Why an SES Society?

Ideas about potentially establishing an Social-Ecological Systems (SES)-focused society have been discussed for more than a decade. The SES field is growing rapidly, but has lacked a coherent identity that can provide a “home” for researchers and actors working across the science-policy-practice interface, and that can support the growing number of research centres, training programs and research and development projects in this area of research and practice. Importantly, the field also lacks a stable, funded institutional structure to provide ongoing coordination support to the wider community, and that can enable us to organise ourselves for a stronger voice and impact on a variety of fronts. 

The aim of the society is to advance and support social-ecological systems-based research, practice and action towards a just and sustainable future, by providing an intellectual home, community and identity for social-ecological systems researchers, practitioners, research institutes and networks.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the society are to:

• Advance understanding of the complex, social-ecological systems dynamics to support a just and sustainable future for people and nature.
• Provide a home community where researchers, practitioners, and other knowledge holders from across the world can learn from one another and forge new collaborations.
• Support training of the next generation of sustainability researchers and leaders.
• Advocate for funding for inter and transdisciplinary social-ecological systems research.
• Leverage SES research for impact on policy and practice

Key Principles

Key principles of the society include that it encourages:

• Diverse frameworks, knowledge stream and values, particularly from the Global South, to transform the way we understand the dynamics of SES and how we address global challenges.
• Diverse methodological approaches, whilst also supporting a coherent identity and cross-cutting knowledge development across different areas of work.
• New ways of (co)-producing and disseminating academic knowledge for practical action, focusing on outputs, spaces and processes that can inform and support policy and practice.
• Learning spaces that transcend current formal offerings, whilst similarly supporting the development of SES education in formal educational spaces, particularly in the Global South.
• Thoughtful networking in an environmentally sustainable way, also recognizing and addressing inequities in networking and publishing opportunities.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the society are to:

  • Advance understanding of the complex, social-ecological systems dynamics to support a just and sustainable future for people and nature.
  • Provide a home community where researchers, practitioners, and other knowledge holders from across the world can learn from one another and forge new collaborations.
  • Support training of the next generation of sustainability researchers and leaders.
  • Advocate for funding for inter and transdisciplinary social-ecological systems research.
  • Leverage SES research for impact on policy and practice

Objectives

The specific objectives of the society are to:

  • Advance understanding of the complex, social-ecological systems dynamics to support a just and sustainable future for people and nature.
  • Provide a home community where researchers, practitioners, and other knowledge holders from across the world can learn from one another and forge new collaborations.
  • Support training of the next generation of sustainability researchers and leaders.
  • Advocate for funding for inter and transdisciplinary social-ecological systems research.
  • Leverage SES research for impact on policy and practice

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