Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 16
Arts and Humanities Efforts in the US
Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)
Network: Understanding Perceived
Values and Challenges
Lissy Goralnik , Michael Paul Nelson , Leslie Ryan , and Hannah Gosnell
Abstract Calls for interdisciplinary approaches to environmental problem-solving
are common across the biophysical and social sciences. Recently, some of these
collaborations have incorporated the creative arts and humanities, including projects
across the 24 sites of the US Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) network.
A substantial body of artistic and written work has been produced by LTER-
affi liated sites. However, there has been no systematic analysis of this work. We
used a cross-site, social scientifi c analysis to understand the extent and nature of arts
and humanities inquiry in the LTER network and to assess perceptions about the
values and challenges associated with it. We found that 19 of the 24 LTER sites
agree or strongly agree that arts and humanities inquiry is important and relevant for
the sites. Perceived values of this work include its goodness in and of itself, as well
as its ability to foster outreach and public involvement and to inspire creative thinking.
Contrarily, participants identifi ed funding, available labor, and available expertise as
limiting factors in the growth of arts and humanities inquiry in the LTER network.
Respondents highlighted themes relevant to the relationship between ecological
science and ethics, including participants' willingness to accept fostering empathy,
an identifi ed value of arts and humanities inquiry, as pertinent to LTER network
goals and research on some level. This ethical potential of arts and humanities inquiry
in the LTER network provides an opportunity to bridge ecological research with arts
and humanities inquiry in ways that are meaningful for Earth stewardship.
Keywords Empathy
Ethics
Ecology
Interdisciplinary
Intrinsic
value
• Place-based
;
Search WWH ::




Custom Search