New Ways for Occupational Scientists to Tackle “Wicked Problems” Impacting Population Health

Abstract

It is time for more occupational scientists to begin addressing complex socio-environmental problems, such as climate change and obesity. Such daunting problems are considered wicked as they have been defying the traditional research methods used to solve them. Therefore, occupational scientists who choose to focus on population health problems need to adopt new ways of doing research. Effective contributions to and imaginative solutions for population health require occupational scientists to develop transdisciplinary partnerships, align themselves with public health's fifth wave and new integrative model of health, and think more creatively about the future.

Keywords:

• Population health
• Transdisciplinary
• Occupational scientists