You, Me & HIFMB - Stories of Science and the Sea

Social Science Matters 03 - Before You Go Anywhere! Practical Concerns and the Matter of Ethics

Episode overview
This episode covers the essentials of social science research in terms of practical concerns and ethical considerations. It firstly spends some time, thinking about time! How researchers can plan projects within specific timeframes, budgetary constraints, possible travel restrictions, and how to also think on vital matters of risk, health and safety in doing social research. The podcast secondly shifts to ethical principles, discussing the importance of taking ethical approaches and engaging formal ethical procedures when working with human subjects. The episode considers matters such as informed consent, confidentiality, and minimising harm and how ethics is not just about forms and approvals but treating people with respect, ensuring their well-being, and building trust. We also offer ‘top tips’.
 
You can tag us on social media #SocialScienceMatters
 
Supporting readings
There is a light introduction to practicalities of doing social science research, time, cost, logistics, health, safety and ethics here:
Peters, K. (2017). Your Human Geography Dissertation: Designing, Doing, Delivering. SAGE: London (chapter 5) and online: https://study.sagepub.com/yourhumangeography/student-resources/chapter-5/external-links
 
This chapter covers the essentials of health and safety in social science work:
Bullard, J (2016) ‘Health, Safety and Risk in the Field’ In: Clifford, N., Cope, M., Gillespie, T.,& French S. (eds.) Key Methods in Geography. Third Edition. Sage. Pp. 19-29 with online support: https://study.sagepub.com/keymethods3e2/student-resources/chapter-2/further-reading
 
On ethics specifically, listeners may find the following useful:
Hay, I. (2016). On being ethical in geographical research. In: Clifford, N., Cope, M., Gillespie, T.,& French S. (eds.) Key Methods in Geography. Third Edition. Sage. Pp. 30-43. https://study.sagepub.com/keymethods3e2/student-resources/chapter-3/further-reading
Wilson, H. F., & Darling, J. (Eds.). (2020). Research Ethics for Human Geography: A Handbook for Students. https://sk.sagepub.com/book/mono/preview/research-ethics-for-human-geography-a-handbook-for-students.pdf
 
Supporting websites
Do you want to know more about ethics? These websites may help (we are not responsible for external content)
Research Ethics Guidelines from UK Research and Innovation: https://www.ukri.org/councils/esrc/guidance-for-applicants/research-ethics-guidance/
Ethics in Social Science and Humanities Research from the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ethics-in-social-science-and-humanities_he_en.pdf
 

Social Science Matters 02 - How to Start Thinking About Social Worlds

Episode overview
This episode shifts our focus to how we might start to think about social worlds in our research. It outlines that how we look at the world – the assumptions we hold about it (what exists, how we know what exists) – is crucial to our start points in research, and drives the kind of questions we might ask about the world. This podcast explores the role of theory (and how it is something we are all using, all of the time anyway!) and positions theory as a useful (rather than intimidating) framework for understanding and interpreting the social world. The episode further considers how theory – thinking about the way we view the world – can open space towards valuing knowledges beyond Western understandings. Finally we consider how the way we think about the world, what we want to find out about it, will also guide the kinds of research questions we ask about it, and choice of methods we engage.
 
You can tag us on social media #SocialScienceMatters.
 
Supporting readings
In this podcast we discuss how social science can be integrated with natural sciences – providing a different lens for looking at the world (and marine problems). These articles all deal with integration of marine social sciences with natural sciences:
Markus, T., Hillebrand, H., Hornidge, A. K., Krause, G., & Schlüter, A. (2018). Disciplinary diversity in marine sciences: the urgent case for an integration of research. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 75(2), 502-509. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx201
Popova, E., Aksenov, Y., Amoudry, L. O., Becker, A., Bricheno, L., Brown, J. M., ... & Yool, A. (2023). Socio-oceanography: an opportunity to integrate marine social and natural sciences. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 1209356. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1209356/full
Sanborn, T., & Jung, J. (2021). Intersecting social science and conservation. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 676394. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.676394/full
Strang, V. (2009). Integrating the social and natural sciences in environmental research: a discussion paper. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 11, 1-18. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-007-9095-2
Barnes, R. A., Elliott, M., Burdon, D., Atkins, J. P., Boyes, S., Smyth, K., & Wurzel, R. (2018). Integrating Natural and Social Marine Sciences to Sustainably Manage Vectors of Change and Inform Marine Policy: Dogger Bank Transnational Case Study. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science 234-247 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3495172 (This paper provides a practical example).
 
