SES Foundations
This page presents foundation resources on key concepts to understand about the Social-Ecological Systems research field
SES methods
SES datasets
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What are social-ecological systems and social-ecological systems research?
Biggs, O. (2023)
This video introduces the concept of social-ecological systems (SES) as intertwined systems of people and nature, and discusses the key features of SES as complex adaptive systems. The video then provides an overview of SES research, including a brief history of the origins of the field and how it relates to other similar fields. The key conceptual frameworks used in SES research, and some of the most commonly used approaches, are introduced. The video concludes with a discussion of the links between research and action in SES research and how these are interwoven in many SES research contexts, particularly those aimed at supporting and facilitating systemic change towards more sustainable futures.
Complexity-based social-ecological systems research: philosophical foundations and practical implications
This video gives an overview of the philosophical foundations of the conceptual development of complex adaptive systems (CAS). This provides some grounding for understanding the nature of intertwined social-ecological systems (SES). The video offers a brief discussion on the history of ideas and how the discovery of the features and behaviour of CAS introduced a shift in worldview for modern science. We then elaborate on why the study of SES as CAS calls for new methods and more integrated and collaborative research approaches. Finally, the implications for action in responding to the current grand challenges of securing more sustainable SES futures are discussed.
Complexity-based social-ecological systems research: philosophical foundations and practical implications
Preiser, R. (2023)
This video gives an overview of the philosophical foundations of the conceptual development of complex adaptive systems (CAS). This provides some grounding for understanding the nature of intertwined social-ecological systems (SES). The video offers a brief discussion on the history of ideas and how the discovery of the features and behaviour of CAS introduced a shift in worldview for modern science. We then elaborate on why the study of SES as CAS calls for new methods and more integrated and collaborative research approaches. Finally, the implications for action in responding to the current grand challenges of securing more sustainable SES futures are discussed.
The practice and design of social-ecological systems research
De Vos, A. (2023)
This video aims to guide the reflexive social-ecological systems (SES) researcher through different components of an SES research project. The video focuses on the identification of research problems, the purpose of the research and the SES research areas within which a researcher may be embedded. It also elaborates on more general issues relating to data generation, participatory research along a gradient of collaboration, as well as computational and mathematical modelling approaches, as these are common to a number of specific methods, discussed in the SES methods section of this website. Finally, practical ethical considerations associated with SES research are considered.
Research Frontiers
This video synthesises the methods presented, maps the current landscape of SES methods and assesses their ability to address different systemic features of social-ecological systems (SES). It engages in a reflection of common challenges researchers face when applying methods that often stem from specific disciplinary backgrounds to complex and intertwined SES. The chapter concludes with discussing SES research frontiers and emerging novel methods and method combinations.
Emerging frontiers in social-ecological systems research methods
A focus on Arts-based approaches
Fick, W.L. (2024)
This video synthesises commonalities between methods, maps the current landscape of SES methods, and assesses their ability to address different systemic features of social-ecological systems (SES). It engages in a reflection of common challenges researchers face when applying methods that often stem from specific disciplinary backgrounds to complex and intertwined SES. The video concludes with discussing SES research frontiers and emerging novel methods and method combinations.