This document provides an introduction to transdisciplinary research from the Network for Transdisciplinary Research (td-net). It defines transdisciplinary research as aiming to solve societal problems through close interaction with stakeholders. The research process links scientific knowledge production with societal problem solving through co-production of knowledge. Principles of transdisciplinary research include grasping complexity, considering diverse perspectives, linking different types of knowledge, and promoting the common good. Stakeholder participation and collaboration across disciplines are key to applying these principles.

1. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Transdisciplinary Research
A short introduction
Tobias Buser, Network for Transdisciplinary Research td-net
12016-05-11 Future Earth Webinar, Tobias Buser, td-net

2. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
What is Transdisciplinarity?
Transdisciplinary knowledge production aims at societal problem
solving. It does not only produce knowlege ON problems but also
FOR solutions. Therefore close interaction with societal actors that
can take decisions, can act or are affected in the respective field
(=Stakeholders) is key.
To overcome the knowledge-action gap it includes stakeholders
already from the beginning (Co-Design), deals with normative target
questions and co-produces knowledge how to reach this targets.
A transdisciplinary research process links societal problem solving
with scientific knowledge production in a process of co-producing
knowledge.
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3. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
" Transdisciplinarity implies that the precise nature of a problem to
be addressed and solved is not predetermined and needs to be
defined cooperatively by actors from science and the life-world. To
enable the refining of problem definition as well as the joint
commitment in solving or mitigating problems, transdisciplinary
research connects problem identification and structuring, searching
for solutions, and bringing results to fruition in a recursive research
and negotiation process. Transdisciplinarity thus dismantles the
traditional sequence leading from scientific insight to action“
Pohl, C., "What is progress in transdisciplinary research?“. Futures, 2011. 43: p.
618-626.
(slide not shown during webinar)
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4. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Principles of Transdisciplinarity
a) Grasp the complexity of problems
b) Take into account the diversity of life-world and scientific
perceptions of problems, goals and solutions
c) Link abstract and case-specific knowledge
d) Develop knowledge and practices that promote what is perceived
to be the common good
Participatory research and collaboration between disciplines are the
means of meeting requirements a) – d) in the research process
Pohl, C. and G. Hirsch Hadorn, Principles for Designing Transdisciplinary Research. Oekom 2007
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5. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
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Source: www.td-net.ch
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6. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
When is a transdisciplinary research approach suitable?
➜ When societal problems are adressed, when aiming to contribute
to problem solving and transformation
➜ Especially for complex, contested problems
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7. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Intensities of interaction – from Information to Co-production
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8. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Intensities of Interaction
The suitable intensity of interaction with stakeholders depends on the project‘s
goals and starting conditions:
➜ What contribution to “real world” problem solving is planned by the project?
➜ What kind of knowledge is lacking for more sustainable solutions?
➜ Are systems, target or transformation knowledge contested among societal
actors?
➜ What is the actor diversity regarding the life-world goal?
➜ How interested are the actors in the knowledge generated in the project?
➜ Does the project have existing collaborations / is it part of a larger project or
programme with intense stakeholder interaction?
(more on suitable intensities of interaction in upcoming events)
(slide not shown in webinar)
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9. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Important steps to design a transdisciplinary Project
Phases of transdisciplinary research
Unlike other approches, where science only interacts with other
actors when results are ready, transdisciplinary projects involve
stakeholders from the beginning
➜ Goal and problem framing (Co-Design)
➜ Co-Production of new knowledge (Co-Production)
➜ Bringing results to fruition (Co-Production)
However, these phases are often adressed in an iterative way,
depending on the project‘s goal and starting conditions
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10. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Goal and problem framing phase (Co-Design)
➜ Actor and context analysis to find relevant stakeholders
➜ Collaboratively define life world- problems and goals to be
adressed by the project
➜ Develop research questions according to these goals (and
scientific novelty)
➜ Build a collaborative research team and enhance competences
for inter- and transdisciplinary research processes
➜ Design a framework for collaborative knowledge production
Developed tb based on: Lang et al: Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science:
practice,principles, and challenges, Sustainability Science (2012) 7 (Supplement 1):25–43
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11. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Co-Production of new knowledge
➜ Bringing scientists with different backgrounds and stakeholders
together in a structured way to reach the projects goals
➜ Apply and adjust methods for knowledge co-production according to
the project goals
➜ Develop bridging concepts / boundary objects that are tangible for
all involved actors
➜ Carefully prepare and facilitate workshops
➜ Assign and support appropriate roles for practitioners and
researchers
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12. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Bringing results to fruition
➜ Integrate results to resolve or mitigate the problem adressed,
and integrate the results into the scientific body
➜ Produce targeted products for science, policy and practitioners
➜ co-produce respective products with exponents from the target
group
follow up projects or organisation/platform to build long term
cooperation are an opportunity to intensifey social learnig processes
and longterm impact
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13. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Resources
u td-net‘s toolbox for co-producing knowledge: www.naturalsciences.ch/toolbox
u td-net website and td-info newsletter: www.transdisciplinarity.ch
u Lang et al. 2102: Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science: practice,
principles, and challenges, Sustainability Science (2012) 7 (Supplement 1):25–43
u Pohl, C., "What is progress in transdisciplinary research?". Futures, 2011. 43: p.
618-626
u Pohl, C. and G. Hirsch Hadorn, Principles for Designing Transdisciplinary
Research - proposed by the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. 2007,
München: oekom Verlag.
u Example of an integration method: Schneider et al. 2014: Assessing the
sustainability of water governance systems: the sustainability wheel. Journal of
Environmental Planning and Management, Volume 58, Issue 9, 2015)
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14. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Questions?
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15. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Additional slides, not shown druring webinar
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Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Three forms of knowledge
Knowledge of the current status: Systems knowledge of structures and
processes, variabilities, etc..
Knowledge concerning what should and should not be: Target
knowledge, What would be a desirable state of the system? goals,
"guiding ideas", ethical boundary conditions, visions.
Knowledge on how to make the transition from the current to the
target situation: Transformation knowledge, i.e. gaining knowledge
on how to shape and implement the transition from the existing to the
target situation.
Sustainability transformations require systems-, target- and
transformation knowledge. However, depending on the life-world goal
and already existing knowledge, some sorts of knowledge play more or
less important roles in a specific project.
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Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Stakeholder Analysis: Basic questions
• Who has decision power
• Who needs to act
• Who can elaborate/change regulations and policies
• Who do should consider the results of the project
• Who should know about my project
• Who is affected by the project (intended and unintended)
• Who can affect the project
• Who can contribute information, data and authorisations for the
project
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18. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Stakeholder Analysis: Roles
• Role of the stakeholder (in the analysed system)
- Owner/proprietor
- Regulator
- User (group), