Quantitative Research Performing other Worlds: lessons from sustainable agriculture in the Philippines

For those interested in ethical research, quantitative methods are often dismissed as apolitical; as unreflective exercises in ‘mere counting’. If, however, in doing research, we bring into being the very worlds we purport to describe, the question begs: what kinds of worlds might quantitative methods bring into being? Is there space for a reflexive, quantitative research agenda? In this paper, I will discuss an action-based predominantly quantitative research project that aimed to investigate the diverse impacts of sustainable agriculture on small-scale farmers in the Philippines. The study, one of the largest ever undertaken on organic rice production, was consciously designed, not merely to describe, but to perform organic agriculture differently. While most quantitative, and indeed much qualitative, research ignores its performativity, this research was intended to enact a reality of sustainable agriculture as a viable and vital alternative to mainstream, capitalist agriculture.     

The Value of Practice-Based Knowledge

Increasing recognition of the value of practice-based or experiential knowledge in natural resource management justifies the creation of a new category of articles in Society & Natural Resources that we are calling Practice-Based Knowledge (PBK). The rationale for focusing on PBK is due to its key role in the emergence of hybrid governance institutions across state, market, and civil society, understanding the complexity of dynamic socioecological systems, recognizing the challenges of multiple knowledge systems and context-specific practices, embracing the power of informal institutions and civic science, and engaging debates on the growing prevalence of market-oriented conservation. The goal is to provide a dedicated space within the published, peer-reviewed literature for scholars, government officials, nonprofit managers, and engaged citizens to share experiences informed by practical action. Relevant and timely practice-based insights may improve understanding and management of social and ecological processes and systems, while also offering the potential to contribute to theory.     

地方文化环境与大学教学科研融合发展的模式初探——基于英美若干研究型大学的经验研究

教学科研的深度融合是研究型大学的共同特点,但各个大学实现融合的模式仍存在差异。本文拟基于地方文化传统和周边产业发展需求,探索地方对大学主导功能的影响,并结合对英美典型研究性大学的案例剖析,研究不同大学教学科研融合发展的主要立足点不同的内在原因。研究显示,地方不仅为大学的发展提供资金和基础设施等方面的支持,也需要大学提供人力资本、知识创新等方面的服务,因此,大学的主导功能与地方文化经济环境密切相关,而教学科研的融合则往往立足于大学的主要功能。例如,牛津大学以人才培养为重点就深受英国传统文化的影响,哈佛在基础研究方面的卓越贡献也与其追求真理的文化传统有关,而斯坦福大学以服务产业发展促进人才培养与科研紧密融合的模式也受到实用教育理念的影响。总的看来,研究型大学都应该力促教学科研的深度融合,这是其承载文化传播和知识创造功能的基础,但就具体大学而言,很有必要适应特定地方的文化环境,探索适合的教学科研融合发展模式,而不要陷入盲目模仿的误区。     

New advances in the study of Alpine glaciations

The European Alps is the birthplace of glaciology and in particular Quaternary glaciology and for over one hundred years has been a model region for studying mountain glaciations. In this paper, we review the achievements from this region, which will benefit glaciological studies of the Tibetan Plateau, China. According to new evidences of glaciofluvial de- posits discovered in valleys and forelands of the Alps, researchers have progressed from an original four Pleistocene gla- ciations to seven glaciations： Biber, Donua, Gtinz, Haslach, Mindel, Riss and WOrm. The earliest one Biber possibly oc- curred between the Pliocene and Pleistocene, but the chronology before Riss is still in doubt. Recent years, Riss and Wtirm glaciations have been supported by a large numbers of cosmogenic exposure dating. In particular, cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating has been carried out for different moraine boulders in numerous valleys, which reveals a series of climatic change events, and they are comparable to post-glacial age records of northern Europe. The advancement of glaciological studies in the Alps is important in promoting glaciological research in the Tibetan Plateau.     

Perceptions of climate change in China: The research and policy connection

Global climate change has evolved from a scientific problem into an economic and political problem oI worlOwloe rater- est. National perspectives play a crucial role in addressing climate change. Mutual understanding of perspectives is nec- essary to result in rational policies and a consensus among stakeholders with divergent interests. Conceptual frameworks for understanding the problem of climate change in China, the largest developing country and the largest greenhouse gas emitter, are of great significance to national and international efforts to address the problems of climate change. Chinese perceptions of climate change as a sustainable development problem have recently been in tension with an emerging Western perspective that frames climate change as a security issue. This paper explores Chinese perceptions of climate change as expressed in recent governmental policy statements, public opinion surveys, and academic scholarship with a focus on publications in Chinese-language journals, often unfamiliar in the West. It looks at the relationship between Chinese research and policy and finds that the Chinese policy frame of climate change as a sustainable development problem draws from the body of domestic research and is reflective of the perspectives and multidisciplinary approach of Chinese researchers in areas of climate change.     

