Part I. What is “Adaptiveness” – Really?

Will the term “adaptiveness”  be able to integrate the diverse perspectives that exist within the field of sustainability science and environmental politics and policy?Listen to Frank Biermann (IVM, Netherlands) as he presents the 2009 Earth System Governance conference and research agenda, and explores some of the major research challenges ahead. Listen also to Melissa Leach (STEPS, United Kingdom) as she elaborates the need to understand adaptiveness as a long-term process to deal with multiple change and uncertainties.  And listen to Louis Lebel (Chiang Mai University, Thailand) as he explains why deliberation and inclusiveness are two major issues to consider in our attempts to understand how to adapt to the challenges of the future.

Comments and reflections?  Join the discussions now!

Frank Biermann

Phone interview with Frank Biermann. What is “adaptiveness” and which are the key challenges for research on adaptiveness? Frank Biermann is professor of political science and of environmental policy sciences at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He is also the chair of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Earth System Governance Project.  Interview Frank Biermann [11 min]

Melissa Leach

Melissa Leach is Professorial Fellow at IDS and leader of the Knowledge, Technology and Society (KNOTS) team, Melissa Leach has since 2006 directed the ESRC STEPS (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) Centre. She originally trained as a geographer (MA Cambridge) and social anthropologist (PhD London). Over the last twenty years she has been closely involved both in ethnographic fieldwork, speaking four African languages, and in extensive interdisciplinary research. This has engaged anthropology with historical, ecological and science and technology studies approaches, as well as working with foresters, agricultural and medical scientists.

Interview Melissa Leach [7 min]

Skype-interview with Louis Lebel. Why is deliberation and inclusion important when we try to understand the adaptiveness of socities? Louis Lebel is the Director of the Unit for Social and Environmental Research, Faculty of Social Science, Chiang Mai University (Thailand), and member of the Earth System Governance Project Scientific Steering Committee. [Sorry about the poor sound quality!]

Louis Lebel

Interview Louis Lebel [6 min]

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