Integrating sciences for australian natural resource management: The role of the social sciences

Contemporary natural resource management is inherently complex and influenced by the changing nature of government, community partnerships and diverse agendas. Consequently, research to support natural resource management is most effective when integrative and adaptive. This paper describes a study undertaken in the Natural Resource Sciences (NRSc) Business Unit of the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW), Queensland, Australia, to develop a framework for enhancing integrative research in their predominantly biophysical science. A collective view of 'integrating sciences' was developed and identified five different dimensions of integration for improving the way they do their science business. These are (1) the integration of scientific (biophysical, social and economic) outputs into policy and decision making, (2) supporting community needs with science, (3) further research on the principles and practice of integration and development of research approaches, (4) communication, and (5) the integration of local with scientific knowledge. The study's findings, including significant challenges for integration within the organisation, highlight the social nature of enhancing integrative science approaches. A further exploration of the five dimensions focuses on the contribution and role of the social sciences and social processes underpinning this integration framework