What is Transdisciplinary Research Anyway?

Description:

Future Earth has a mandate to explore transdisciplinary research, but what does that even mean?

Some of you might be familiar with other kinds of research such as multi- or interdisciplinary research.

In this episode, we explore this emerging research paradigm through interviews with members of the Future Earth network (part 1) as well as with a guest appearance (part 2) with Dr. Jochen Jaeger, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Environment at Concordia University.

Because a picture tells a thousand words: Dr. Jaeger shared some useful images, below, that might help you wrap your head around the topic of transdisciplinary research.

       

The two above images from: Jaeger, J., and M. Scheringer (2000): Transdisciplinarity — just a buzzword? Overcoming some popular objections to transdisciplinary research. — In: Häberli, R., Scholz, R.W., Bill, A., and M. Welti (Eds.): Transdisciplinarity: Joint Problem-solving among science, technology and society. Proceedings of the international transdisciplinarity 2000 conference; Workbook I. Haffmans Sachbuch Verlag, Zürich: 259–262.

Music featured in this episode:

• Intro “R U Well” by Best Fern
• Outro “Plans fall through” by Alexia Avina

The people interviewed in this episode:

• Christina Cook, Science Officer, Synthesis & Foresight, Montreal, Future Earth, and Research Associate at the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre(LSRC), Concordia University.
• Charles Ebikeme, Science Officer at the International Council for Science(ICSU), and member of the Health Advisory Group at Future Earth as well as the Governing Council.
• Mario Hernandez Valdes, special consultant for the UNESCO, Regional Representative for Latin America of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, visiting Professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences at the Institute for Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, and member of the Council of the International Society for Digital Earth. Member of Future Earth’s Engagement Committee.
• Jochen Jaeger, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Environment at Concordia University
• Andrew Kaniki, Executive Director for Knowledge Fields Development at the South African National Research Foundation.
• Hein Mallée, Professor at the Research Institute for Humanity and Naturein Kyoto, Japan, and Coordinator of the Regional Centre for Future Earth in Asia.
• Gordon McBean, President of the International Council for Science(ICSU), and Co-Chair of Future Earth’s Governing Council.
• Hannah Moersberger, Capacity-building and Research-enabling, Paris, Future Earth.
• Rebecca Oliver, Senior Engagement and Dialogue Lead, Sweden Hub of Future Earth.
• Jakob Rhyner, United Nations University (UNU) Vice-Rector in Europe and Director of the UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security, and Co-Chair of the Governing Council at Future Earth.

A few things referenced in the show:

Recommended reading:

• Jaeger, J., and M. Scheringer (2000): Transdisciplinarity — just a buzzword? Overcoming some popular objections to transdisciplinary research. — In: Häberli, R., Scholz, R.W., Bill, A., and M. Welti (Eds.): Transdisciplinarity: Joint Problem-solving among science, technology and society. Proceedings of the international transdisciplinarity 2000 conference; Workbook I. Haffmans Sachbuch Verlag, Zürich: 259–262.
• Jaeger, J., und M. Scheringer (1999): What is transdisciplinarity? — Some critical remarks on the “management perspective” (in German; Wofür steht Transdisziplinarität? — Kritische Anmerkungen zur „Managementperspektive“). — GAIA 8(1): 5–7.
• Nicolescu, B., & ERTAS, A. (2008). Transdisciplinary theory and practice. Creskill: Hampton Press.
• Rittel, H. W., & Webber, M. M. (1973). Dilemmas in a general theory of planning. Policy sciences, 4(2), 155–169.
• Scheringer, M., Jaeger, J., and M. Esfeld (2000): Transdisciplinarity and holism — how are different disciplines connected in environmental research? — In: Häberli, R., Scholz, R.W., Bill, A., and M. Welti (Eds.): Transdisciplinarity: Joint Problem-solving among science, technology and society. Proceedings of the international transdisciplinarity 2000 conference; Workbook I. Haffmans Sachbuch Verlag, Zürich: 35–37.

Other places to learn interesting things: 

• Concordia University’s INDI program: Concordia University offers MSc, MA and PhD in the individualized program with the goal of encouraging students to “Think outside the box [and] Create new syntheses of knowledge and creation.”
• Want to know more about Cohousing? (which is really cool, we assure you)

Unsure of who Future Earth is and haven’t heard our first show?

Episode 1 of The Worlds We Want: “Introduction to Future Earth”

Acknowledgments: 

Hosts: Cheryl Gladu, Tristan Mason, Joel, Odjick. Writing by Cheryl Gladu. Field recording by Arun Dayanandan, Charly Plaisir, Cheryl Gladu. Interviews by Tristan Masson, Joel Odjick, Charly Plaisir and Cheryl Gladu. Recording and production at CJLO 1690am by Patrick McDowall and Allison O’Reilly. And, of course, the whole thing is