Options for mission-orientation in ecology

Abstract

In response to growing concern about environmental problems ecologists have engaged in a variety of “mission-oriented” efforts in which they claim to have taken into account the objective of helping to solve environmental problems in their research strategies. The significance of these efforts is evaluated here in terms of both the theoretical development of the field of ecology and its orientation towards societal objectives. Three examples of mission-orientation are analysed on the basis of a case-study of Dutch fresh-water ecology: (1) ecosystems research within the framework of the International Biological Programme; (2) landscape ecology; and (3) ecological research on the management of fresh-water resources. These examples demonstrate that in principle the scope of mission-orientation in ecology can be broad. In Dutch fresh-water ecology, however, two specific approaches have become particularly institutionalized. The ecologists tended to opt either for theory-centered approaches close to the type of research carried out by ecologists developing the field regardless of any societal mission, or for problem-centered approaches without much emphasis on theory-development. Types of mission-orientation which can be placed between these extremes have been established to a limited extent in Dutch fresh-water ecology. Conclusions are drawn as to why only certain approaches have been successfully institutionalized in the Dutch research setting. On the basis of these results the implications for science policy are discussed. Moreover generalizations are made with respect to the usefulness of the concept of mission-orientation.