Crossing Boundaries in a Collaborative Modeling Workspace

• Published in: Society & natural resources 2017-09, Vol.30 (9), p.1158-1167
• Main Authors: Morisette, Jeffrey T., Cravens, Amanda E., Miller, Brian W., Talbert, Marian, Talbert, Colin, Jarnevich, Catherine, Fink, Michelle, Decker, Karin, Odell, Eric A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boundaries; Boundary object; boundary organization; Case studies; Climate change; climate science centers; co-production; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Collaboration; Geological surveys; Knowledge management; Modelling; participatory modeling; Polls & surveys; Production; Projections; Scientists; Social processes; Visualization; Wildlife
• ISSN: 0894-1920; 1521-0723
• DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2017.1290178

There is substantial literature on the importance of bridging across disciplinary and science-management boundaries. One of the ways commonly suggested to cross boundaries is for participants from both sides of the boundary to jointly produce information (i.e., knowledge co-production). But simply providing tools or bringing people together in the same room is not sufficient. Here we present a case study documenting the mechanisms by which managers and scientists collaborated to incorporate climate change projections into Colorado's State Wildlife Action Plan. A critical component of the project was the use of a collaborative modeling and visualization workspace: the U.S. Geological Survey's Resource for Advanced Modeling (RAM). Using video analysis and pre/post surveys from this case study, we examine how the RAM facilitated cognitive and social processes that co-produced a more salient and credible end product. This case provides practical suggestions to scientists and practitioners who want to implement actionable science.