title: Empirically derived guidance for social scientists to influence environmental policy.
abstract: Failure to stem trends of ecological disruption and associated loss of ecosystem services worldwide is partly due to the inadequate integration of the human dimension into environmental decision-making. Decision-makers need knowledge of the human dimension of resource systems and of the social consequences of decision-making if environmental management is to be effective and adaptive. Social scientists have a central role to play, but little guidance exists to help them influence decision-making processes. We distil 348 years of cumulative experience shared by 31 environmental experts across three continents into advice for social scientists seeking to increase their influence in the environmental policy arena. Results focus on the importance of process, engagement, empathy and acumen and reveal the importance of understanding and actively participating in policy processes through co-producing knowledge and building trust. The insights gained during this research might empower a science-driven cultural change in science-policy relations for the routine integration of the human dimension in environmental decision making; ultimately for an improved outlook for earth's ecosystems and the billions of people that depend on them.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Land and Water, ATSIP Building, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.|College of Environmental and Marine Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4463-3558
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive Exeter, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adger
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity International, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.|School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attwood
authors.affiliation: Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: World Fish Center, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crissman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cvitanovic
authors.affiliation: Food and Agriculture Organisation, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Young
authors.affiliation: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gooch
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jessen
authors.affiliation: Department of the Environment, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom.|School of international Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wachenfeld
authors.affiliation: Department of the Environment, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wrigley
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D017753:Ecosystem; D058735:Environmental Policy; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D012942:Social Sciences; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce