As we rapidly modify the environment around us, researchers have a critical role to play in raising our understanding of the interactions between people and the world in which they live. Knowledge and understanding of these interactions are essential for evidence based decision-making on resource use and risk management. In this paper, we explore three research case studies that illustrate co-evolution between people and water systems. In each case study, we highlight how different knowledge and understanding, stemming from different disciplines, can be integrated by complementing narratives with a quantitative modelling approach. We identify several important research practices that must be taken into account when modelling people-water systems: transparency, grounding the model in sound theory, supporting it with the most robust data possible, communicating uncertainty, recognising that there is no ‘one true model’ and diversity in the modelling team. To support interdisciplinary research endeavours, we propose a three-point plan: (1) demonstrating and emphasising that interdisciplinary collaboration can both address existing research questions and identify new, previously unknown questions at the interface between the disciplines; (2) supporting individual interdisciplinary learning at all career stages and (3) developing group practices and a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration.

随着我们迅速改变周围的环境，研究人员在提高人们对人与他们所生活的世界之间的相互作用的理解方面起着至关重要的作用。对这些相互作用的知识和理解对于基于证据的资源使用和风险管理决策至关重要。在本文中，我们探索了三个研究案例研究，这些案例说明了人与水系统之间的共同进化。在每个案例研究中，我们强调了如何通过将叙事与定量建模方法互补来整合来自不同学科的不同知识和理解。我们确定了在对人水系统建模时必须考虑的几个重要研究实践：透明度，将模型建立在合理的理论基础上，以尽可能强大的数据支持它，交流不确定性，认识到建模团队中没有“一个真实的模型”和多样性。为了支持跨学科的研究工作，我们提出了三点计划：（1）展示并强调跨学科的合作既可以解决现有的研究问题，又可以在学科之间的接口处识别出新的，以前未知的问题；（2）在所有职业阶段都支持个人跨学科学习，以及（3）发展小组实践和跨学科合作的文化。（1）证明并强调跨学科的合作既可以解决现有的研究问题，又可以在学科之间的接口处识别出新的，以前未知的问题；（2）在所有职业阶段都支持个人跨学科学习，以及（3）发展小组实践和跨学科合作的文化。（1）证明并强调跨学科的合作既可以解决现有的研究问题，又可以在学科之间的接口处识别出新的，以前未知的问题；（2）在所有职业阶段都支持个人跨学科学习，以及（3）发展小组实践和跨学科合作的文化。