Scaling and Governance Conference and PhD pre-conference

Policies have many impacts on environmental and human processes at different spatial and temporal scales. Climate change, biodiversity, energy consumption, water resource management, and food security are a few of the many examples illustrating the complex multi-scale interactions within and between environmental and human processes. This observation fits well within a long history of disappointments in policy and management related to our environment and indicates that scale sensitive governance approaches are required.

The aim of conference is to discuss different perspectives on scaling and governance issues. The starting point is that scaling and governance deserve more attention as a combination, not just in separate studies. We look at this integration as a major challenge for both the social, economic and the natural sciences. In order to get to transdisciplinarity, that is to say, cooperation between scientists from different disciplines as well as policy makers and citizens, vigorous communication between scientists from the natural science and the humanities is needed.

The conference is organized by Wageningen UR. Participants of the conference are invited to discuss integrative concepts, methodologies, and case studies related to scaling and governance issues in complex land systems. Anticipated outcomes of the conference include an international research agenda and recommendations for scale-sensitive governance approaches.

On Wednesday November 10, 2010, a pre-conference for PhDs will be organized. This pre-conference is organized by the PhDs currently working within the Scaling & Governance Investment Program.

The pre-conference is open to all PhDs working in the field of scaling and governance. During the pre-conference PhD meeting there will be ample time to discuss work in progress, research ideas etc. both with peer PhD researchers and senior staff. For the participants who are joining the PhD meeting, we strongly suggest that you will prepare a short presentation for this meeting and send your ideas in writing (max 1 page) before October 20th. There is no threshold for participation in the PhD meeting but we need to have an idea what you would like to discuss to being able to allocate you to the appropriate group and also to allow the experts to prepare themselves for comments. 

Please send the discussion idea to scaling.governance@wur.nl with reference to PHD MEETING contribution.

Upon reception of all abstracts we will allocate one discussant to each abstract so you will receive one abstract for which you are asked to prepare comments before hand.

Please visit the conference website for the full conference program: www.scalinggovernance.wur.nl/UK/Conference/.