The UK sustainable development research network—bridging the sustainability science/policy divide

Abstract

Between 2001 and 2014, the UK Government funded the Sustainable Development Research Network (SDRN) as an interface between the SD research community and the policy community. The authors were involved with the SDRN for many years: Shaw and Steward as members of the SDRN coordinating team and Kass as a member of the Advisory Committee. This paper will explore the work of the SDRN especially its effectiveness as a bridge between the research and policy communities in the area of SD research. The paper will examine the evolution of the SDRN throughout its lifespan, tracking the shifts in its remit and activities and focussing on a review of the SD research landscape undertaken by SDRN (Steward et al. in Mainstreaming sustainable development research in an age of austerity: SDRN review of the UK sustainable development research and policy landscape. Policy Studies Institute, 2013). It will explore current opportunities for spanning the boundaries between SD research, policy and practice, situating SDRN in the context of an increasing recognition of ‘sustainability science’ as a challenge-led, problem-oriented co-production approach involving researchers, policy-makers and practitioners, described by Future Earth as a ‘novel way of doing research’. The paper also consider the impact of the ‘impact agenda’ and recent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and whether SDRN may have a useful role to play in bringing SD research more to the fore.