Session: S-133
Cutting Edge Advances in Environmental Social Science for Marine Conservation

Achieving conservation goals requires a thorough understanding of the social dynamics underpinning resource use and management. This has been increasingly recognised in the last decade, as illustrated by the rapid growth of an emerging body of work in the transdisciplinary field of ‘environmental social science’. By applying theories and methods from across the social sciences to better understand the sociocultural and economic drivers... [ view more ]

Achieving conservation goals requires a thorough understanding of the social dynamics underpinning resource use and management. This has been increasingly recognised in the last decade, as illustrated by the rapid growth of an emerging body of work in the transdisciplinary field of ‘environmental social science’. By applying theories and methods from across the social sciences to better understand the sociocultural and economic drivers that shape human behaviour and human-environment interactions, environmental social science can provide critical insights into factors that ultimately lead to the success or failure of management and conservation strategies. The goal of this session is to (1) highlight cutting-edge advances in environmental social science theories and methods and how they are being applied to issues in marine conservation, (2) discuss how these efforts can help achieve marine conservation goals, and (3) identify challenges that remain in translating this emerging body of work into policy and management action. Presentations will include scholars and practitioners working within and across fields of anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and ecology. Speakers will describe research and investigations that draw on integrative theories and cutting-edge methods, tools, and approaches to tackle a diverse range of marine conservation issues.