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Interdisciplinarity in Science-Policy Interfaces A comparative Case Study of the Integration of Social Sciences in IPCC and IPBES

Siegling, Cosima Pina LU (2024) HEKM51 20241
Department of Human Geography
Human Ecology
Abstract
This thesis critically assesses the integration of social sciences and interdisciplinarity within the international science-policy interfaces Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). I depart from a theoretical framework using the concepts of academic disciplines, interdisciplinary work and scientific paradigms, using a mixed method approach to collect data, including a survey directed at authors of IPBES and IPCC, as well as semi-structured interviews with mainly Coordinating Lead Authors (CLA), as they carry a unique responsibility for their chapters in terms of content and facilitation. I identified seven themes from the interviews... (More)
This thesis critically assesses the integration of social sciences and interdisciplinarity within the international science-policy interfaces Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). I depart from a theoretical framework using the concepts of academic disciplines, interdisciplinary work and scientific paradigms, using a mixed method approach to collect data, including a survey directed at authors of IPBES and IPCC, as well as semi-structured interviews with mainly Coordinating Lead Authors (CLA), as they carry a unique responsibility for their chapters in terms of content and facilitation. I identified seven themes from the interviews influencing the integration of disciplines and the work within and across chapters. While IPCC started out with a strong focus on natural sciences, by now interdisciplinary fields are strongly represented, too. Social sciences have come a long way to be further included in IPCC, yet the epistemic framework remains positivist which creates barriers for qualitative data of social science to be included. IPBES already has a more inclusive conceptual and epistemic framework, which makes integrating social sciences and qualitative data easier, yet some challenges remain. Interdisciplinary fields are also strongly represented in IPBES with a significant focus on ecology. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Siegling, Cosima Pina LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM51 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
interdisciplinarity, social science, IPCC, IPBES, science-policy interface, climate change, biodiversity, scientific paradigm
language
English
id
9163839
date added to LUP
2024-08-02 15:59:55
date last changed
2024-08-02 15:59:55
@misc{9163839,
  abstract     = {{This thesis critically assesses the integration of social sciences and interdisciplinarity within the international science-policy interfaces Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). I depart from a theoretical framework using the concepts of academic disciplines, interdisciplinary work and scientific paradigms, using a mixed method approach to collect data, including a survey directed at authors of IPBES and IPCC, as well as semi-structured interviews with mainly Coordinating Lead Authors (CLA), as they carry a unique responsibility for their chapters in terms of content and facilitation. I identified seven themes from the interviews influencing the integration of disciplines and the work within and across chapters. While IPCC started out with a strong focus on natural sciences, by now interdisciplinary fields are strongly represented, too. Social sciences have come a long way to be further included in IPCC, yet the epistemic framework remains positivist which creates barriers for qualitative data of social science to be included. IPBES already has a more inclusive conceptual and epistemic framework, which makes integrating social sciences and qualitative data easier, yet some challenges remain. Interdisciplinary fields are also strongly represented in IPBES with a significant focus on ecology.}},
  author       = {{Siegling, Cosima Pina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Interdisciplinarity in Science-Policy Interfaces A comparative Case Study of the Integration of Social Sciences in IPCC and IPBES}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}