Her primary area of research involves identifying the mechanisms and processes necessary to link the production of environmental science information with the needs of decision makers to improve environmental-related policy, particularly climate policy. One model for improving these linkages involves ‘boundary organizations’ that facilitate and modulate the interactions between scientists and society to enhance the production of useable science for policy. In related work, Dr. McNie explores the challenges of how to evaluate what constitutes useful science information and how to evaluate the performance of boundary organizations. While most of her research has focused on climate services, she has also studied the process of producing usable science information in natural resources management, water resources, and agroforestry.