Natural and Social Sciences Working Together

Science can be grouped into two main areas: natural sciences, which study the physical and natural world, and social sciences, which focus on people and society. While each has its strengths, working together can help solve big challenges like climate change.

When we think about fixing today’s environmental issues, we often turn to natural scientists in fields like biology, oceanography, or climatology. These experts study things like rising temperatures, endangered species, and ocean health. However, humans are the main cause of climate change¹, so understanding human behavior and social systems is just as important. That’s where social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, and economics, come in. These fields help us understand why people act the way they do and how we can create positive change.

While natural scientists provide the data about problems, like tracking overfishing or studying endangered species, social scientists make solutions work for people. For example, social scientists might study why some people don’t adopt sustainable habits, how emotions affect voting for environmental policies, and the economic impacts of different conservation efforts.

Take overfishing, for instance. A natural scientist might study how overfishing harms marine life, while a social scientist looks at why overfishing happens. Together, they can protect both the ocean and the people who depend on it.

Community Knowledge is Key to Climate Solutions

Another important piece of the puzzle is working with communities. This helps make climate solutions stronger and more likely to succeed. People who live in a place often know it better than anyone else. For example, local fishers may notice changes in fish numbers long before scientists do, because they’ve spent many years, even generations, out on the water.

Different communities also have different kinds of knowledge. Indigenous Peoples are experts on their lands and waters. They have been caring for them and developing deep knowledge, called Indigenous Knowledge Systems or Native Science, for thousands of years. Their expertise can help scientists understand nature in ways they might not discover on their own.

By integrating natural sciences, social sciences, and community knowledges, we can find real solutions that holistically tackle the environmental challenges we all face.

Citations & Resources

1. Eyring, V., et al., 2021: Human Influence on the Climate System. In Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Masson-Delmotte, V., et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 423–552, doi: 10.1017/9781009157896.005.
2. Indigenous Knowledge Library: https://www.communitycommons.org/entities/5b78d121-39e7-446f-b0da-62f55bfef4ee

---