宁夏地下水监测现状调查及对策

[目的]针对地下水监测存在问题,提出改进地下水监测工作的对策和建议。[方法]调查地下水监测历史沿革及现状,理出存在主要问题,研究应对策略。[结果]宁夏地下水监测范围小,监测层位浅,监测井标准低老化严重,井网布局和监测项目与面临任务不适应,难以满足地下水管理与开发保护要求,亟需完善地下水监测井网。[结论]做好宁夏地下水监测站网总体规划,建立稳定资金投入机制,加强与国土部门合作,逐年完善地下水监测站网,是做好地下水监测工作主要举措。     

贵州晴隆-安龙露采金矿矿山地质环境质量评价体系探讨与应用

据贵州省晴隆―安龙金矿矿山地质环境背景、现状、矿山环境地质问题、人类工程活动强度与地质环境质量的相关性,并结合金矿露采的特点,探索性地提出了一套金矿露采矿山地质环境质量评价的方法体系并用之于调查区的地质环境质量分区评价,通过专家进行野外验收和成果报告审查,一致认为评价结果比较真实地反映了调查区的实际地质环境质量状况,提出的评价方法是合理可行的,对类似金矿矿山的地质环境质量评价具有一定的借鉴意义。     

西南地区传统村落区域保护水平评价及影响因素

本文在理论层面构建传统村落保护研究模型,并以西南地区为例,分析宏观视角下传统村落区域保护水平及影响因素。结论显示：① 传统村落保护研究模型涵盖评价体系和影响因素两个子模型。评价体系模型包含从宏观到微观的传统村落时空分布、整体保护水平和单一属性3个层次,其中整体保护水平分为宏观区域和微观社区两个亚层,保存率和分布密度是评价区域保护水平的简易方法;影响因素模型包含基于时间、空间和类型划分的两类基本分析模型。② 西南地区传统村落区域保护水平呈现显著空间分异,在行政区划边界地区形成5个热点集聚区,丽江市传统村落保存率最高,黔东南州分布密度最高。③ 影响西南地区传统村落宏观保护水平的地理区位因素为海拔、水系、中心城市和交通干道。经济社会因素中,非遗规模是最重要的影响因素,人口密度、经济发展、交通建设、交通流动和非遗规模的相关系数存在显著空间分异,城镇化率、产业结构对于区域保护水平无显著影响。本文是对传统村落保护理论体系由个案向整体、由微观向宏观、由零散向系统、由单一向多元方法的推进,具有重要理论和实践价值。     

荒漠生态系统C、N、P生态化学计量研究进展

生态化学计量学是通过研究生物有机体主要元素含量及其比值的变化关系,揭示生态系统各组分间元素循环规律的一门学科,生态化学计量也是荒漠生态系统研究的重要内容。因此,综合掌握水分和养分限制环境下C、N、P生态化学计量的关系对揭示荒漠生态系统植物的限制性元素、土壤营养的供给能力、养分的有效性等都具有重要的意义。基于此,回顾和分析了国内外荒漠生态系统C、N、P生态化学计量最新研究和动态,分别从植物、凋落物、土壤、土壤微生物、土壤酶进行较为系统的评述,讨论了植物-土壤-微生物-酶四者的关系,提出了荒漠生态系统C、N、P生态化学计量的未来研究方向,期望为全面理解固沙植被的演变过程、稳定性维持机制及其科学管理提供理论指导。     

国外儿童地理学研究进展与启示

20世纪70至80年代,在地理学“空间转向”的背景下,国外儿童地理学研究兴起。2003年Children’s Geographies诞生,成为儿童地理学的旗帜性刊物,标志着儿童地理学的发展进入新阶段。借助可视化工具,系统梳理国外儿童地理学研究的核心主题、研究热点以及研究方法。研究发现：（1）国外儿童地理学的科研人员、科研机构以及研究所属区域都呈现高度集中性,欧美国家占据主导地位;（2）核心研究主题包括移民与流动身份、伦理与地区差异、教育与青年志向、童年与多元空间以及游戏与情感体验等;（3）亚洲儿童地理研究成为近期研究热点,聚焦于“跨国儿童移民”以及“亚洲青年教育及就业问题”两部分;（4）研究方法历经探索期、发展期、繁盛期以及信息技术广泛应用时期的演进,技术手段随时代发展不断更新。