Post-Normal Science and Indigenous Knowledge

A type of science dealing with high uncertainty and high decision stakes, where values and societal input are crucial. It involves an extended peer community to navigate complex issues.

Focuses on well-defined problems, usually within specific disciplines, with low uncertainty and clear separation between facts and values.

A transdisciplinary field tackling the dynamic interaction between society and nature. It emphasizes both knowledge production and practical application to solve sustainability challenges.

Problems with high uncertainty and high decision stakes, making them difficult to solve using traditional approaches. They often involve complex interconnections and potential unintended consequences.

A group of stakeholders who participate in the scientific process, including scientists, policymakers, and community members. They contribute their knowledge and perspectives to address complex issues.

The need to act quickly to address urgent sustainability challenges may compromise thorough research as scientific inquiry needs to integrate with practical applications.

The complexity of social-environmental systems makes predicting outcomes of interventions difficult. This often leads to unintended consequences.

Post-normal science is suitable for sustainability problems as it embraces high uncertainty and decision stakes, encouraging broad societal engagement. Traditional approaches are insufficient for addressing complex problems.

A scientific approach that tackles complex, uncertain, and high-stakes issues, like sustainability. It emphasizes collaboration with non-scientists and uses a transdisciplinary approach.

A model where scientific knowledge is generated first and then applied to policy decisions. It assumes a straightforward flow of information from science to policy.

The involvement of stakeholders, affected individuals, and non-scientists in scientific processes, particularly in contexts where uncertainty and stakes are high.

Scientific research that focuses on tackling pressing societal or environmental problems, often characterized by high uncertainty and significant decision stakes.

Systems where human and environmental components are interconnected, influencing each other's dynamics and adaptive responses.

The interconnectedness of components within a social-environmental system, where actions or changes in one area can affect other parts directly or indirectly.

Circular relationships within a system where changes in one part of the system influence other parts, and these changes, in turn, can impact the initial part, creating a loop effect.

A characteristic of social-environmental systems where the relationship between components is not directly proportional, leading to unexpected outcomes.

Tipping points represent thresholds in social-environmental systems where small changes can trigger abrupt and significant shifts in the system's state, often irreversible.

The delayed or hidden impacts of social-environmental systems in space or time, making it challenging to assess the full consequences of actions.

A system where human societies and the environment interact and influence each other, constantly changing and adapting.

A system with interconnected parts, characterized by feedback loops, self-organization, and unpredictable behavior.

The quantities of resources in a system, like water in a lake. Flows are the changes in those quantities over time, like rivers flowing in and out.

Different types of capital assets that contribute to sustainable development, including natural resources, human knowledge, and social connections.

The boundaries of a system being studied, defining what elements and interactions are considered for analysis.

The time frame over which a system's changes unfold, including long-term trends and historical influences.

A problem-oriented, cross-disciplinary approach to sustainability, focusing on both knowledge creation and practical application.

Strategies that aim to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

A technology involving capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes, storing it underground or using it for other purposes.

These problems are tricky to solve because they're complex, have lots of unknowns, and involve conflicting values. There might not even be a perfect solution.

This means that scientific decisions are affected by both facts discovered through research AND the values that people hold. This is especially important in the study of sustainability.

Scientists acknowledge that there's uncertainty in many complex systems and that different approaches can be used to manage those uncertainties.

This is the traditional approach to science, where problems are solved within specific disciplines. It often assumes certainty and control.

This approach to science looks at the bigger picture and considers the values of society. It recognizes that problems are complex and messy.

This means that there might be multiple possible solutions to a problem, and there's not necessarily one right answer.

The goal of sustainability science is to find ways to meet the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

This means that sustainability science considers the needs and perspectives of different groups, not just one particular group.

This is science that is used to help solve real-world problems.

The concept that different types of knowledge, especially Western scientific knowledge and Indigenous or local knowledge, should be brought together to create a more complete understanding of a situation.

A process of combining different forms of knowledge, particularly Western scientific knowledge and Indigenous or local knowledge, to create a more comprehensive understanding.

The idea that Indigenous knowledge systems are often specific to a particular place, culture, and history. This means that they may not be directly transferable to other contexts.

A potential negative consequence of transferring Indigenous knowledge to other contexts. It can involve simplifying the knowledge, reducing its complexity, and focusing on its practical applications.