Reforming Natural Resources Governance: Failings of Scientific Rationalism and Alternatives for Building Common Ground

A cougar in the wild.

Scientific management of the cougar is the subject of the first lecture. (Image courtesy of the National Park Service.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

11.959

As Taught In

January IAP 2007

Level

Graduate

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Course Description

Course Features

Course Description

For the last century, precepts of scientific management and administrative rationality have concentrated power in the hands of technical specialists, which in recent decades has contributed to widespread disenfranchisement and discontent among stakeholders in natural resources cases. In this seminar we examine the limitations of scientific management as a model both for governance and for gathering and using information, and describe alternative methods for informing and organizing decision-making processes. We feature cases involving large carnivores in the West (mountain lions and grizzly bears), Northeast coastal fisheries, and adaptive management of the Colorado River. There will be nightly readings and a short written assignment.

Related Content

David Mattson, and Herman Karl. 11.959 Reforming Natural Resources Governance: Failings of Scientific Rationalism and Alternatives for Building Common Ground. January IAP 2007. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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