In this podcast we discuss how there are other knowledge systems – ways in which the world can be understood. These are the cited sources:
George, R. Y., & Wiebe, S. M. 2020. Fluid decolonial futures: Water as a life, ocean citizenship and seascape relationality. New Political Science, 424, 498-520. https://doi.org/10.1080/07393148.2020.1842706
Todd, Z. (2016). An indigenous feminist's take on the ontological turn:‘Ontology’is just another word for colonialism. Journal of Historical Sociology, 29(1), 4-22. https://mathewarthur.com/whats-new/pdf/todd-ontological-turn.pdf
 
These papers deal with how theory matters as a framework to understanding. Peters’ article covers why ‘thinking’ and ‘theory’ – ontology (what we know about the world) – matters to marine social science research. No policy work, no work about people is outside of how we think about it. Conde et al’s paper covers this in practice, showing how the ways in which we understand the seabed, shape its practical governance. The Steinberg and Peters paper is the one Kim apologies for, for interested readers!
Conde, M., Mondré, A., Peters, K., & Steinberg, P. (2022). Mining questions of ‘what’and ‘who’: deepening discussions of the seabed for future policy and governance. Maritime studies, 21(3), 327-338. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40152-022-00273-2.pdf
Peters, K. (2020). The territories of governance: Unpacking the ontologies and geophilosophies of fixed to flexible ocean management, and beyond. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 375(1814), 20190458. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2019.0458
Steinberg, P., & Peters, K. (2015). Wet ontologies, fluid spaces: Giving depth to volume through oceanic thinking. Environment and planning D: society and space, 33(2), 247-264. https://doi.org/10.1068/d14148p
 
There is a light introduction to theory, in this textbook, and associated ‘study’ website:
Peters, K. (2017). Your Human Geography Dissertation: Designing, Doing, Delivering. SAGE: London (Chapter 2) https://study.sagepub.com/yourhumangeography/student-resources/chapter-2/sage-journal-articles
 

Social Science Matters 01 - What is Social Science and Marine Social Science?

Episode overview
This episode tackles the fundamental question: What is social science, and why does it matter for marine research? We first (try to) define social science, discussing the various disciplines which constitute it, and briefly introduce the methods and approaches that will be discussed further, later in the series. We next discuss marine social science, its special and important place in the marine sciences more broadly, and how it can help us tackle important questions that the natural sciences can’t do alone. We furthermore outline the importance, then, of interdisciplinary work, drawing also on examples of our own projects.
 
You can tag us on social media #SocialScienceMatters.
 
Supporting readings
These readings outline marine social science and set out its ‘manifesto’. They also show the most recent research directions of the marine social sciences:
Bavinck, M., & Verrips, J. (2020). Manifesto for the marine social sciences. Maritime Studies, 19(2), 121-123. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40152-020-00179-x
Bennett, N. J. (2019). Marine social science for the peopled seas. Coastal Management, 47(2), 244-252. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2019.1564958
McKinley, E., Acott, T., & Yates, K. L. (2020). Marine social sciences: Looking towards a sustainable future. Environmental Science & Policy, 108, 85-92 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.03.015
Spalding, A. K., & McKinley, E. (2024). The state of marine social science: Yesterday, today, and into the future. Annual Review of Marine Science, 17 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-121422-015345
 
There is a light introduction to methods mentioned in the podcast, in this textbook, and associated ‘study’ website:
Peters, K. (2017). Your Human Geography Dissertation: Designing, Doing, Delivering. SAGE: London (Chapters 7 and 8) and online: https://study.sagepub.com/yourhumangeography/student-resources/chapter-7/take-home-messages
 
Supporting websites
Do you want to know more about social science and what it is? These websites may help (we are not responsible for external content)
What is social science?
See this link from the Academy of Social Science: https://acss.org.uk/what-is-social-science/
See this link from UK Research and Innovation: https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/esrc/what-is-social-science/social-science-disciplines/
 
