Models as Languages: How Can Scientific Modeling Improve Environmental Policy Process?

摘要: While scientific models are often thought of as "descriptive" and mainly designed to generate predictions, in fact can be constructed for many varied purposes. Like formal languages, conventional representations better understanding communication. Just languages have uses, only some them describe predict the world, fulfill One key--and growing--use is improve communication among stakeholders contentious public environmental management processes. Jan Rotmans, Director International Center Integrative Studies, Maastricht, Netherlands, has proposed that we distinguish between "supply" "demand" modeling. The former involves cutting-edge use disciplinary or multi-disciplinary tools develop state-of-the-art models, while latter developed specifically respond particular, real-world problems management. It will argued development useful require a significant re-thinking criteria by which form judge models. Especially, it reconsider important aspects way scientists participate processes manage environment. These ideas illustrated reference research on modeling Lake Lanier (a large, multipurpose impoundment Chattahoochee River North Atlanta), undertaken presenter colleagues from Georgia Tech University Georgia.