Opportunities, balancing acts, and challenges - doing PhDs in transdisciplinary research projects

Transdisciplinary Research – a Distinct Mode of Knowledge Production? Problem-Orientation, Knowledge Integration and Participation in Transdisciplinary Research Projects Transdisziplinäre Forschung – ein eigenständiger Modus der Wissensproduktion? Problemorientierung, Wissensintegration und Partizipation in transdisziplin?ren Forschungsprojekten

GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society ◽

10.14512/gaia.16.1.10 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 29-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Wolfgang Zierhofer ◽

Paul Burger

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Production ◽

Knowledge Integration ◽

Transdisciplinary Research ◽

Research Projects ◽

Distinct Mode ◽

Problem Orientation ◽

Production Problem

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Linking transdisciplinary research projects with science and practice at large: Introducing insights from knowledge utilization

Environmental Science & Policy ◽

10.1016/j.envsci.2019.08.011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 102 ◽

pp. 36-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sabine Hoffmann ◽

Julie Thompson Klein ◽

Christian Pohl

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Utilization ◽

Transdisciplinary Research ◽

Research Projects

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Measuring societal effects of transdisciplinary research projects: Design and application of an evaluation method

Evaluation and Program Planning ◽

10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2007.08.002 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 325-338 ◽

Cited By ~ 142

Author(s):

Alexander I. Walter ◽

Sebastian Helgenberger ◽

Arnim Wiek ◽

Roland W. Scholz

Keyword(s):

Evaluation Method ◽

Transdisciplinary Research ◽

Research Projects ◽

Design And Application

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Managing Consensus in Inter- and Transdisciplinary Teams: Tasks and Expertise

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198733522.013.27 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rico Defila ◽

Antonietta di Giulio

Keyword(s):

Life Span ◽

Empirical Evidence ◽

Theoretical Basis ◽

Transdisciplinary Research ◽

Research Projects ◽

Collaborative Problem ◽

Problem Framing ◽

Starting Point ◽

Common Goals ◽

Scientific Task

Collaborative problem framing is crucial to arrive at integrated results in inter- and transdisciplinary research projects. Its significance is supported by empirical evidence gained in a survey, which shows significant differences concerning common goals, language, and theoretical basis between teams who had achieved a synthesis and those that had not. A shared view of a problem and of how to deal with it is the starting point for inquiries of individuals and/or subprojects, and the point to return to after their results are available. Thus, balancing collaborative and individual work is crucial in managing such projects. Managing inter- or transdisciplinary projects covers a number of highly demanding processes taking place during their life span. It is a complex and demanding scientific task that could be called “content-rich moderation” (following the German “Inhaltsreiche Moderation”) to express its nature. To succeed, managers of inter- or transdisciplinary projects need different kinds of expertise.

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Testing Analytical Frameworks in Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11164343 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (16) ◽

pp. 4343 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabriela Tejada ◽

Marina Cracco ◽

Clémence Ranquet Bouleau ◽

Jean-Claude Bolay ◽

Silvia Hostettler

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Linear Process ◽

Transdisciplinary Research ◽

Knowledge Generation ◽

Research Projects ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

The Social ◽

École Polytechnique ◽

Development Center

This article discusses the concept and the practice of transdisciplinary research, including how it is conceived and implemented through the cooperation of different actors involved. With transdisciplinarity gaining recognition as an approach to addressing sustainable development challenges, the successful integration of various disciplines and actors in the process of knowledge generation becomes essential. Through the Cooperation and Development Center (CODEV), the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has promoted transdisciplinary research by proposing a space where North–South partnerships integrating academic and non-academic actors enable the expansion of appropriate technologies and innovations adapted to local societal contexts. This study examines five collaborative research projects conducted at the EPFL. By using an analytical framework consisting of design principles for ideal transdisciplinary research, we conducted semi-structured interviews with academic and non-academic members of the research projects to assess the degree of transdisciplinarity. This framework proved to be a useful tool for exploring transdisciplinary dynamics and assessing the effectiveness of joint knowledge generation. We found that the transdisciplinary cooperation involving different actors is not a linear process, as it depends on the social context in which the project is carried out and on the internal and the external organizational structure established for its implementation. We provide recommendations on how transdisciplinarity could be expanded through institutional support and its results could be effectively transferred into science and practice and discuss the implications for further studies in the conclusions.

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