Table of Contents
Developing a new specialisation—Integration and Implementation Sciences—may be an effective way to draw together and significantly strengthen the theory and methods necessary to tackle complex societal issues and problems. It would place complexity science in broader context and link it to a range of complementary concepts and skills. This chapter presents an argument for such a specialisation. It outlines three sets of characteristics which will delineate Integration and Implementation Sciences. First, the specialisation will aim to find better ways to deal with the defining elements of many current societal issues and problems, namely complexity, uncertainty, change and imperfection. Second, there will be three theoretical and methodological pillars for doing this: systems thinking and complexity science; participatory methods; and knowledge management, exchange and implementation. Third, operationally, Integration and Implementation Sciences will be grounded in practical application and generally involve large-scale collaboration. The chapter concludes by examining where Integration and Implementation Sciences would sit in universities and outlining a program for the further development of the field.