Problem structuring for transitions: The case of Swiss waste management

Scholz, Roland; Spoerri, Andy; Lang, Daniel J.

doi:10.1016/j.futures.2008.09.013

Cited by 40 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(85 reference statements)

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“…Responsibilities for transdisciplinary research remain in academic institutions, while 'external partners', 'non-scientific actors' or 'stakeholders' are invited to participate. These approaches often remain sciencecentric and are putting scientists into privileged positions in the research process, e.g., as facilitators or decision-makers [45], [46]. Often, the way language is used mirrors a mono-centric research topography by distinguishing between an active (the scientists) and a passive part (the others).…”

Section: Broadening the Concept Of Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research In-between: The Constitutive Role of Cultural Differences in Transdisciplinarity

Vilsmaier

Brandner

Engbers

2017

ATLAS

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T ransdisciplinary research can be considered an integrative practice that is grounded in difference. It emerges as in-between space established among societal domains, different ways of knowing, acting and being, and constitutes a new topos in the landscape of societal institutions. We argue that it is through difference that transdisciplinary research spaces are created and elaborate on the characteristics of these in-between spaces. We provide insights into theoretical considerations of the constitution of transdisciplinary research spaces and show how cultural differences, determined by existing power relations and hegemonies, can be brought into fruition. Our aim is to contribute to theoretical considerations of a concept of research that is not reduced to academic research only but considered a cultural practice of people at stake to better understand and transform situations or phenomena of shared interest.

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Section: Broadening the Concept Of Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research In-between: The Constitutive Role of Cultural Differences in Transdisciplinarity

Vilsmaier

Brandner

Engbers

2017

ATLAS

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“…From a governance perspective, and given the complexity of transition that is anticipated to occur from unsustainable to sustainable MSW management, the sustainability filters-based scenarios scheme can be made contiguous to the social process of problem-structuring for complex transition (SCT) to sustainability developed by Scholz et al (2009). Table 2 proposes a description of how this connection can be described.…”

Section: Problem-structuringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the Iasi county's Long-Term Investment Plan Scholz et al 2009 Corresponding technical filter-based scenario decision-making operation according to Ciumasu et al 2008 Phase…”

Section: Description Of the Tomesti Landfillmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Complex Risks from Old Urban Waste Landfills: Sustainability Perspective from Iasi, Romania

Ciumasu

Mihai

Costica

et al. 2012

J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste

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Landfills continue to represent the most frequent managerial practice for municipal solid wastes and an increasing and complex problem globally. In certain countries, a transition to an open society and free market is superimposed on the transition to sustainability, resulting in even higher complexity of management. This paper proposes an approach for problem-structuring of landfills in complex transitions: sustainability or unsustainability of a management approach is determined by a set of sustainability filters that are defined by sets of indicators and prioritized according the systemic concept of sustainability, which says that economy is embedded in society, which is embedded in nature. The writers exercise this approach with an old landfill in Iasi, Romania, and conclude for unsustainability, because the ecological sustainability filter is not successfully passed. Social and economic sustainability filters are also discussed in relation with the ecological sustainability indicators. The described approach allows a coherent, transdisciplinary synthesis of knowledge scattered across various disciplines, a pervasive problem in landfill management. The case study helps distinguish between generally true and contextdependent aspects.

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“…In other words such TDR approaches assume that certain social conditions are in place for this, where formal or legitimated societal stakeholders can engage on equal footing with scientists or experts from academia. In these contexts formal and highly institutionalised TDR processes seek to find real-world solutions to complex sustainability challenges (Scholz et al 2009;Scholz 2011;Seidl et al 2013;Stauffacher et al 2006). However, the effect produced by this approach is the'foregrounding' and 'backgrounding' (Law 2004) of formality and informality, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The guiding logics and principles for designing emergent transdisciplinary research processes: learning experiences and reflections from a transdisciplinary urban case study in Enkanini informal settlement, South Africa

Breda

Swilling

2018

Sustain Sci

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Transdisciplinarity is not a new science per se, but a new methodology for doing science with society. A particular challenge in doing science with society is the engagement with non-academic actors to enable joint problem formulation, analysis and transformation. How this is achieved differs between contexts. The premise of this paper is that transdisciplinary research (TDR) methodologies designed for developed world contexts cannot merely be replicated and transferred to developing world contexts. Thus a new approach is needed for conducting TDR in contexts characterised by high levels of complexity, conflict and social fluidity. To that end, this paper introduces a new approach to TDR titled emergent transdisciplinary design research (ETDR). A core element of this approach is that the research process is designed as it unfolds, that is, it transforms as it emerges from and within the fluid context. The ETDR outlined in this paper emerged through a case study in the informal settlement (slum) of Enkanini in Stellenbosch, South Africa. This case study demonstrates the context from and within which the ETDR approach and identifies a set of guiding logics that can be used to guide ETDR approaches in other contexts. The study demonstrates that the new logics and guiding principles were not simply derived from the TDR literature, but rather emerged from constant interacting dynamics between theory and practice. Learning how to co-design the research process through co-producing transformative knowledge and then implementing strategic interventions to bring about incremental social change is key to theory development in ways that are informed by local contextual dynamics. There are, however, risks when undertaking such TDR processes such as under-valuing disciplinary knowledge, transferring risks onto a society, and suppressing 'truth-to-power'.

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Problem structuring for transitions: The case of Swiss waste management

Cited by 40 publications

References 48 publications

Research In-between: The Constitutive Role of Cultural Differences in Transdisciplinarity

Research In-between: The Constitutive Role of Cultural Differences in Transdisciplinarity

Complex Risks from Old Urban Waste Landfills: Sustainability Perspective from Iasi, Romania

The guiding logics and principles for designing emergent transdisciplinary research processes: learning experiences and reflections from a transdisciplinary urban case study in Enkanini informal settlement, South Africa

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