Crossing Boundaries in Research: Critical Reflections from an Interdisciplinary Bastard

Crossing Boundaries in Research: Critical Reflections from an Interdisciplinary Bastard

Alister Scott Centre for Environment and Society

Research

Tress et al 2005

Tress et al 2005

Managing Environmental Change at the Rural Urban Fringe 2010-2012

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Alister ScottClaudia Carter, Mark Reed, Peter Larkham, Nicki Schiessel, Karen Leach, Nick Morton, Rachel Curzon David Jarvis, Andrew Hearle, Mark Middleton, Bob Forster, Keith Budden, Ruth Waters, David Collier, Chris Crean, Miriam Kennet, Richard Coles and Ben Stonyer

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

To Boldly Go…

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Crossing academic, policy, practice and scalar divides

Birmingham City University - Birmingham School of the Built Environment/BIAD

University of Aberdeen - Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability

Forest Research National Farmers Union David Jarvis Associates Natural England Localise West Midlands Green Economics Institute Birmingham Environment Partnership West Midlands Rural Affairs Forum Worcestershire County Council West Midlands Regional Assembly

United Research Team

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Seeking out new ‘lenses’

• Spatial Planning and Ecosystem Approach Paradigms (lenses)

• Critical thoughtpieces• PI Synthesis • Team builds new

conceptual lens

Crossing and simplifying theoretical boundaries

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Seeking out evidence

• Workshops (Team led)• Visioning exercises

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Delivering Unconventional Outputs

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Delivering Unconventional Outputs

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Delivering Unconventional Outputs

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Delivering Unconventional Outputs

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Delivering Unconventional Outputs

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

Delivering Unconventional Outputs

Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

• Embedding policy, practice and academia within one research team reaps rewards

• Choose who you work with carefully • Flexibility embedded in research method• Important for researchers to go outside

comfort zone

Lessons Learnt

reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme

• Interdisciplinary approaches needed to tackle key issues we face as a society

• Need an effective ‘bastard’ to lead interdisciplinary endeavours

• Role of a team prepared to go outside usual silos

• Are BCU structures for teaching and research enabling such approaches?

Take Home Messages