Interdisciplinarity and the Environment (MULT90005)

Environmental issues are often complex, controversial and associated with uncertain knowledge. In this context, Interdisciplinary and Environment explores the ‘knowledge challenges’ that environmental professionals face in their everyday work. Particular attention is given to the challenges of integrating knowledge across disciplines and sectors. Through a discussion of integrated and interdisciplinary research on the environment we will examine broader questions about the context, forms and purpose of contemporary knowledge production and use for environmental policy and management questions. We will consider the values increasingly used to determine whether certain knowledge is a valid guide for environmental action and how these values both encourage and challenge integrated knowledge for environmental decision making. Incorporating perspectives from a broad range of environmental professionals and academics, the subject draws on and develops students’ practical understanding of knowledge production systems, including the role played by academics, consultants, think tanks, and NGOs in environmental decision making.

The course focuses on the following main questions:

• How does the way we frame environmental issues influence the kinds of knowledge seen as relevant to environmental decision making, and the kinds of solutions we consider? What strategies can assist in reframing environmental problems?
• What are the challenges in integrating knowledge across disciplines and sectors, and what strategies can help environmental professionals meet those challenges?