Importance of research

Using two case studies of watershed restoration and environmental monitoring projects in Maine, a new paper illustrates how scientists can successfully use " ...

"What makes the Meduxnekeag River watershed case study so interesting is how it helped us consider how to connect research design in community-engaged research with everyday, lived experiences of our community partners," says Clay. "In the case of eDNA, the knowledge mapping created spaces for collaborators to identify differences in how they imagined eDNA science connecting with communities, which opened up new conversations and insights about ethics and engagement." The results showed how important caring for soil is to the ways that farmers relate to, make decisions about and find value in land and water throughout the Meduxnekeag watershed. Though a seemingly simple task, focusing on elements of embodiment in collaborative communication allowed the group to reflect on and negotiate the scientists' relationship with the community—for example, the importance of ethical communication practices as an ongoing commitment for eDNA work. "This focus on embodiment draws attention to research practices that, in the process of striving for objectivity in data, may make bodies involved in that research invisible or detach them from the research context." Both focus on embodiment to structure their research processes and shape ongoing, emergent and collaborative [research practices](https://phys.org/tags/research+practices/).