Transdisciplinarity in practice: aims, collaboration and integration in a Swedish research programme

Abstract

This article discusses the practice of crossdisciplinarity in the context of future-oriented sustainability studies. Much research into crossdisciplinarity has concentrated on programmatic and epistemological questions. In this study, we focus on research practice and efforts to realize transdisciplinary aims across a research programme. We use the Swedish Future Forests programme as a case study and explore its aims, forms of collaboration and level of conceptual integration. The study demonstrates that efficient integration requires organizational settings able to support the development of a common conceptual framework. To achieve this, the aims and forms of collaboration and the means of integration ought to be consistent. Far-reaching integration and shortterm instrumental objectives may be difficult to combine because integration requires intellectual space, specific boundary settings and time. Short-term instrumental objectives may also hamper open and reflexive discussion of alternative pathways to sustainability and of how participating actors shape the research process. These insights may help researchers and participating actors to design research programmes that enable a realization of their transdisciplinary ambitions.

Relevant Transformative Teacher Education for Future Generations

“…A characteristic of interdisciplinarity is fostering and adapting suitable tools from different disciplines when exploring or resolving common obstacles (Koritzinsky, 2021). Thus, multidisciplinarity differs from interdisciplinarity in whether problem-solving is resolved side by side or as a coherent whole that entails knowledge integration (Rowland, 2006;Nenseth et al, 2010;Beland Lindahl and Westholm, 2014). Transdisciplinarity entails the exchange of competencies and knowledge from outside the academic institutions through involvement and inclusion of relevant societal actors, or as problem-based learning (Nenseth et al, 2010;Beland Lindahl and Westholm, 2014;Johannesen and Øgrim, 2020).…”

“…Thus, multidisciplinarity differs from interdisciplinarity in whether problem-solving is resolved side by side or as a coherent whole that entails knowledge integration (Rowland, 2006;Nenseth et al, 2010;Beland Lindahl and Westholm, 2014). Transdisciplinarity entails the exchange of competencies and knowledge from outside the academic institutions through involvement and inclusion of relevant societal actors, or as problem-based learning (Nenseth et al, 2010;Beland Lindahl and Westholm, 2014;Johannesen and Øgrim, 2020). Interdisciplinarity might easily be used as a concept covering bridging of disciplines in any form, but Balsiger et al (2004) suggests the collective term "supradisciplinarity" in all cases where a single discipline has been trespassed.…”

Characteristics, emerging needs, and challenges of transdisciplinary sustainability science: experiences from the German Social-Ecological Research Program

“…Although TSS research practices and outcomes are increasingly being studied (e.g., Cundill et al 2005, Tötzer et al 2011, Beland Lindahl and Westholm 2014, Mattor et al 2014, the German SÖF context has only been marginally explored (e.g., Nölting et al 2004, Luks andSiebenhüner 2007). We aim to fill this gap by analyzing the various practices of the 12 early career research groups within the second phase of SÖF, which comprised 81 early career scientists (Table 1).…”

The Digitalization Sustainability Matrix: A Participatory Research Tool for Investigating Digitainability

“…We face a crucial gap in the literature and practice on strengthening and disseminating the sustainability and transdisciplinary aspects regarding interaction with digitalization. It is recognizable that the significant uptake of transdisciplinary research into practice requires appropriate stakeholders' active involvement [7,8]. However, understanding and practicing the participation from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders remain inadequately addressed.…”