Environmental limitations on prehistoric pastoralism in Africa

In several areas of Africa, pastoralism that existed prehistorically no longer survives today. Two such areas, the Southwestern Cape of South Africa and the Sahara, are discussed here, outlining methodologies for reconstruction of adaptive strategies on the basis of environmental parameters that constrained the pastoral economies.

---

Résumé En plusieurs régions d'Afrique, le pastoralisme qui existait en temps préhistorique a maintenant disparu. L'article discute de deux de ces régions, le cap sud-ouest de l'Afrique du Sud et le Sahara, donnant un aperçu des méthodologies qui visent la reconstruction des stratégies adaptatrices en se fondant sur les paramètres écologiques qui ont contraint les économies pastorales.

     

SEASONAL and ANNUAL VARIATIONS IN ICE COVER IN BAFFIN BAY and NORTHERN DAVIS STRAIT

The sea ice cover in Baffin Bay and northern Davis Strait is at a maximum in March and at a minimum in September. It depletes rapidly in July and August and grows rapidly during October and November. More annual variations were noticed during periods of ice cover depletion than during ice cover growth periods. The paper presents a sea ice forecast model which is based on annual ice cover depletion and growth data 1968-79 and which should be useful for planning navigation and drilling operations.
Le couvert de glace dans la baie de Baffin et le nord du détroit de Davis atteint son maximum en mars et est réduit à son minimum en septembre. II régresse rapidement en juillet et en aot et crot rapidement en octobre et en novembre. Plus de variations annuelles ont été observées pour les périodes de diminution du couvert de glace que pour les periodes de croissance de ce dernier. Cet article présente un modèle de prévision du couvert de glace lequel est basé sur les donnees relatives à la croissance et à la régression du couvert de glace pour la période 1968-79. Ce modèle devrait ětre utile dans la planification de la navigation et des opérations de forage.     

SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SOCIAL POLICY: ROLES OF THE APPLIED RESEARCHER*

Research on policy impact has increasingly focused on the practical application of social science research. This paper outlines four roles—substantive expert, information processor, change agent, and scholar—which have helped to increase the potential usefulness of our research while maintaining linkages to the academic community. This paper suggests the general nature of these roles and suggests specific implementation strategies, which need to be pursued as an early and continuing aspect of the research enterprise. Balancing these multiple roles presents several analytical and ethical difficulties, but helps to establish credibility in both the scientific and policymaking communities.