Nature and Landscape Conservation; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Boundary-spanning; Co-production; Evaluation; Funding; Promotion; University
Abstract :
[en] Will this paper lead to any measurable impact on biodiversity conservation? In this essay, we examine the relevance of scientific publications for conservation outcomes and propose specific recommendations to encourage procedural reforms in academia. While many conservation scientists dedicate significant effort to making their research accessible and actionable for conservation outcomes, academia often doesn’t reward these efforts and can even inhibit them. Universities increasingly promote engaged scholarship, yet few institutions have established formal mechanisms that promote and reward such work. We suggest a new framework to support engaged universities and propose three recommendations for research institutions. Our recommendations are based on 71 interviews of conservation scientists producing actionable science. We recommend that universities: (1) actively support faculty engagement in boundary-spanning work, providing an interface between research and society; (2) meaningfully reward faculty work that makes a genuine impact on efforts to solve real-world problems, beyond academic publications; and (3) use appropriate metrics to recognize the value of impacts on society and contributions to practical conservation outcomes. Universities supporting engaged scholarship have the potential to excel in attracting talented scholars, securing funding, and fostering impactful change.
Disciplines :
Arts & humanities: Multidisciplinary, general & others Business & economic sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others Engineering, computing & technology: Multidisciplinary, general & others Human health sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others Law, criminology & political science: Multidisciplinary, general & others Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others Social & behavioral sciences, psychology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Lhoest, Simon ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion des ressources forestières
Carr Kelman, Candice
Barton, Chris J.
Beaudette, Jessica A.
Gerber, Leah R.
Language :
English
Title :
The impact factor of engaged research: Metrics for conservation outcomes
Publication date :
April 2024
Journal title :
Biological Conservation
ISSN :
0006-3207
Publisher :
Elsevier BV
Volume :
292
Pages :
110534
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Development Goals :
11. Sustainable cities and communities 17. Partnerships for the goals 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions 15. Life on land 14. Life below water 13. Climate action 4. Quality education
NSF - National Science Foundation BAEF - Belgian American Educational Foundation
Funding number :
Science of Science Innovation Policy NSF Award #1661406; Science of Science Innovation Policy NSF Award #2122157
Funding text :
This work was supported by two Science of Science Innovation Policy NSF Awards (#1661406; #2122157) to Leah R. Gerber and Derrick Anderson. Simon Lhoest was supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship of the Belgian American Educational Foundation.
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