This paper addresses ‘integration’ at the level of ontology to reflect on the conception and conduct of integrative research in Global Environmental Change (GEC) science. First, it outlines how the Earth system has become the dominant conceptual framework within which to approach GEC, marginalizing other ways of understanding the world. The paper argues that in order to grasp GEC and develop more effective responses to it, it is necessary to move beyond the singular ontology offered by the Earth system and engage with plural ontologies. Second, the paper highlights that scientific knowledge is inherently situated within networks of social and institutional power and oriented towards various social ends, and that as a consequences GEC science needs to reflect more deeply on the politics of its own knowledge production and its relationship to the policy sphere. In conclusion the paper calls for a more critical GEC science that builds these reflections into its scientific practices, and provides some leading questions that integrative research initiatives can use to guide self-reflexive research practices.

本文探讨了本体论层面的“整合”，以反思全球环境变化（GEC）科学中整合研究的概念和行为。首先，它概述了地球系统如何成为解决GEC的主要概念框架，从而使其他了解世界的方式边缘化。该论文认为，为了掌握GEC并对其做出更有效的反应，有必要超越地球系统提供的单一本体，并使用多种本体。其次，论文强调科学知识天生就位于社会和机构权力网络之内，面向各种社会目的，因此，GEC科学需要对自身知识生产的政治及其与政策领域的关系进行更深刻的反思。总之，本文呼吁建立更为关键的GEC科学，将这些思考纳入其科学实践中，并提出一些主要问题，整合研究计划可用于指导自我反思研究实践。