Science was never intended to exist in a vacuum—without some kind of connection to and understanding of the people and communities who could benefit from its findings, science risks becoming little more than data and words in a research journal.
Creating and strengthening that social connection is one of the reasons the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute has hired its first-ever social scientist: Jane Harrison, who’ll join the organization’s outreach specialist staff in Milwaukee this October.
UW Sea Grant Director Jim Hurley is excited about the two-way street Harrison’s position will pave and navigate—working with Wisconsin’s communities to help translate the results of the research UW Sea Grant supports into relevant policy and behavior changes. Given UW Sea Grant’s strong involvement in critical topics like climate change, sustainable fisheries, invasive species and support for coastal communities, the timing couldn’t be better.
“We’re really pleased that Jane will be joining our outreach staff,” said Hurley. “Her background in socioeconomics associated with natural resources adds a timely and relevant dimension to our extension programming. We hope to be able to both attract new research projects and develop new outreach initiatives in social sciences. Jane will play a key role in leading those efforts.”
Harrison, who is currently finishing her Ph.D. at Oregon State University, has spent much of her time in the Pacific Northwest studying and working with communities that have been forced to adapt over time to globalization and changes in supply and demand for the forest products upon which their economies have traditionally been based. She’s fascinated by the ways in which communities use a concept called “social capital”—the social norms of behavior and relationships that facilitate collective action. She sees several parallels between issues the forest communities of Oregon and the water-based issues faced by places in Wisconsin.
“The crux of my research is really trying to understand how people solve problems,” said Harrison. “Much of the research Sea Grant supports is really interested in changing behavior. The social side of that is so utterly important: How do social networks and norms influence natural resource decision-making?”
Harrison, 27, was born in Columbus, Ohio, growing up in the shadow of The Ohio State University. Three of her four parents—two biological, two step—have natural science backgrounds, lighting her way to a science-based path she would eventually follow herself. “I grew up with a plant pathologist (dad), agronomist (mom), and soil chemist (stepdad),” said Harrison. “I spent a lot of time outside, hiking and observing tree species and insects with my dad and brother.”
Harrison put her own imprint on her career specialty, adding an emphasis on international studies and world economics, honing in on the push and pull between economic development and sustainable use of natural resources. Harrison gravitated toward sociology because, as she put it, “it does a better job of looking at the diversity of experience. We have to recognize how important interactions are between people. One of the key questions I think social science can help frame is ‘Where are people coming from?’ It’s always in the back of my mind—how can we approach people where they are?”
Harrison is anxious to begin settling in Milwaukee, where she’ll quickly begin forging her own interactions, with Sea Grant staffers, researchers and stakeholders. She’s especially excited to work with students at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Science who are interested in obtaining hands-on experience in environmental social sciences.
“Sea Grant is poised to be a neutral advisor, providing scientific perspective on several really important issues. I’m hoping I can help as much as possible in consensus building.”
She’s also looking forward to returning to her roots.
“I’ve always had a strong focus on the Midwest, and that region’s change to a service economy from its manufacturing past,” she said. “In that sense, this job is kind of like a coming home for me.”
Harrison begins her outreach position with UW Sea Grant in early October. You can follow her on Twitter at @GreatLakesJane.
