Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Not only does the human security concept provide a means for engaging with
the impacts of ecological change on northern communities, but the interdis-
ciplinarity and emphasis on policy translation necessitated by the approach
are, in our view, critical tools for ensuring the efficacy of northern research.
Conclusions
In 2004, this chapter set out to evaluate the relevance of the human secu-
rity framework for ecologists. Along the way, we undertook an experiment
that brought ecologists into an interdisciplinary research team setting in the
GAPS IPY project (Hoogensen et al . 2009), and used the human security
framework to guide our research in local communities in the Arctic. The
ecologists amongst us (Bazely and Tanentzap) were forced out of our comfort
zone, and of being guilty of mainly speaking with fellow ecologists ( sensu
Shellenberger and Nordhaus 2004). The interdisciplinary research team set-
ting required communication amongst academic disciplines that only rarely
interact, and forced everyone to speak in much plainer language, not only
when doing field work in local communities in the Arctic, but also with our
academic colleagues.
We learned valuable lessons about planning research from a broader, com-
munity-based standpoint and found that it was difficult, time-consuming and
challenging, but, in the long run, perhaps more effective in translating and
mobilizing academically generated knowledge. Very importantly, the ecolo-
gists also learned to navigate the often-blurry lines between science and policy
and politics. A key aspect of the latter was our experience and engagement
with the field of political ecology (Forsyth 2003), which has often been a source
of legitimate criticism of environmental science and ecology, with respect to
its perceptions of neutrality and objectivity. It was particularly instructive
for us to learn that political ecology research, like ecological research, often
lacks explicit policy outcomes (Walker 2006; Bazely in litt ., 2 June 2009).
Additionally, the diverse views across academia, including amongst politi-
cal ecologists, about how interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at solving
'wicked problems' might proceed, have all underscored for us the value of
the human security approach in highlighting and emphasizing a diversity
of outcomes and opinions. In this regard, it is analogous to views in ecol-
ogy about ecosystem resilience being increased by species diversity (Elmqvist
et al . 2003).
References
Abele, F., Courchene, T. J., Seidle, F. L. and St-Hilaire, F. (2009) 'Introduction and overview',
in F. Abele, T. J. Courchene, F. L. Seidle and F. St-Hilaire (eds) The Art of the State, Volume
IV: Northern Exposure: Peoples, Powers and Prospects in Canada's North , Montreal Institute for
Research on Public Policy (IRPP).
 
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