Working with practitioners : how scientists can develop effective relationships that produce an enduring legacy

Protecting the environment requires scientists to work with a range of people including land managers, planners, policy makers and regulators. The literature abounds with the challenges of the different ‘cultures’ working together effectively so scientific results are translated into policy and practice. To address these challenges, we wanted to document factors that produce successful partnerships between scientists and practitioners from different cultures, and determine which factors were the most important in producing an enduring legacy. We asked 12 environmental scientists from the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) to nominate practitioners with whom they had developed a successful partnership that they believed delivered results for the environment. The scientists nominated land managers, park rangers, scientists, and planners from natural resource management agencies. The projects they were involved with ranged from: protection of threatened species and biodiversity; eradication of feral pests; environmental monitoring; land use planning and management; and planning for climate change. The scientists each interviewed one of the 12 nominated practitioners (but not the person they nominated). At least one observer was present in all interviews. We used a structured set of questions and asked the practitioner to describe the work and its legacy. We also asked about the processes and systems which fostered or hindered the use of scientific input or expertise in the work; and how the approach and personal attributes of the scientist influenced the outcome. We recorded all interviews which were transcribed then analysed to identify common themes. We found the themes separated into those about the process of working together (nine common themes) and those related to the personal attributes of the scientist (nine common themes). The common factors mentioned by practitioners about the process of working together were: a collaborative approach; a practical solution; rigorous process that could withstand scrutiny; regular communication; a team with diverse and complementary skills and experience; a shared purpose or vision; being involved from inception; debating how to solve the problem; and an innovative, new or bold approach. Practitioners mentioned nine common personal attributes of the scientist: a committed, dedicated and passionate person; a leader or champion; a rigorous expert; well connected to universities or other organisations; a clear and effective communicator; who understood the practitioner’s aims, needs and constraints; who was accessible and flexible; could function as a knowledge broker and translate complex and technical information into simple terms; and was pleasant, personable and “easy to get along with. ” These factors created effective working relationships between scientists and practitioners, and helped bridge the gap between ‘cultures. ’ Our preliminary results, if confirmed by future research, have implications for scientists as well as the organisations that employ them. We suggest ways to foster the common factors mentioned by practitioners so scientists can create more effective working relationships with them. Successful partnerships benefit the scientist and practitioner, as well as the environment.