Critical stakeholder engagement: The road to actionable science Is paved with scientists’ good intentions

Annals of the American Association of Geographers
By: , and 

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Abstract

To help stakeholders such as planners, resource managers, policymakers, and decision makers address environmental challenges in the Anthropocene, scientists are increasingly creating actionable science—science that is useful, usable, and used. Critical physical geography encourages the engagement of stakeholders in the creation of scientific knowledge to conduct actionable science and produce outputs that are directly relevant to stakeholder plans, decisions, or actions. Many scientists, however, lack formal training in how to partner with stakeholders using effective and ethical practices. In this article, we use the core principles for ethical research of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice from the Belmont Report (1979) as a suggested framework to examine the perspectives of stakeholders engaged in climate adaptation science projects. We argue that this framework aligns with the principles of critical physical geography and provides guidance for scientists to make their research more actionable while placing necessary emphasis on ethical considerations. We also challenge scientists to consider the broader ethical implications of engaging with these partners.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Critical stakeholder engagement: The road to actionable science Is paved with scientists’ good intentions
Series title Annals of the American Association of Geographers
DOI 10.1080/24694452.2023.2242448
Volume 114
Issue 1
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center, North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
Description 20 p.
First page 1
Last page 20
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