Exploring the Ecosystem Services Concept in Interdisciplinary Social Science Research

• In Event: 067 - Section on Science, Knowledge and Technology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 05. Constructing Nature

Abstract

The concept of ecosystem services is now commonly used in socio-ecological systems research, as well as among urban planners, policymakers, and natural resource managers. However, attention to the term among social scientists has been inconsistent. We explore how the ecosystem services concept has been used and understood in three social science disciplines: geography, political science, and sociology. We also discuss the potential contribution these disciplines could make to the ongoing development of the concept. Given that the central idea of ecosystem services is about the value of nature for humans, academics trained to study human behavior have much potential to contribute to research on how to achieve sustainable socio-ecological systems. In addition, we argue that the trend in federally funded research towards large, interdisciplinary projects makes understanding the process by which diverse researchers use and make sense of multi-disciplinary concepts particularly important.

Authors

• Katrina Running, Idaho State University

• Yolonda Youngs, Idaho State University

• James Stoutenborough, Idaho State University

• Robert Edsall, Idaho State University

• Joshua Eppley, Idaho State University

• Donna Lybecker, Idaho State University

• Mark McBeth, Idaho State University

• Kevin Marsh, Idaho State University

• Nicholas Pelikan, Idaho State University