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Bridging boundaries: scientists, creative writers, and the long view of the forest
Author(s) -
Swanson Frederick J,
Goodrich Charles,
Moore Kathleen Dean
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/070076
Subject(s) - metaphor , bridging (networking) , ecology , raw data , mount , bridge (graph theory) , sociology , history , computer science , medicine , computer network , philosophy , linguistics , biology , programming language , operating system
The Long‐Term Ecological Reflections program brings together ecologists, creative writers, and philosophers at sites of long‐term ecological research to advance understanding of ecological change and of our evolving relationship with the natural world. Developed as an analog to the Long‐Term Ecological Research (LTER) program sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Reflections program attempts to bridge the sciences and humanities in places like the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER site (Oregon) and Mount St Helens (Washington State), where participants reflect, share ideas, and write. Records of these reflections are posted as primary, raw data (eg journal entries and video interviews) on a webpage, and completed works are published in widely circulated journals. This growing body of material demonstrates the importance of taking the long view in building ecological knowledge. The writings display the value of metaphor and story in communicating such knowledge to the public.