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The Maine Tidal Power Initiative: transdisciplinary sustainability science research for the responsible development of tidal power

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Abstract

The Maine Tidal Power Initiative (MTPI), an interdisciplinary team of engineers, marine scientists, oceanographers, and social scientists, is using a transdisciplinary sustainability science approach to collect biophysical and social data necessary for understanding interactions between human and natural systems in the context of tidal power development in Maine. MTPI offers a unique opportunity to better understand how group structure and process influence outcomes in transdisciplinary sustainability science research. Through extensive participant observation and semi-structured interviews we: (1) describe MTPI’s organizational structure; (2) examine MTPI’s research approach and engagement with stakeholders from different sectors of society (i.e., industry, government, and the local community); and (3) identify challenges and opportunities for involving different disciplinary expertise and diverse stakeholders in transformational sustainability science research. We found that MTPI’s holistic mission, non-hierarchical structure, and iterative stakeholder engagement process led to important benefits and significant challenges. Positive outcomes include knowledge development, a transferable research framework, shared resources, personal reward, and a greater understanding of the local environment and community. Challenges identified include balancing diverse interests and priorities, maintaining engagement, managing stakeholder relationships, and limited resources. Lessons learned from the process of integrative collaborative research in Maine can offer guidance on what should be considered when carrying out similar transdisciplinary sustainability science projects in other research contexts.

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Notes

  1. For other examples of research on the research in the context of sustainability science see: Gardner (2013), McCoy and Gardner (2012).

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank MTPI scientists and stakeholders for generously sharing their time and perspectives on tidal power research and development. We would also like to thank Colleen Budzinski and Theodore Koboski for their assistance in the field and in preparing this manuscript. Special thanks to Ruth Hallsworth for her assistance with the figures. This research was conducted as part of the Sustainability Solutions Initiative, supported by National Science Foundation award EPS-0904155 to Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA

    Jessica Spelke Jansujwicz & Teresa R. Johnson

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  1. Jessica Spelke Jansujwicz
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  2. Teresa R. Johnson
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Correspondence to Jessica Spelke Jansujwicz.

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Handled by Masaru Yarime, The University of Tokyo, Japan.

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Jansujwicz, J.S., Johnson, T.R. The Maine Tidal Power Initiative: transdisciplinary sustainability science research for the responsible development of tidal power. Sustain Sci 10, 75–86 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-014-0263-7

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