Transdisciplinary research (TDR) aims at identifying implementable solutions to difficult sustainability problems and at fostering social learning. It requires a well-managed collaboration among multidisciplinary scientists and multisectoral stakeholders. Performing TDR is challenging, particularly for foreign researchers working in countries with different institutional and socio-cultural conditions. There is a need to synthesize and share experience among researchers as well as practitioners regarding how TDR can be conducted under specific contexts. In this paper, we aim to evaluate and synthesize our unique experience in conducting TDR projects in Asia. We applied guiding principles of TDR to conduct a formative evaluation of four consortium projects on sustainable land and water management in China, the Philippines, and Vietnam. In all projects, local political conditions restricted the set of stakeholders that could be involved in the research processes. The set of involved stakeholders was also affected by the fact that stakeholders in most cases only participate if they belong to the personal network of the project leaders. Language barriers hampered effective communication between foreign researchers and stakeholders in all projects and thus knowledge integration. The TDR approach and its specific methods were adapted to respond to the specific cultural, social, and political conditions in the research areas, also with the aim to promote trust and interest of the stakeholders throughout the project. Additionally, various measures were implemented to promote collaboration among disciplinary scientists. Based on lessons learned, we provide specific recommendations for the design and implementation of TDR projects in particular in Asia.
In this study, microwave was used to treat stainless steelmaking dust containing zinc oxide. The effects of heating time, carbon content and zinc oxide content on the removal efficiency of zinc oxide and the reduction efficiency of iron oxide were investigated. Experimental results show that, for the sample with 16% (mass percent, the same below) graphite heated for 10 minutes by 10 kW power microwave, the removal efficiency of zinc oxide is between 80% and 90% and the metallization ratio of iron oxide is between 40% and 60%; Initial zinc oxide content has a slight effect on the removal efficiency of zinc oxide.The results indicate microwave treatment is one of the feasible ways to process metallurgical solid waste containing the metal with low boiling point.
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