The importance of Social-Ecological Systems research
Broadly, we are interested in understanding complex social-ecological systems (also referred to as Coupled Human Natural Systems). Our desire to understand these systems stems from a passion for social justice and equity and commitment to conserving the diversity of life on this earth. Understanding these systems requires interdisciplinary research and dynamic methodologies. As systems researchers, we are committed to purposeful collaboration to improve our understanding of coupled systems dynamics.
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Complex data for complex questionsTo study social-ecological systems, we incorporate a wide range of data types from ecological data (wildlife population densities and habitat use) and abiotic data (soil quality, climate data, satellite imagery) to data on human behavior and cognition (attitudes, beliefs, perceptions) and human health (dietary diversity, anthropometrics, disease prevalence).
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Collaboration for impactPerhaps most critical to our understanding of social ecological systems is our ability to collaborate with a range of different stakeholders to determine the most pressing questions, design effective research, and disseminate findings to support decision-making. We strive to work with a diverse groups of people to ensure my work has value and relevance.
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