objects/use-metaphors-es.html
1. Why we want to be environmental scientists
object link
a. We want to preserve, conserve, use the environmental resources effectively without waste
b. A good environment promotes equity
intergenerational equity - sustainability for the future
socioeconomic equity - environmental disasters and pollution hurt the poor disproportionately
beauty and justice - Elaine Scarey "On Beauty and Being Just"
the most beautiful things/concepts are sometimes the most fragile
c. environmental scientists
promote knowledge discovery
advocate for environmental protection and repair (usually)
contribute to the conversation about how to do this with policy makers and the general public
d. Required skills (to be involved in adaptive management)
understand how science really works
be able to do the technical parts of monitoring and scientific experiments
deal with uncertainty from personal experience
be able to communicate what this means
help design monitoring and research schemes
e. to be a leader, you have to know where you're going
the metaphors you choose frame the conversation need to lead where you want them to
my inquiry into this has lead to the claim that:
metaphors --> discovered facts --> values
perception of the system drives the type of research that we do
values are what we know we have tried and trust (multiple tests)
example:
Upper Klamath Lake is a bio/chemical reaction - steady state and predictable bioreactor metaphor (less P will lead to less Chla)
Upper Klamath Lake is a complex system that can switch back and forth between stable states.
2. Exploring metaphors that go beyond the simple explanation
commons
common inheritance, use for the public good
until the public understands this, you can't use it as an effective metaphor
takes time
others
simple not quite so simple ecosystem as a homogeneous area spatial and temporal connectivity competition cooperation
stability resilience natural selection through survival of the fittest importance of maintaining biodiversity in evolution competitive exclusion survival equilibrium pulsing global homogeneity heterogeneity