Social-Ecological Systems Lab: Building science for sustainability in a changing world

The Laboratory

We are a research group that focuses on exploring the structure, functioning and dynamics of social-ecological systems (humans in nature) from a systemic and transdiciplinary approach, to tackle complex issues related to sustainability.

The scope of our research covers a wide range of topics in the frontiers among nature, culture and society. Our work can be framed in what has been called "Sustainability Science". From integrative disciplines such as Ecological Economics, Political Ecology, Systems Ecology, and Conservation Ecology, we aim to develop new strategies and conceptual frameworks that contribute to the transition toward sustainability.

In doing so, we use various methodological tools such as natural capital and ecosystem services evaluation, characterization of functional diversity, assessment and management of social-ecological resilience, scenario analysis (ecofutures), or participative territorial planning and management, among others.

Our research is intended to bring down barriers and tend bridges between social and biophysical sciences, as well as between researchers and decision-makers, to build adaptive capacities in the face of current global change.

The Mediterranean ecoregion and Latin America are the geographical areas where we currently concentrate most of our efforts.

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