Ecology for a social revolution: Re-defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards society
The sixth mass extinction and the ongoing biodiversity and climate crises demand urgent action from ecologists and environmental scientists (EESs). Despite their critical role in addressing these challenges, EESs face unclear professional responsibilities towards society, local communities and ecosy...
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Pensoft Publishers
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Research Ideas and Outcomes |
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| Online Access: | https://riojournal.com/article/152859/download/pdf/ |
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| author | Florencia Yannelli Kristiina Visakorpi Anni Arponen Carlos Arnillas Javiera Chinga Chamorro Mariana Chiuffo Sharon Collinge Roger Cousens Kadambari Devarajan Ken Ehrlich marilyn grell-brisk Rebecca Kariuki Heather Kharouba Andrea Monica Ortiz Ana Prado-Valladares Helen Regan Florian Schnabel Bruno Soares Gisela Stotz Michael Williams Marc W. Cadotte |
| author_facet | Florencia Yannelli Kristiina Visakorpi Anni Arponen Carlos Arnillas Javiera Chinga Chamorro Mariana Chiuffo Sharon Collinge Roger Cousens Kadambari Devarajan Ken Ehrlich marilyn grell-brisk Rebecca Kariuki Heather Kharouba Andrea Monica Ortiz Ana Prado-Valladares Helen Regan Florian Schnabel Bruno Soares Gisela Stotz Michael Williams Marc W. Cadotte |
| author_sort | Florencia Yannelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The sixth mass extinction and the ongoing biodiversity and climate crises demand urgent action from ecologists and environmental scientists (EESs). Despite their critical role in addressing these challenges, EESs face unclear professional responsibilities towards society, local communities and ecosystems. The 2024 ANdiNA workshop was held in Conguillío National Park in Chile, within Wallmapu the ancestral land of the Mapuche people. It gathered global EESs to explore the roles, obligations and accountability of professionals in this field. The discussions focused on the evolving responsibilities of EESs amidst the environmental crises, as well as the need for clearer frameworks to guide their actions.Key questions included the scope of EESs' professional activities, how their obligations should adapt during times of crisis and whether they should be held accountable for scientific mistakes that lead to negative societal outcomes. The workshop explored the potential for creating a codified framework, such as an oath or manifesto, to clarify EESs' professional responsibilities. Participants highlighted the importance of integrating financial, intellectual, ethical and institutional dimensions in defining these roles, particularly in how EESs engage with local communities and society.Emerging themes included the need for a shared framework to align EESs' actions, exemplified by the Conguillío Statement, which encourages collaboration, inclusivity and ethical engagement with communities, especially Indigenous ones. The workshop also emphasised the importance of solution-orientated, transformative research and advocacy, calling for a shift in how EESs approach their roles as agents of change. By critically reflecting on their responsibilities, the workshop provided a foundation for re-imagining the role of EESs in the face of global environmental crises, urging systemic, collaborative approaches to safeguarding both nature and humanity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-47164bdf988140ea904faa782e455a2a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2367-7163 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research Ideas and Outcomes |
| spelling | doaj-art-47164bdf988140ea904faa782e455a2a2025-08-20T03:48:57ZengPensoft PublishersResearch Ideas and Outcomes2367-71632025-05-011111810.3897/rio.11.e152859152859Ecology for a social revolution: Re-defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards societyFlorencia Yannelli0Kristiina Visakorpi1Anni Arponen2Carlos Arnillas3Javiera Chinga Chamorro4Mariana Chiuffo5Sharon Collinge6Roger Cousens7Kadambari Devarajan8Ken Ehrlich9marilyn grell-brisk10Rebecca Kariuki11Heather Kharouba12Andrea Monica Ortiz13Ana Prado-Valladares14Helen Regan15Florian Schnabel16Bruno Soares17Gisela Stotz18Michael Williams19Marc W. Cadotte20Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Biology, University of TurkuDepartment of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto ScarboroughEscuela de Ingeniería en Medio Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Universidad MayorGrupo de Ecología de Invasiones, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, CONICETArizona Institute for ResilienceUniversity of MelbourneDepartment of Natural Resources Science, College of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode IslandRoski School of Art and Design, University of Southern CaliforniaOrganizational Studies Field Group, Pitzer CollegeSchool of Sustainability, College of Global Futures, Arizona State UniversityDepartment of Biology, University of OttawaDepartamento de Geografía, Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Geografía, Universidad de ConcepciónFundação Instituto de Pesca do Estado do Rio de JaneiroDepartment of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California RiversideInstitute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of FreiburgInstitute of Environmental Change & Society, University of ReginaCentro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés BelloMichael Williams & Associates Pty LtdDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto – ScarboroughThe sixth mass extinction and the ongoing biodiversity and climate crises demand urgent action from ecologists and environmental scientists (EESs). Despite their critical role in addressing these challenges, EESs face unclear professional responsibilities towards society, local communities and ecosystems. The 2024 ANdiNA workshop was held in Conguillío National Park in Chile, within Wallmapu the ancestral land of the Mapuche people. It gathered global EESs to explore the roles, obligations and accountability of professionals in this field. The discussions focused on the evolving responsibilities of EESs amidst the environmental crises, as well as the need for clearer frameworks to guide their actions.Key questions included the scope of EESs' professional activities, how their obligations should adapt during times of crisis and whether they should be held accountable for scientific mistakes that lead to negative societal outcomes. The workshop explored the potential for creating a codified framework, such as an oath or manifesto, to clarify EESs' professional responsibilities. Participants highlighted the importance of integrating financial, intellectual, ethical and institutional dimensions in defining these roles, particularly in how EESs engage with local communities and society.Emerging themes included the need for a shared framework to align EESs' actions, exemplified by the Conguillío Statement, which encourages collaboration, inclusivity and ethical engagement with communities, especially Indigenous ones. The workshop also emphasised the importance of solution-orientated, transformative research and advocacy, calling for a shift in how EESs approach their roles as agents of change. By critically reflecting on their responsibilities, the workshop provided a foundation for re-imagining the role of EESs in the face of global environmental crises, urging systemic, collaborative approaches to safeguarding both nature and humanity.https://riojournal.com/article/152859/download/pdf/ecological practicesenvironmental crisismeanin |
| spellingShingle | Florencia Yannelli Kristiina Visakorpi Anni Arponen Carlos Arnillas Javiera Chinga Chamorro Mariana Chiuffo Sharon Collinge Roger Cousens Kadambari Devarajan Ken Ehrlich marilyn grell-brisk Rebecca Kariuki Heather Kharouba Andrea Monica Ortiz Ana Prado-Valladares Helen Regan Florian Schnabel Bruno Soares Gisela Stotz Michael Williams Marc W. Cadotte Ecology for a social revolution: Re-defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards society Research Ideas and Outcomes ecological practices environmental crisis meanin |
| title | Ecology for a social revolution: Re-defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards society |
| title_full | Ecology for a social revolution: Re-defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards society |
| title_fullStr | Ecology for a social revolution: Re-defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards society |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecology for a social revolution: Re-defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards society |
| title_short | Ecology for a social revolution: Re-defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards society |
| title_sort | ecology for a social revolution re defining the role of ecological and environmental science professionals and their responsibilities towards society |
| topic | ecological practices environmental crisis meanin |
| url | https://riojournal.com/article/152859/download/pdf/ |
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