Examples
In the podcast we provided 2 examples of how social science matters to marine research.
You can read about Jan’s example here: Dajka JC, Verstraeten A, Snow B, Levi S, Menendez V, Smith M, Clark B, Rönn L, Vargas A, Peters K, Lombard M, Hillebrand H (In Review) Marine biodiversity change impacts relational values: expert survey shows policy mismatch; npj Ocean Sustainability
You can read about Kim’s example here: Savitzky, S., Peters, K. and Sammler, K.G. (2025) ‘Bordering Marine Belonging: The Meanings, Mobilities and Materialities of Bioinvasion’, in Peters K and Turner J (eds). Ocean Governance (Beyond) Borders. Palgrave: Basingstoke, pp. 173-196 https://link.springer.com/book/9783031713217 (chapter 8 on invasive species research, Open Access content)
 
In the podcast we mentioned a blog that discusses the formulation of a biodiversity question. You can read more about it here: https://hifmb.de/science-communication/
 
Other podcasts and videos
These podcasts have esteemed academics from marine social science disciplines talking about this field of study! (We are not responsible for external content).
 
The Incommon podcast: Interdisciplinarity and the Marine Social Science Network with Emma McKinleyhttps://www.incommonpodcast.org/podcast/002-interdisciplinarity-and-the-marine-social-science-network-with-emma-mckinley/ 
Let's Dive In - Ocean Conversations: Marine Social Science with Yolanda Watershttps://www.listennotes.com/de/podcasts/lets-dive-in-ocean/ep-3-marine-social-science-9HnB7RlpxUT/#google_vignette 
The Incommon podcast: Conservation and social science with Nathan Bennetthttps://www.incommonpodcast.org/podcast/science-and-practice-1-conservation-and-social-science-with-nathan-bennett/ 
National Oceanographic Centre – Into the Blue Podcast: Socio-Oceanography: Connecting Ocean and Societal Challenges and Impacts Dr Katya Popova and Dr Zoe Jacobshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmDITSswxno 

Social Science Matters - Welcome

Episode overview
This episode welcomes listeners to the podcast "Social Science Matters," which is dedicated to exploring the important world of social science research in the marine environment. In this episode we outline the purpose of the series, which aims to demystify social science methods and make them accessible to marine researchers, practitioners, and anyone interested in the human dimensions of the ocean. We tell listeners what is to come in the series and introduce the ‘shownotes’ – the complimentary materials – which will accompany each podcast, offering a bank of (hopefully!) helpful resources for extending understanding. We hope you enjoy this opening episode and the series to come. This podcast is not about turning you into a social scientist overnight. It's about empowering you to ask better questions, understand complex social issues, and integrate social science insights into your work.
 
You can tag us on social media #SocialScienceMatters.
 
Resources
Supporting readings
This reading aims to provide an introduction to the social sciences, not least for those coming from natural science backgrounds. A must read!
Moon, K., & Blackman, D. (2014). A guide to understanding social science research for natural scientists. Conservation Biology, 28(5), 1167-1177. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12326
These readings make the case for why social science matters to the marine realm! Essential!
Markus, T., Hillebrand, H., Hornidge, A. K., Krause, G., & Schlüter, A. (2018). Disciplinary diversity in marine sciences: the urgent case for an integration of research. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 75(2), 502-509. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx201
Bennett, N. J., Roth, R., Klain, S. C., Chan, K., Christie, P., Clark, D. A., ... & Wyborn, C. (2017). Conservation social science: Understanding and integrating human dimensions to improve conservation. Biological Conservation, 205, 93-108. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320716305328
Gómez, S., & Köpsel, V. (Eds.). (2022). Transdisciplinary Marine Research: Bridging Science and Society. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003311171 (Open Access content)
Supporting websites
Do you want to see how the marine social sciences are shaping research on marine environments? Check out this website of the Consortium for Marine Research in Germany!
KDM Marine Social Science Group https://www.deutsche-meeresforschung.de/en/strategy/strategy-groups/social-sciences/
Other podcasts
For some general podcasts covering interesting topics across the natural and social marine sciences -- see the links below. We recommend our own series but cannot take responsibility for external content.
https://hifmb.de/news/podcast/ You, Me and HIFMB Stories of Science and the Seas
https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/seastheday/ Seas the Day, A podcast of the Duke University Marine Lab

Jan-Claas Dajka - Turning the Tables on the Podcast Host

In the new year, Kim Peters surprises podcast host Jan and turns the tables on him. She Interviews him on: what got him to HIFMB, a quick look into Jan's work on marine biodiversity at the science-policy interface, the wonderful people he got to learn from and work with, and even the Olympics 2028!! 
Happy 2024 everyone, enjoy!