HR: 14:25h
AN: H33K-04 INVITED [Abstracts]
TI: Motivation of synthesis, with an example on groundwater quality sustainability
AU: * Fogg, G E
EM: gefogg@ucdavis.edu
AF: Hydrologic Sciences Graduate Group, Veihmeyer Hall
University of CA, Davis, CA 95616, United States
AU: * Fogg, G E
EM: gefogg@ucdavis.edu
AF: Dept. of Land, Air and Water Resources, One Shields Ave.
University of CA, Davis, CA 95616, United States
AU: * Fogg, G E
EM: gefogg@ucdavis.edu
AF: Dept. of Geology, One Shields Ave.
University of CA, Davis, CA 95616, United States
AU: LaBolle, E M
EM: emlabolle@ucdavis.edu
AF: Hydrologic Sciences Graduate Group, Veihmeyer Hall
University of CA, Davis, CA 95616, United States
AU: LaBolle, E M
EM: emlabolle@ucdavis.edu
AF: Dept. of Land, Air and Water Resources, One Shields Ave.
University of CA, Davis, CA 95616, United States
AB:
Synthesis of ideas and theories from disparate disciplines is necessary for addressing the major problems
faced by society. Such integration happens neither via edict nor via lofty declarations of what is needed or what is
best. It happens mainly through two mechanisms: limited scope collaborations (e.g., ~2-3 investigators) in which
the researchers believe deeply in their need for each other's expertise and much larger scope collaborations
driven by the ‘big idea.' Perhaps the strongest motivation for broad, effective synthesis is the 'big idea' that is
sufficiently important and inspiring to marshal the appropriate collaborative efforts. Examples include the
Manhattan Project, the quest for cancer cures, predicting effects of climate change, and groundwater quality
sustainability. The latter is posed as an example of a ‘big idea' that would potentially unify research efforts in both
the sciences and social sciences toward a common, pressing objective.
DE: 1831 Groundwater quality
DE: 1832 Groundwater transport
DE: 1847 Modeling
DE: 6334 Regional planning (1880)
DE: 6620 Science policy (0485)
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting