Engaging stakeholders in research to address water–energy–food (WEF) nexus challenges

Hoolohan, C; Larkin, A; McLachlan, C; Falconer, R; Soutar, I; Suckling, J; Varga, L; Haltas, I; Druckman, A; Lumbroso, D; Scott, M; Gilmour, D; Ledbetter, R; McGrane, S; Mitchell, C; Yu, D

Engaging stakeholders in research to address water–energy–food (WEF) nexus challenges

Hoolohan, C Larkin, A McLachlan, C Falconer, R Soutar, I Suckling, J Varga, L Haltas, I Druckman, A Lumbroso, D Scott, M Gilmour, D Ledbetter, R McGrane, S Mitchell, C

Yu, D

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sustainability Science, 2018, 13 (5), pp. 1415 - 1426
Issue Date:: 2018-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hoolohan, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Larkin, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	McLachlan, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Falconer, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Soutar, I	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Suckling, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Varga, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Haltas, I	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Druckman, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lumbroso, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Scott, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Gilmour, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ledbetter, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	McGrane, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mitchell, C https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9842-540X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Yu, D	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-09-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Sustainability Science, 2018, 13 (5), pp. 1415 - 1426	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1862-4065	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/129270
dc.description.abstract	© 2018, The Author(s). The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus has become a popular, and potentially powerful, frame through which to analyse interactions and interdependencies between these three systems. Though the case for transdisciplinary research in this space has been made, the extent of stakeholder engagement in research remains limited with stakeholders most commonly incorporated in research as end-users. Yet, stakeholders interact with nexus issues in a variety of ways, consequently there is much that collaboration might offer to develop nexus research and enhance its application. This paper outlines four aspects of nexus research and considers the value and potential challenges for transdisciplinary research in each. We focus on assessing and visualising nexus systems; understanding governance and capacity building; the importance of scale; and the implications of future change. The paper then proceeds to describe a novel mixed-method study that deeply integrates stakeholder knowledge with insights from multiple disciplines. We argue that mixed-method research designs—in this case orientated around a number of cases studies—are best suited to understanding and addressing real-world nexus challenges, with their inevitable complex, non-linear system characteristics. Moreover, integrating multiple forms of knowledge in the manner described in this paper enables research to assess the potential for, and processes of, scaling-up innovations in the nexus space, to contribute insights to policy and decision making.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Sustainability Science	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s11625-018-0552-7	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences	en_US
dc.title	Engaging stakeholders in research to address water–energy–food (WEF) nexus challenges	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	13	en_US
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management	en_US
utslib.for	MD Multidisciplinary	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.declined	2019-01-04T07:46:42.658+1100
pubs.issue	5	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	13	en_US

Abstract:

© 2018, The Author(s). The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus has become a popular, and potentially powerful, frame through which to analyse interactions and interdependencies between these three systems. Though the case for transdisciplinary research in this space has been made, the extent of stakeholder engagement in research remains limited with stakeholders most commonly incorporated in research as end-users. Yet, stakeholders interact with nexus issues in a variety of ways, consequently there is much that collaboration might offer to develop nexus research and enhance its application. This paper outlines four aspects of nexus research and considers the value and potential challenges for transdisciplinary research in each. We focus on assessing and visualising nexus systems; understanding governance and capacity building; the importance of scale; and the implications of future change. The paper then proceeds to describe a novel mixed-method study that deeply integrates stakeholder knowledge with insights from multiple disciplines. We argue that mixed-method research designs—in this case orientated around a number of cases studies—are best suited to understanding and addressing real-world nexus challenges, with their inevitable complex, non-linear system characteristics. Moreover, integrating multiple forms of knowledge in the manner described in this paper enables research to assess the potential for, and processes of, scaling-up innovations in the nexus space, to contribute insights to policy and decision making.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/129270