“This will involve significant change and the journey can be organizationally innovating, socially useful, and most important, scientifically stimulating.”
Trained as a geographer, Kates has led interdisciplinary programs addressing environment and development at the University of Dar as Salaam in Tanzania, Clark University, and the World Hunger Program at Brown University. Dr. Kates was also a member of the National Advisory Board of the Long Term Ecological Research Systems, is a current member of the National Academy of Sciences and a recipient of the National Medal of Science.He has co-chaired, co-authored or edited many influential publications, including Our Common Journey: A Transition Toward Sustainability (as co-convener of the Initiative on Science and Technology for Sustainability), Foundational Studies on Natural Hazards, Climate Impact Assessment, and Readings in Sustainability Science and Technology. His most recent research is on transformational adaptation to climate change (Kates, Travis & Wilbanks, 2011).
Kates examined new developments in sustainability science and related them to what LTER scientists are doing as a prelude to answering the question of whether or not LTER scientists are, indeed, sustainability scientists. He observed that even though LTER sites’ research questions may not refer to or reflect elements of sustainability, the Network’s aspirational planning documents’ basic models, core questions, and the major tasks closely mirror the major components of sustainability science.
Kates concluded that LTER scientists will be considered sustainability scientists only if they go beyond aspirations. “This will involve significant change,” he said, “and the journey can be organizationally innovating, socially useful, and most important, scientifically stimulating.”
Watch Dr. Kates’ presentation, Does LTER All Science include Sustainability Science?
By McOwiti O. Thomas (LNO)