PULLMAN, Wash. – The science behind conducting truly integrated research will be presented at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, in Biotechnology Life Sciences 402, Washington State University, by the director of the Center for Resilient Cities at the University of Idaho.
Solutions to societal energy, food and water challenges are constrained by the mismatch between messy real-world interactions and siloed disciplinary approaches. However, talking about a science of integration and actually doing it requires precision in concepts, methodologies and implementation.
Lilian Alessa will offer examples of the leading edges of integrative science and explore the possibilities for application through regional and national research leadership navigating the new, resilient integrated energy landscape.
Alessa conducts extensive research on human adaptation to environmental change, funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The work includes Community Based Observing Systems and Networks (CBONS) for improved situational awareness and integrated food, energy and water projects.
Her expertise is in social-ecological and technological systems (SETS) science and development of highly integrated approaches to better understand complex environmental processes, particularly through incorporation of place-based knowledge.
Her talk is hosted by WSU’s Office of Research.