Designing and Implementing Strategies for Advancing Convergent Research

Abstract:

Scientists, research organizations, and community organizations such as AGU are increasingly identifying science that benefits society as a core component of their missions. Developing science-based solutions to complex societal problems requires research that integrates across areas of expertise to catalyze discovery and innovation, in other words, convergent science. However, individuals and organizations still face many challenges to developing and conducting convergent research efforts. This presentation will discuss findings from recent work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research that aims to understand and synthesize key next steps for advancing convergent research in geoscience, with an emphasis on atmospheric and related sciences. Through discussions with researchers, leaders, and managers, we found that members of the geoscience community have different understandings of what societally beneficial science means and what it looks like. This includes several common misconceptions about how this type of work can and should be done. We also found that while many scientists believe that societally beneficial science is critical, they often lack capacity and support for engaging in convergent research. To address these issues, we will present a framework that reexamines misconceptions about societally relevant science and synthesizes different approaches to this type of work. Building on this foundation, we will then discuss strategies that researchers and organizations can employ to advance interdisciplinary science connected to societal priorities and constituencies’ needs. Through this work, we aim to contribute to the broader conversation about how to translate verbal commitments to societally beneficial geoscience into action.