CG sent me this interesting NOAA paper [PDF] on integrating social sciences into the physical sciences. Although it has plenty of detail, the high-end conclusions are sobering:

Finding 1: The SSWG [Social Science Working Group] endorses the overall findings of the 2003 SSRP report and finds that the social sciences continue to be underrepresented in NOAA’s research, operations, and decision making. The SSWG also finds that if NOAA is to serve society and fulfill its mission, it must integrate the social sciences into the full range of its scientific and programmatic activities.

Finding 2: NOAA lacks sufficient social science expertise to meet its Mission and Objectives. The social sciences are critical to understanding the vulnerabilities and behavior (adaptation, risk perception) of the users of NOAA products/information, and the economic risks mitigated and value generated by these uses. Social science can also assist in prioritizing NOAA investments by estimating the economic return from programs, products, and improvements. The social sciences are needed to support improved product design, communications with users, and education.

Finding 4: NOAA social science capabilities declined between 2005 and 2008. In that time period the NOAA budget increased by 13% and the social science share of the budget decreased by almost 10%. A precise accounting of social science positions within NOAA is difficult because NOAA does not fully understand what constitutes a valid social science presence and moreover lacks a tracking system for social science categories.

I’ll get right to the point: The only things that get done are the things that have a place in the budget. If NOAA wants to integrate, track and use social sciences, it has to give more money, not more panel reviews.

Bottom Line: Science is not very useful if it is not presented in terms that people can understand and use. The social sciences are suited for just that.