Interdisciplinary Research and Environmental Management

Interdisciplinary environmental research is a difficult task that often fails to meet its potential. Causes of such difficulties are examined. The demand that such research be useful and practical is given particular attention. It is reasoned that the meanings of the words useful and practical must be examined in the context of the kinds of decisions forced upon modern society; only then should specific meanings of such words be imposed as a demand upon such research. It is further reasoned that given the problems of modern society, the words useful and practical must be associated with a more broad and even more radical meaning when applied to interdisciplinary research as compared to disciplinary research.