Accelerating and amplifying environmental changes increase the need to navigate the Anthropocene proactively. Similar to the stone cairns that mark old trails across the Westfjords [60], science can help find ways towards building more resilient human-environment relations.
A first aspect is that scientists can contribute is to imagine alternative futures. This means to contribute to developing visions that stop or slow down environmental degradation and outlining pathways towards these visions [61], [62]. One example here is to envision the future with an alien species, such as the Atlantic rock crab. Fishing this crab for food consumption seems to be a desirable pathway as it brings additional revenue for small-scale fishers, limits potential ecological effects of this alien species, and allows scientists to study its distribution in more detail [Interview 2]. Identifying such opportunities can help to find create new stability in human-environment relations.
A second aspect is that scientists inform adaptation and mitigation efforts. By providing knowledge and technology, they can facilitate the development of measures that can limit environmental changes or their impacts on society [57], [63]. One example is policy recommendations on avalanche preparedness developed by researchers based on a dialogue with local residents. Amongst others, they recommended that state authorities rather than volunteers should finance search and rescue equipment and that such equipment should be available in all settlements exposed to avalanche hazards [Interview 9]. The capacity of science to mobilize diverse knowledge, including local experiential knowledge, can support flexible adaptation in uncertain conditions, such as climate-related changes in weather patterns at sea.
A third aspect is that scientific knowledge can support regeneration and healing in a broad sense. It can contribute to solutions that restore broken human-environmental relations or create partly self-perpetuating dynamics towards new stable relations with a focus on holistic wellbeing [64], [65]. Fisheries are a good example for the need to find new equilibrium. The Icelandic fishery quota system was a response to overfishing and aimed for a stabilization and regeneration of fish stocks. Its socio-economic effects, however, have disconnected many people and places from fisheries [Interview 3, 9]. A better balance of social and environmental aspects might be possible if small-scale fisheries got more room and if quota setting considered local knowledge, too [Interview 2]. Moreover, the innovative use of fish skin in human medicine is an entry point for turning fish into a highly esteemed product that strengthens the emotional connection between humans and nature [Interview 4, 7]. Finally, while science projects the loss of driftwood, it also informs the afforestation efforts in Iceland, which contributes to carbon sequestration and soil quality.
