative future scenarios of ecological change.
Model building can also play an important role both in understanding
complex system dynamics and in transcending the compartmentalization of
knowledge by facilitating synthesis and consensus building. Models provide
a common language and conceptual framework to organize knowledge and
make sense of a complex world.
Although some management questions can easily be addressed with the
aid of existing models (see Chapter 13, this volume), complex systems
demand new complex models and modeling processes.Yet, despite the great
need for improved model development and the substantial advances in ecological modeling that have been made in the past two decades, analytical
modeling has not achieved its potential in environmental decision making.
Significant investments are needed to develop the potential role of ecological modeling in the management of our natural resources.
An effective way to expand the role of ecological modeling in natural
resource management involves education. A greater understanding of the
Educational Investments in
Environmental Science and
Management
Thomas P. Maxwell, Jim Berkson, Tania Schoennagel,
Karen A. Poiani, and Robert Costanza
263
14.1 Introduction
Modern society is driving changes in a number of ecological, political, and
economic systems that are interacting in complex and often unpredictable
ways with potentially disastrous consequences. These systemic problems are
impossible to address in isolation, requiring an integration and transcendence of existing boundaries of knowledge across the natural and social
sciences (Costanza et al. 1997). A shift in emphasis is required from studying and managing problems in isolation to studying whole systems and the
complex, dynamic interactions between the parts. Analytical models can
play a crucial role in organizing and synthesizing knowledge about these
complex systems.
Modeling is an essential prerequisite for the comprehension of system
dynamics and for choosing among alternative management scenarios. Challenges facing natural resource managers and decision makers increasingly
occur at broad spatial and temporal scales, requiring the use of mathematical models to evaluate alternative future scenarios of ecological change.
Model building can also play an important role both in understanding
complex system dynamics and in transcending the compartmentalization of
knowledge by facilitating synthesis and consensus building. Models provide
a common language and conceptual framework to organize knowledge and
make sense of a complex world.
Although some management questions can easily be addressed with the
aid of existing models (see Chapter 13, this volume), complex systems
demand new complex models and modeling processes.Yet, despite the great
need for improved model development and the substantial advances in ecological modeling that have been made in the past two decades, analytical
modeling has not achieved its potential in environmental decision making.
Significant investments are needed to develop the potential role of ecological modeling in the management of our natural resources.
An effective way to expand the role of ecological modeling in natural
resource management involves education. A greater understanding of the