Merging ecology, history, and law to inform environmental policy at the federal level: Challenges and rewards of interdisciplinary research

Background/Question/Methods

My engagement at the interface between ecology and policy has developed over the last decade as I’ve studied rare and endangered species in the context of management and restoration.  For my master’s degree research, I focused on the life history of the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) to help inform recovery efforts. Upon completing a law degree focused on environmental and natural resources law, I sought a Ph.D. program to combine my background in ecology and environmental policy – the GLOBES NSF-IGERT fellowship program at the University of Notre Dame (http://globes.nd.edu). To aid students’ development in policy engagement, the GLOBES program included training modules on policy and communications, organized in collaboration with COMPASS; http://www.compassonline.org/); this training helped me develop tools for refining my message when communicating my research with journalists and policymakers.

Results/Conclusions

My dissertation research utilizes this previous education and experience as I take an interdisciplinary, problem-oriented approach to inform ecosystem management and environmental policy.  With my collaborators, I investigate environmental issues as they relate to society, such as policies for river restoration and management options for endangered species and declining common species, such as brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis).  For example, I have worked closely with the National Park Service to use historical documents to describe the fish habitat history of the wild and scenic Namekagon River, Wisconsin, as it relates to the legacy of logging, the decline of brook trout, and the introduction of brown trout (Salmo trutta). This interdisciplinary research led to disciplinary research addressing whether temperatures are excluding brook trout from the river’s main stem. 

My research also includes assessing how existing laws relate to conservation and natural resource management. For example, while scientists were debating whether conservation biologists should consider moving species to adapt to climate change (assisted migration), we addressed the legal options and implications for doing so.  In researching examples of assisted migration, we found that listed endangered plants in the U.S. were being sold over the Internet in interstate commerce, often illegally. 

From my perspective, funding to conduct problem-focused research, appropriate policy and communications training, and a flexible advisor are helpful for engaging in the policy process, if not critically important.  I will discuss 1) the benefits of engaging in policy, including how it has influenced my research questions, 2) the potential risks, including sacrificing research depth for breadth, and 3) the challenges students face when engaging in the policy process.