Relationship-centered engagement bridges the divide between science and management, and enhances climate adaptation

Despite extensive climate‑adaptation research, implementation often lags in management settings. This article argues that relationship‑centered engagement—prioritizing long‑term, trust‑based partnerships between researchers and natural‑resource managers—is key to translating science into action. Evaluating collaborations within the U.S. Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, the authors identify three needed cultural shifts: recognizing relationships as central to actionable science, extending funding timelines to sustain them and aligning institutional rewards with partnership building. Strengthening these relationships can create more diverse, effective collaborations and accelerate climate‑adaptation outcomes.