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 McKinley
  https://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 Waters
  https://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 Bennett
  https://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 Jacobs
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmDITSswxno