Melissa Robson-Williams
Research interests
I am an experienced environmental scientist and transdisciplinary researcher with expertise in undertaking complex socio-environment projects where bringing together diverse knowledge sources, managing uncertainties and creating real world change are critical. My field of work is managing the impact of people on the environment, in particular on land and water.
The aim that underpins all my endeavours is for the environment and people to be thriving and their relationship to be a healthy reciprocal one.
In my work at Manaaki Whenua, I work towards this by:
- Practicing and advocating for a different way of doing research that is more inclusive of diverse human and more than human perspectives, more action-oriented, and more systems focused to enable us to navigate the social and environmental challenge we face, and
- Focusing my research topics on building evidence for these approaches, on systems intervention and on approaches for managing in complexity.
My current work includes 1) leading research on Agents of Change for environmental action on land, 2) leading case study on impact of sediment on cultural values, 3) exploring approaches to shift from managing complexity to managing in complexity, 4) research to improve transdisciplinary and cross knowledge system research practice.
Qualifications
Cranfield University
Msc Water Management
2004
Aberdeen
PhD Environmental Science
2002
University of Aberdeen
PhD Philosophy
2002
University of Aberdeen
BSc Tropical Environmental Science
1998
Publications
Kirk N, Robson-Williams M, Fenemor A, Heath N Early access May 2022. Employing intermediaries to achieve freshwater quality improvements: lessons from catchment groups in Aotearoa New Zealand. Australasian Journal of Water Resources. WOS:000796438900001 https://doi.org/10.1080/13241583.2022.2073865
Harcourt N, Robson-Williams M, Tamepo R Early access Feb 2022. Supporting the design of useful and relevant holistic frameworks for land use opportunity assessment for indigenous people. Australasian Journal of Water Resources. WOS:000749386200001 https://doi.org/10.1080/13241583.2022.2031571
Kirk N, Robson-Williams M, Bammer G, Foote J, Butcher L, Deans N, Harmsworth G, Hepi M, Lilburne L, Nicholas B, Small B, Turner JA, Young J Early Access Aug 2021. Where to for collaboration in land and water policy development in Aotearoa New Zealand? Guidance for authorising agencies. Kotuitui-New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online. WOS:000683417600001 https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083x.2021.1956979
Robson-Williams M, Painter D, Kirk N Early access Apr 2022. From pride and prejudice towards Sense and Sensibility in Canterbury Water Management. Australasian Journal of Water Resources. WOS:000784642900001 https://doi.org/10.1080/13241583.2022.2063483
Laursen B, Vienni-Baptista B, Bammer G, Di Giulio A, Paulsen T, Robson-Williams M, Studer S 2024. Toolkitting: an unrecognized form of expertise for overcoming fragmentation in inter- and transdisciplinarity. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications 11(1): 10. WOS:001266662400001 https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03279-9
Robson-Williams M 2023
Working across knowledge systems to co-design workable outcomes. Pūtaiao - Manaaki Whenua science summary. Lincoln, NZ, Manaaki Whenua landcare Research NZ. Pp. 17
Robson-Williams M, Harcourt N, Mercier O 2023. Achieving societal collaboration and impact in Aotearoa-New Zealand through transdisciplinarity. Gaia-Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 32(1): 126-130. WOS:001048588700010 https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.32.1.9
Duncan R, Robson-Williams M 2023. Co-designing a research programme for impact: lessons learned from practice by Aotearoa New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Nga Koiora Tuku Iho. Kotuitui-New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online. WOS:001018070000001 https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083x.2023.2227675
Lilburne L, Robson-Williams M, Norton N 2022. Improving understanding and management of uncertainty in science-informed collaborative policy processes. Sustainability 14(10). WOS:000802693400001 https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106041
