The past decade has witnessed a rapid growth in the development of research on the human dimensions of global environmental change. Environmental Social Science offers a synthesis of this new cross-disciplinary enterprise, and provides a foundation for scholars and policy makers to address the urgent needs and better understand these globally-scaled processes. With increasing evidence of climate change, loss of biodiversity, rapid deforestation in the tropics, and an impending crisis in availability of potable water, the book argues that the fate of our planet hangs in the balance. It reveals how ongoing environmental research demands the breakdown of traditional disciplinary boundaries and requires a better understanding of the complexities of current human-environment interactions. In recommending a new collaborative approach that makes environmental theoryies and research methods accessible across the natural and social sciences, the book outlines a mutually beneficial research agenda for all concerned.
"This work represents an impressive bridge between social andnatural science. For anyone interested in the development of acomprehensive environmental science." (Choice , 1 April 2011)
"Thanks to its capacity of surfing across natural and socialsciences, Moran's work will at minimum help scholars from bothsides to create bridges across the gap that still separates them;something that can already be seen as a non-trivial result."(Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, July2010)"This transformative book addresses the foundational theoriesand methods essential to both social and biophysical fields inhuman-environment research, promoting familiarity with -- andaccessibility to -- research crossing traditional disciplinarybounds. Destined to become a key text within coupled human-naturalsystems research by exploring the complex problems that ourenvironment faces, this book underscores that those challenges canbe successfully addressed only through interdisciplinary researchteams; this work will be an integral component of educating futureinterdisciplinary researchers."
--Jane Southworth, University of Florida
"In the nick of time at the dawn of the era of greatenvironmental challenge: a work that encompasses the full array ofrelevant sciences...fundamental to lasting solutions"
--Thomas E. Lovejoy, The Heinz Center for Science,Economics and the Environment
"Professor Moran gives scientists the tools to attack themost critical environmental challenges - those involving therelations between people and the environment"
--David E. Blockstein, National Council for Science and theEnvironment
"The book fills an incredibly important gap. Emilio Moranprovides a remarkably comprehensive coverage of the fundamentalscience that underpins the analysis of coupled human-environmentsystems. It's a must read for researchers working in the emergingfield of sustainability science."
--Pamela Matson, Stanford University
"A superb overview of the emerging field of sustainabilityscience. Readers will enjoy his clear writing, engaging examplesand effective answers to real-world problems."
--Ben Orlove, University of California, Davis
"Thanks to its capacity of surfing across natural and socialsciences, Moran's work will at minimum help scholars from bothsides to create bridges across the gap that still separates them;something that can already be seen as a non-trivial result."(Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, July2010)"This transformative book addresses the foundational theoriesand methods essential to both social and biophysical fields inhuman-environment research, promoting familiarity with -- andaccessibility to -- research crossing traditional disciplinarybounds. Destined to become a key text within coupled human-naturalsystems research by exploring the complex problems that ourenvironment faces, this book underscores that those challenges canbe successfully addressed only through interdisciplinary researchteams; this work will be an integral component of educating futureinterdisciplinary researchers."
--Jane Southworth, University of Florida
"In the nick of time at the dawn of the era of greatenvironmental challenge: a work that encompasses the full array ofrelevant sciences...fundamental to lasting solutions"
--Thomas E. Lovejoy, The Heinz Center for Science,Economics and the Environment
"Professor Moran gives scientists the tools to attack themost critical environmental challenges - those involving therelations between people and the environment"
--David E. Blockstein, National Council for Science and theEnvironment
"The book fills an incredibly important gap. Emilio Moranprovides a remarkably comprehensive coverage of the fundamentalscience that underpins the analysis of coupled human-environmentsystems. It's a must read for researchers working in the emergingfield of sustainability science."
--Pamela Matson, Stanford University
"A superb overview of the emerging field of sustainabilityscience. Readers will enjoy his clear writing, engaging examplesand effective answers to real-world problems."
--Ben Orlove, University of California, Davis