How Much of the Real-World Laboratory Is Hidden in Current Transdisciplinary Research?

Rogga, Sebastian; Zscheischler, Jana; Gaasch, Nadin

doi:10.14512/gaia.27.s1.6

Cited by 23 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…RwLs enable a transdisciplinary research practice that aims to contribute to societal change towards sustainability as well as identifying successful transformation strategies that may be transferred to other contexts. The current discourse explores how to integrate RwLs into an overarching conceptual understanding of the ideal-typical transdisciplinary research process (Jahn and Keil 2016;Ukowitz 2017;Rogga and Zscheischler 2018;Wanner et al 2018). Some authors see RwLs as places to implement previously well-researched sustainability innovations (Jahn and Keil 2016) or to test "knowledge and possible solutions resulting from a preceding TDR process" (Rogga and Zscheischler 2018).…”

Section: Rwls As Experimental Path Of Transdisciplinary Research: Stamentioning

confidence: 99%

Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change

et al. 2021

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The transdisciplinary research mode has gained prominence in the research on and for sustainability transformations. Yet, solution-oriented research addressing complex sustainability problems has become complex itself, with new transdisciplinary research formats being developed and tested for this purpose. Application of new formats offers learning potentials from experience. To this end, we accompanied fourteen research projects conceptualized as real-world labs (RwLs) from 2015 to 2018. RwLs were part of a funding program on ‘Science for Sustainability’ in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Here, we combine conceptual and empirical work to a structured collection of experiences and provide a comprehensive account of RwLs. First, we outline characteristics of RwLs as transformation oriented, transdisciplinary research approach, using experiments, enabling learning and having a long-term orientation. Second, we outline eleven success factors and concrete design notes we gained through a survey of the 14 RwLs: (1) find the right balance between scientific and societal aims, (2) address the practitioners needs and restrictions, (3) make use of the experimentation concept, (4) actively communicate, (5) develop a ‘collaboration culture’, (6) be attached to concrete sites, (7) create lasting impact and transferability, (8) plan for sufficient time and financial means, (9) adaptability, (10) research-based learning, and (11) recognize dependency on external actors. Characteristics and success factors are combined to illustrate practical challenges in RwLs. Third, we show which methods could be used to cope with challenges in RwLs. We conclude discussing the state of debate on RwLs and outline future avenues of research.

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Section: Rwls As Experimental Path Of Transdisciplinary Research: Stamentioning

confidence: 99%

Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change

et al. 2021

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“…This also means critically analysing political-economic interventions and configurations that are associated with innovation and prevailing techno-optimism in society (Markusson et al, 2017;Pfotenhauer et al, 2019). Additionally, politics should recognize the possibility of transdisciplinary research to stimulate social learning and contribute to social justice in agricultural innovation and decision-making by applying contributive justice concepts and thus further supporting transformative research processes (see also Rogga et al, 2018). Not least, such development will also necessitate the political will to take up the results in a suitable format and move beyond the instrumental value of public participation for the sake of acceptance of decisions (Stilgoe & Guston, 2017).…”

Section: Science Has the Obligation And Responsibility To Think Of More Radical Solutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Bioeconomic Innovations to Contribute to a Social-Ecological Transformation: A Case Study in the Livestock System

Friedrich

Bunker

Uthes

et al. 2021

J Agric Environ Ethics

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Environmental crises, which are consequences of resource-intensive lifestyles and are characterized to a large extent by both a changing climate and a loss of biodiversity, stress the urgent need for a global social-ecological transformation of the agro-food system. In this regard, the bioeconomy and bioeconomic innovations have frequently been seen as instrumental in addressing these grand challenges and contributing to more sustainable land use. To date, the question of how much bioeconomic innovations contribute to sustainability objectives remains unanswered. Against this background, we study four bioeconomic innovations using the case study of animal production and manure utilization in relation to their potential contributions to a social-ecological transformation. The analysis is based on the application of analytical categories derived from the literature that assess the normativity of these innovations and their implicit cultural changes. The results show that the innovations examined manifest existing thought styles and the incumbent socio-technical regime rather than contribute to a more fundamental transition. In this respect, we stress the importance of evolving alterative ideas in innovation design, applying more integrative approaches, such as embedding innovation processes into transdisciplinary processes, and developing adaptive and reflective governance approaches. In return, bioeconomic innovations should adjust towards the design mission of a social-ecological transformation and include a multitude of actors to discuss and harmonize contesting imaginaries and ethical concerns.

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“…The combination of transdisciplinary processes with real-world lab approaches has already been observed in other studies (Rogga et al 2018). It has been shown that embedding the innovation process in a broader transdisciplinary discourse is conductive to estimating unintended effects more effectively, and reducing ethical concerns, but also to considering critical questions of legitimacy.…”

Section: Thesis #2 Slm Innovation Processes Follow a Multiple-objectimentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Transdisciplinary processes were also conducted, as well as very incremental management approaches that can be described as "muddling through". Combinations of several approaches, such as a transdisciplinary learning process with a real-world lab approach (see also Rogga et al 2018) were often observed.…”

Section: Steering Innovation Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovations for Sustainable Land Management—A Comparative Case Study

Zscheischler

Rogga

2020

Human-Environment Interactions

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There continues to be a poor understanding of how transformation and socio-technological change in the specific field of sustainable land use and management can be effectively governed and supported. The aim of this article is to contribute to this knowledge gap by presenting the findings from a comparative case study of nine local innovation projects that sought solutions for sustainable land management (SLM). For each of the nine projects, we examined the (i) problem definitions and framings, (ii) the type and degree of innovation, (iii) the different approaches taken to manage innovation processes, and (iv) the leverage points of these solutions in the governance system of SLM. The results show that SLM innovations start from diverse problem framings and emerge from distinct action fields. We found a broad variety of innovation types following distinct solution strategies that can be clustered into (i) multiple land use, (ii) knowledge-based decision support tools, (iii) co-management approaches, and (iv) new organisations and institutions. All nine projects applied multi-actor approaches to facilitate reflexive processes of social learning and cognitive reframing by embedding experimental innovation management approaches such as real-world laboratories (thus optimising the solution) into larger transdisciplinary and participatory processes (to adjust to societal discourses and normative orientations).

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How Much of the Real-World Laboratory Is Hidden in Current Transdisciplinary Research?

Cited by 23 publications

References 0 publications

Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change

Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change

The Potential of Bioeconomic Innovations to Contribute to a Social-Ecological Transformation: A Case Study in the Livestock System

Innovations for Sustainable Land Management—A Comparative Case Study

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