Small B, Robson-Williams M, Payne P, Turner JA, Robson-Williams R, Horita A 2021. Co-innovation and Integration and Implementation Sciences: Measuring their research impact-examination of five New Zealand primary sector case studies. Njas-Impact in Agricultural and Life Sciences 93(1): 5-47. WOS:000711004000001 https://doi.org/10.1080/27685241.2021.1957267
Small B, Robson-Williams M, Payne P, Turner JA, Robson-Williams R, Horita A 2021. Co-innovation and Integration and Implementation Sciences: Measuring their research impact-examination of five New Zealand primary sector case studies. Njas-Impact in Agricultural and Life Sciences 93(1): 5-47. WOS:000711004000001. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105491
Robson-Williams M, Small B, Robson-Williams R 2020. Designing transdisciplinary projects for collaborative policy-making The Integration and Implementation Sciences framework as a tool for reflection. Gaia-Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 29(3): 170-175. WOS:000595268500006 https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.29.3.7
Nicholas G, Srinivasan M, Beechener S, Foote J, Robson-Williams M, FitzHerbert S 2020. Transferring the impacts of pilot-scale studies to other scales: Understanding the role of non-biophysical factors using field-based irrigation studies. Agricultural Water Management 233. WOS:000525291200010 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106075
Kirk N, Robson-Williams M, Fenemor A, Heath N 2020. Exploring the barriers to freshwater policy implementation in New Zealand. Australasian Journal of Water Resources 24(2): 91-104. WOS:000558277400001 https://doi.org/10.1080/13241583.2020.1800332
Duncan R, Robson-Williams M, Fam D 2020. Assessing research impact potential: using the transdisciplinary Outcome Spaces Framework with New Zealand's National Science Challenges. Kotuitui-New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online 15(1): 217-235. WOS:000536768500015 https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083x.2020.1713825
Duncan R, Robson-Williams M, Edwards S 2020. A close examination of the role and needed expertise of brokers in bridging and building science policy boundaries in environmental decision making. Palgrave Communications 6(1). WOS:000529958500001 https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-020-0448-x
Duncan R, Robson-Williams M, Edwards S 2020. A close examination of the role and needed expertise of brokers in bridging and building science policy boundaries in environmental decision making. Palgrave Communications 6(1). <Go to ISI>://WOS:000529958500001
Robson-Williams M, Duncan R, Fam D, Mitchell C 2019. Extending the Outcome Spaces Framework (or OSF+): A workshop for practitioners to explore planning for outcomes in transdisciplinary research. Proceedings: International Transdisciplinary Conference, Gothenburg, Sweden, 10-13 September 2019.
Robson-Williams M, Small B, Robson-Williams R 2019. Methodological developments to foster transformation: evaluating the Integration and Implementation Sciences Framework. Proceedings: International Transdisciplinary Conference, Gothenberg, Sweden, 10-13 September 2019.
Robson-Williams M, Small B, Robson-Williams R 2018. Does using the integration and implementation framework lead to more fit for purpose science for environmental policy development? An initial look at a case study in Canterebury. Proceedings: ICSEES, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 17-21 November 2018.
Robson-Williams M 2018. Sink or swim: a radical overhaul to water policy-making approach in New Zealand: a case study of Lake Te Waihora. Proceedings: 4th International Conference "Water Resources and Wetlands", Tulcea, Romania, 5-9 September 2018.
Duncan R, Robson-Williams M, Nicholas G, Turner JA, Smith R, Diprose D 2018. Transformation Is 'Experienced, Not Delivered': Insights from Grounding the Discourse in Practice to Inform Policy and Theory. Sustainability 10(9). WOS:000446770200220 https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093177
Robson-Williams M, Small B, Robson-Williams R 2018. Does using the integration and implementation science framework lead to more fit for purpose science for environmental policy development? An initial look at a case study in Canterbury, New Zealand. Proceedings: ICSEES (International Conference on Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental Sciences) 2018, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 17-19 September 2018. Pp. 3-BT07-6368. AICIBS-ISCEES%202018%20Cambridge%20Abstract%20e-handbook.pdf