Ocean and Society

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2976-0925

Commentary | Open Access

Navigating Ethical Place-Based Research in Transdisciplinary Marine Science (and Beyond)

  • Ella-Kari Muhl Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
  • Vitor Renck Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil / Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • Maria B. Battaglia School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Canada
  • Lívia R. Cruz Center for Biology and Society, Arizona State University, USA
  • Lowine S. Hill School of Planning, University of Waterloo, Canada
  • Rafael Lembi Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, USA
  • Willem Malherbe Savoirs, Environnement et Sociétés (SENS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), France
  • Deborah S. Prado Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Kinga Psiuk Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
  • Mia Strand Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
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Abstract:  Place-based research (PBR) allows for genuine engagement with the deep-rooted dynamics of complex social-ecological systems. Ideally, PBR centres reciprocal relationships with communities to co-produce research grounded in transdisciplinary, participatory, and solution-oriented approaches. Yet, for early career researchers (ECRs), the ethical, relational, and cultural dimensions of PBR can be difficult to navigate, especially when research takes place in social, cultural, or ecological contexts that differ meaningfully from one’s own. While critiques of “parachute science” are widely acknowledged, academic training often falls short in preparing ECRs for the relational and ethical realities of transdisciplinary and context-specific research. Accordingly, in this commentary we offer practical strategies and shared perspectives for conducting ethical, relational PBR by: (a) drawing on experiences, tensions, and lessons from PBR; (b) building on conceptual debates about ethics, positionality, and relational reflexivity; and (c) translating experiences and lessons into actionable practice. Further, we outline tools we piloted to promote reflexive capacity (e.g., booklet, reflexive archetypes) needed for PBR. We present these practical insights as contributions to help ECRs navigate the deep dynamics rooted in marine and coastal social-ecological systems research to support meaningful, inclusive, and actionable ocean sustainability.

Keywords:  early career researchers; positionality; reflexivity; relational practices; social-ecological systems

Published:  

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/oas.12800

Issue:   Vol 3 (2026): Tides of Change: Reflective and Practical Skills for the Next Generation of Marine Researchers (In Progress)


© Ella-Kari Muhl, Vitor Renck, Maria B Battaglia, Lívia R. Cruz, Lowine S. Hill, Rafael Lembi, Willem Malherbe, Deborah S. Prado, Kinga Psiuk, Mia Strand. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction of the work without further permission provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

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