New Directions in the Earth Sciences and the Humanities conducted a workshop in St Petersburg, Russia, June 19-23, 2004 for 30 participants (14 American, and 16 Russian), on the theme of "Cities and Rivers: Interdisciplinary and International Perspectives". This workshop built upon the work of the New Directions Initiative in order to develop new models for interdisciplinary collaborations on issues at the intersection of science and society.

Since 2001 New Directions has organized a series of meetings and supported six case studies to foster greater interconnections between the earth sciences and humanities. The Neva River case study focuses on the environmental challenges surrounding the Neva River in St. Petersburg, and the challenges posed to both understanding and action presented by urban rivers.

The goals of this five-day workshop were:

• To investigate in a specific context the complex interrelations between scientific and societal aspects of the challenges facing urban rivers worldwide.
• To develop new models of collaboration and evaluation across national and disciplinary boundaries.
• To explore differences in approaches among researchers in the United States and in Russia to problem solving and interdisciplinary research involving science, values, and stakeholders.
• To foster lasting relationships between scholars in the US and Russia.

Great urban rivers offer a particularly useful focal point for exploring the complex challenges faced by human societies. Urban rivers often serve the needs of large populations for drinking water and sanitation. When located at river deltas, they handle the concentrated inputs of entire watersheds. They provide transportation routes for people and goods but are also vectors for the movement of invasive species. Urban rivers are complex hydrological systems that are highly sensitive to climate, development, and river management, such as changes to their channels. Historically, the river is usually why the city exists at that location, and therefore is a deeply interwoven part of the economic structure of the city. Proximity of neighborhoods to the river may also be a determinant or consequence of social class or status. Rivers, and especially bridges, determine transportation flows in and around the city, which, in turn, guide the city’s development patterns. Culturally, urban rivers contribute a sense of identity to a city, shaping its narratives, its aesthetic expectations, and its relationship to the rest of the world.

This five day workshop hopes to spur conversations among its participants about how multiple perspectives can be brought to bear on the problems posed by urban rivers. Each session will be structured around a common topic, with three or four specialists giving prepared presentations on the topic in order to serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary discussion. Complementary field trips along the river provided participants with an experiential perspective on the Neva River, its urban setting, and stimulate workshop participants to critically consider the relationship of understanding and action.