Premium
River research and applications across borders
Author(s) -
Pinter Nicholas,
Brasington James,
Gurnell Angela,
Kondolf G. Mathias,
Tockner Klement,
Wharton Geraldene,
Yarnell Sarah M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
river research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.679
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1535-1467
pISSN - 1535-1459
DOI - 10.1002/rra.3430
Subject(s) - river management , politics , field (mathematics) , citation , flood myth , regional science , environmental resource management , geography , political science , environmental science , archaeology , law , mathematics , pure mathematics
Rivers flow across national borders, unfettered by political distinctions, and the ecological health of rivers is closely linked to their degree of connectivity. River research today is more global than it has ever been, but we show that river research, engineering, and management still operate within homegrown local paradigms. As a basis for this discussion, we studied the citation networks surrounding the most widely cited papers in our field, assessing the degree to which researchers have collaborated across geographical boundaries and fully drawn from the international literature. Despite gains over time, our field remains surprisingly and pervasively provincial. The likely explanation for provincial bias is that researchers are generally more familiar and comfortable with their own research methods, sites, and agendas. However, local focus has tangible consequences. For example, contrasting paradigms and differing approaches to river restoration and to flood‐risk management show that opportunities are lost when we fail to learn from the successes and failures of other regions. As we look to the future, increased engagement across political and intellectual and physical borders should propel the field of river science into new and exciting directions.