Environmental problem solving in coastal ecosystems: A paradigm shift to sustainability

Conceptual diagram of coastal zone impactsThis article, recently published in Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 77(2): 185-196, highlights pressures on coastal ecosystems and the need for a major paradigm shift directed at sustainability, and in a shift in scientific focus on solving rather than just studying our current environmental problems. Traditionally, science has been extremely effective at data acquisition and then successively less effective at translating this into information, knowledge and finally environmental problem solving. A key element in turning this process around is better science communication between scientists, key stakeholders and the community.