Management of multi-disciplinary, multi-partner science-related projects is becoming increasingly important to ensure successful outcomes. Best practices for coordination and management, including incorporation of multiple types of expertise and knowledge, are not broadly or widely available for sharing, despite being critical to ensuring that the final work products are societally useful.

 

Additionally, many complex science programs include societal relevance, with interdisciplinary work that requires technical scientists to understand how to effectively partner with non-technical experts from across the private and public sectors. For example, many government researchers are learning to effectively work with non-governmental programs and individuals, collaborating with them as co-researchers, not just individual technical collaborators; this represents a significant challenge to how complex scientific projects have often been run. Many of these programs benefit from a management structure that oversees the whole project, especially where there are a significant number of collaborators and funding streams.

 

This session will highlight complex science management programs and projects, with a goal of understanding more deeply the process and best practices of successful science program management. Talks will highlight interdisciplinary projects or programs that analyze the effects of global change on the natural environment, in areas such as agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources, transportation, human health and welfare, human social systems, and/or biological diversity, among other topics.