Crossing the wicked frontier. Why sustainability science needs integrative research

Integrative research approaches have lost prominence in the scientific literature, and related concepts of ‘wicked problems’ and ‘post-normal science’ complement but do not adequately replace them. From a detailed examination of the foundational literature, three key principles are shown to be central to integrative research: (i) the knowledge cycle; (ii) representativeness and participation; and (iii) knowledge exchange mechanisms at the science–policy interface. As an example of the importance of the integrative research framework in the context of policy-relevant science, it is argued that the shortcomings of current climate change mitigation efforts arise from inappropriately ‘closing down’ the science–policy interface and focusing on a few narrow options acceptable to powerful stakeholders. This can lead to what is described as an ‘ascientific’ ratchet effect, where the knowledge cycle just loops endlessly between technology and capital, and science as a public good is excluded. An integrative research approach can ‘open up’ discourse to new ideas and actors and restore the iterative links between science–policy mechanisms. A theoretical framework is proposed in which the three concepts ‘wicked problems’, ‘post-normal science’ and ‘integrative research’ are nested together. Integrative research is a way to address wicked problems, sitting within the critical framing of post-normal science.