Research by Professor Jongeun You, Northern Michigan University’s Master of Public Administration program director, is helping NMU students explore how rigorous scientific evidence can inform practical policymaking and conflict resolution.
You is a co-author of a new commentary in Nature Sustainability arguing that reproducible, replicable and robust African water research remains underrepresented in highly visible scientific journals. Greater visibility for such work could give policymakers a stronger evidence base for managing shared water resources and resolving disputes.
Africa’s 63 transboundary river basins cover about 62% of the continent’s land area and account for approximately 90% of its surface water resources. Collectively, these basins support the well-being of more than 1 billion people, yet only 29% are governed by formal agreements. The Nile, Congo, Niger and Zambezi are among the continent’s largest transboundary river basins.
The authors contend that discussions of shared water resources often emphasize scarcity and seemingly inevitable conflict while overlooking locally grounded research, workable cooperative arrangements and practical solutions. They call for more solution-oriented studies, transparent assumptions, open data and reproducible methods that can help negotiators evaluate trade-offs and feasible governance options.
“Evidence-based diplomacy depends on science,” said lead author Essam Heggy of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. “When rigorous and reproducible research is visible and accessible, it gives decision-makers a stronger factual foundation for cooperation.”
For You, the publication demonstrates how faculty research can create distinctive, real-world learning opportunities for NMU students.
“Students studying public administration and environmental management need to know how to work across disciplinary and organizational boundaries and make responsible decisions when evidence is incomplete or contested,” You said. “This research gives me a real-world example I can bring into the classroom. Students can examine the scientific evidence, identify the interests of different communities and institutions, and develop the skills needed to turn disagreement into workable policy options.”
The underlying skills extend beyond any single geographic region. Public administrators and environmental managers in Michigan and across the United States also work with scientists, engineers, community organizations and elected officials to address complex issues involving water, energy, infrastructure and environmental risk.
The authors are not calling for preferential acceptance in scientific publishing. Instead, they recommend evaluating studies for analytical validity and policy relevance, including whether they clearly explain trade-offs and feasible governance options. They also encourage scientific journals to broaden their editorial expertise and support substantive post-publication discussions grounded in transparent evidence.
Adam Prus, interim dean of NMU’s College of Arts & Sciences, said You’s contribution illustrates how faculty scholarship can enrich student experiences and encourage excellence in teaching at Northern.
“Dr. You’s work shows the value of bringing active faculty scholarship into the classroom,” Prus said. “NMU students learn how evidence is evaluated, communicated and applied to complex public problems. These experiences prepare them to approach difficult decisions with rigor, intellectual openness and a strong sense of responsibility.”
Read the full journal article here.