Synthesis Report - European Science Foundation

4.Achieving the RESCUE Visionl l lThe RESCUE Vision for an innovative, open knowledgesystem for the Anthropocene requires deepchanges in mind-sets, as well as in the cultural andmoral assumptions about what knowledge is, how itis produced, for whom it is, and for what goals. Thisalso requires profound changes in basic dominantattitudes and institutions and the inclusion of otherlegitimate sources of knowledge in truly global and,simultaneously, local or place-oriented dialogues forsustainability.The skills and abilities of scientistsThe skill-base of many academics and practitionersis not fit to fulfil the RESCUE Vision. In additionto the disciplinary specialisation discussedabove, many scientists have a very superficial andincomplete understanding of real-world politics,commerce and socio-economics. Linked to this, scientifictraining and weaknesses in political cultureleave people disinclined and not used to reflectingon their own activities, values and ethics. For theRESCUE Vision to become a reality, the researchcommunity must recognise and accept its socialresponsibility, and acknowledge the political natureof dealing with global change.In terms of required competences, scientificand methodological excellence is important forresearchers, but additional capabilities are neededfor achieving the RESCUE Vision. For example:• humility and openness towards other systems ofthought (other disciplines and cultures), worldviewsand other sources of knowledge, both formaland informal;• the ability to listen to others, being able to communicatein real (multiple-way) dialogues;• willingness to acknowledge that the partial knowledgethe researcher brings to the dialogue tablewill be transformed in the discussion process (givinglatitude to other people);• being focused on creating connections;• procedural and management skills;• the enthusiasm and ability to learn, rather thanimpose knowledge;• avoiding dualisms in the way social-ecological-technicalsystems are understood, e.g., byappreciating the knowledge embedded in livingorganisms and their intrinsic value, as a necessarycondition for improving the quality of the knowledgeon and for sustainability;• promoting integration between knowledge andpractice and integration of science and humanitiesand enhancing learning by doing and theexchange of experiences and practices, withinthis new vision of knowledge systems of openknowledge (social-ecological-technical/extended)democracy.• supporting the empowerment of people, especiallythose most exposed to local and global environmentalchanges, through collaborative andsustainability learning.Communication and collaboration skills are neededas part of the educational experience from earliestchildhood through university level, as well as adaptivethinking skills and the ability, disposition andcapacities for engaging with and enjoying complexand socially relevant issues; the skills and know-howto work in partnership across diverse governancesettings, with training that not only includes methodologiesand approaches, but also personal skillssuch as negotiation, communication and integrativeresearch methods and practices. See Winowiecki et31Responses to Environmental and Societal Challenges for our Unstable Earth (RESCUE)