A conceptual template for integrative human-environment research

Abstract

Knowledge integration, the blending of concepts from two or more disciplines to create innovative new worldviews, is a key process in attempts to increase the sustainability of human activities on Earth. In this paper, we describe a `conceptual template' that can be used to catalyse this process. The template comprises (a) a list of high-level concepts that capture the essential aspects of any significant human-environment problem, plus (b) broad lists of low-level basic concepts drawn from a range of disciplines. Our high-level concepts, which we call `conceptual clusters', are labelled Dynamics & System, Organisation & Scale, Controlling Models, Management & Policy, Adaptation & Learning, and History. Many of the clustered, lower-level concepts are synonyms and thus provide possible connections between disciplines-for this reason we call them `nexus concepts'. We suggest that a conceptual template like that presented here can provide strong support to the initial phases of integrative research programs. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.