This material is in part based on work supported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under grant number G7Y10605. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the US EPA.
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Research Article
Modellers' and Outreach Professionals' Views on the Role of Models in Watershed Management†
Article first published online: 27 NOV 2011
DOI: 10.1002/eet.587
Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Issue
Environmental Policy and Governance
Special Issue: Participatory Modelling in Natural Resource Governance: Conceptual Reflections and Empirical Insights for Contributing to the Development of an Emerging Research Field
Volume 21, Issue 6, pages 472–486, November/December 2011
Additional Information
How to Cite
Webler, T., Tuler, S. and Dietz, T. (2011), Modellers' and Outreach Professionals' Views on the Role of Models in Watershed Management. Env. Pol. Gov., 21: 472–486. doi: 10.1002/eet.587
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 27 NOV 2011
- Article first published online: 27 NOV 2011
- Manuscript Accepted: 27 JUN 2011
- Manuscript Revised: 21 MAY 2011
- Manuscript Received: 2 JUN 2010
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- mediated modelling;
- nitrogen-loading;
- participatory modelling;
- policy models;
- uncertainty;
- watershed planning
ABSTRACT
Nitrogen loading models are often designed and built without any input from decision-makers. Better understanding and communication between modellers and decision-makers would improve the usefulness of models. In interviews with 16 modellers and outreach professionals in southern New England, USA, we inquired about how nitrogen-loading models should be designed and used in local decision-making. Qualitative analysis revealed several insights about: differences between models intended to advance science and those to advance policy-making; matching the scale of the model with that of the decision; the danger that models might promote technocracy; how to present uncertainty information; ecological transferability and social acceptance of models to new locales; involvement of local decision-makers and citizens in the design of models; and the use of models by lay decision-makers. The findings highlight both opportunities and obstacles to the use of models in local policy-making. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment