Scientific and Lay Knowledge 1 Scientific and Lay Knowledge: The ...

Scientific and Lay Knowledge 7
interdisciplinary and open-ended approaches to problems. Science alone cannot offer open-ended
answers because it focuses on such limited, specific topics, while everyday knowledge needs the
methodology and precision of science. Benefits of the integration of scientific and local
knowledge have already been observed in conservation efforts of reindeer in Sweden and
Bonefish in Kiribati, where traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is incorporated into
scientific studies (Ramstad et al., 2006). The public and indigenous peoples involved in the
scientific process feel empowered through their inclusion, and the transparency in the science
can allow scientists to gain back trust from the public. Science gains its true meaning for the
majority of society when it is applicable to people and specific situations or contexts. In order to
be applicable to people, scientific research must incorporate the knowledge local laypeople
possess. This in turn contributes to the creation of a more universal, versatile knowledge.
How to Integrate
Communication, the realization of common goals, and collaborative research can help
integrate scientific and everyday knowledge. Improved communication includes making
scientific findings and processes available and understandable to the public. This is done, in part,
by promoting scientific literacy as well as presenting scientific findings to the public in clear and
timely manners. Scientists need to understand the people for whom their research is relevant and
to recognize the importance of these people’s input in creating a comprehensive picture of the
situation. Both scientists and members of the public must recognize the common goals that link
them, including desires to better understand the environment, life processes, threats to well-
being, and conservation. Ramstad et al. found in their study of Maori traditional ecological
knowledge (TEK) of the Tuatara (the only remaining members of an order of ancient reptiles)
that scientists and practitioners of TEK share the common goal of the conservation of the