A pragmatist approach to transdisciplinarity in sustainability research: From complex systems theory to reflexive science

Popa, Florin; Guillermin, Mathieu; Dedeurwaerdere, Tom

doi:10.1016/j.futures.2014.02.002

Cited by 331 publications

(290 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…As Popa et al (2015: 3) notes, Without an explicit reflexive dimension, transdisciplinary research is confronted with the risk of either being reduced to formal social consultation, with no real impact in how knowledge is generated or integrated into policy-making, or evolving towards a politicized form of 'democratic science' in which epistemic aspects are subordinated to procedures of social legitimization, in such a situation the explanatory shortcomings, lack of clear normative orientation and perceived 'hidden agendas' of research can severely undermine public trust and the legitimacy of scientific knowledge, weakening its capacity to inform and guide policy-making. Indeed, Roe's triangulation approach seeks to make transparent the antagonism between different ways of knowing such as the Inuit/Western science example in a 'realpolitik' context of deciding what paths to pursue, knowing all the while that the hard choices performed in such societal experiments are provisional and may unfold in unexpected ways.…”

Section: Illustrative Casementioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change and transdisciplinary science: Problematizing the integration imperative

Klenk

Meehan

2015

Environmental Science & Policy

183

114

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Always cite the published version, so the author(s) will receive recognition through services that track citation counts, e.g. Scopus. If you need to cite the page number of the author manuscript from TSpace because you cannot access the published version, then cite the TSpace version in addition to the published version using the permanent URI (handle) found on the record page. AbstractIn this article we critically examine the 'integration imperative' in transdisciplinary environmental science and build on social constructivist and political theories to suggest alternative approaches of knowledge co-production in transdisciplinary settings. Our argument builds upon a body of literature in social studies of science to cull insights about knowledge co-production, social learning, and the ecology of team science, particularly as it relates to climate change adaptation. Couched in this transdisciplinary literature, we demonstrate, is the assumption that integration necessarily can and should be a regulative ideal. We critique this assumption by examining the 'messy' politics of achieving consensus among radically different, and sometimes irreconcilable, ways of knowing. We argue that the integration imperative conceals the friction, antagonism, and power inherent in knowledge co-production, which in turn can exclude innovative and experimental ways of understanding and adapting to climate change. By way of conclusion, the final section explores three alternative models of knowledge co-production-triangulation, the multiple evidence based approach, and scenario building-and illustrates their application in the context of transdisciplinary research in climate change adaptation in the arctic, focusing on alternative means of cross-boundary engagement with indigenous ways of knowing.

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Section: Illustrative Casementioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change and transdisciplinary science: Problematizing the integration imperative

Klenk

Meehan

2015

Environmental Science & Policy

183

114

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“…Finding ways to improve such situations requires patience and a deep and reflexive appreciation of how change happens and the roles of researchers and practitioners (Mitchell et al, 2015). As Popa et al (2015) summarised, transdisciplinary research would benefit from adopting a pragmatic approach to reflexivity, with a collective process through joint experimentation and social learning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Triangulation in participation: Dynamic approaches for science-practice interaction in land-use decision making in rural China

2018

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A B S T R A C TLand use decision making requires knowledge integration from a wide range of stakeholders across science and practice. Many participatory methods and instruments aiming at such science-practice interaction have been developed during the last decades. However, there are methodological challenges, and little evidence neither about the methodological applicability and practicability under diverse socio-political conditions nor about their dynamics. The objective of this paper is to offer some insights on the design and implementation of reasonable science-practice interaction. The Chinese-German project SURUMER (Sustainable rubber cultivation in the Mekong region) served as a case study with the aim of developing sustainable land use strategies for rubber cultivation in southwest China. A triangulation of methods tailor-made for every specific stakeholder group allows the gradual deepening and broadening of participation in problem definition, knowledge generation, development of applicable solutions and implementation. The composition of methods should be reflected on and adjusted to the communication demands of specific stakeholder groups during project phases. It is important to invest in trust-building and allow time and space for the adaptation of approaches, especially in communities where participation is not a tradition.

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“…Among other issues, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity, pollution, climate change, poverty, hungry, social inequity, economic crisis, all these questions have interconnection with the agricultural sector and have been hardly discussed around the world, and several global policies, agreements and programs have been driven by multilateral organisms and some national, multinational or local organizations, but there are clear gaps between policies and concrete results. Lately interest in sustainability research has grown, "however, the mainstream scientific methodologies are often poorly equipped to deal with complex sustainability problems" (Popa et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is necessary to adopt a mind opening attitude for new learning and experiences and thus, permit the construction of a hybrid approach, multidiverse and responsive to the height of complexity that the issue requires. Transdisciplinarity demands an open mind and attitude to auscultate the others, including citizens, consumers, all kind of producers, representative members of society, that is basic for construct sustainable societies (Popa et al, 2015). Scientists who are working with sustainability issues recognize the urgency to migrate from restrictive multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches towards transdisciplinary collaborations, which implicate to join scientific and extra-scientific expertise (Popa et al, 2015).…”

Section: Environmental Management and Sustainable Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability Impact Assessment – An Overview with a Holistic and Transdisciplinary Perspective towards Agricultural Research

Mendonca¹,

Laques²

2017

EMSD

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It is important to insert agricultural research in this paper by considering it as a strategic area for providing knowledge and a technological base for agricultural production, considering that this sector generates outcomes with respective impacts to rural zones, supply-chain, economy, society and environment, representing a key piece for reaching United Nations objectives of sustainable development to each country and to the planet. Aiming to analyze how agricultural research organizations (as for instance: INRA and CIRAD, from France and EMBRAPA, from Brazil) have driving sustainability impact assessment methodologies and their interaction with transdisciplinary and holistic principles, using as a base innovation concepts. This paper will display an overview on concepts and approaches about sustainability impact assessment, but looking from a transversal perspective, passing by an historical description on impact assessment and on concepts related to sustainable development and sustainability. We will search for unedited models of sustainability impact systems by converging holism, transdisciplinarity and sustainability. There are several methodologies but few demonstrate an integrated view with a transversal perspective. It is also imperceptible any concrete governance-managerial system for sustainability impact assessment, considering every stage of the process, from a strategic to an operational level, including, analyzing environment, economy and society dimensions as one unique perspective. Such as a complex and multidimensional sector of economy, agricultural research requires profiled sustainability impact assessment with an innovative and dynamic approach.

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A pragmatist approach to transdisciplinarity in sustainability research: From complex systems theory to reflexive science

Cited by 331 publications

References 59 publications

Climate change and transdisciplinary science: Problematizing the integration imperative

Climate change and transdisciplinary science: Problematizing the integration imperative

Triangulation in participation: Dynamic approaches for science-practice interaction in land-use decision making in rural China

Sustainability Impact Assessment – An Overview with a Holistic and Transdisciplinary Perspective towards Agricultural Research

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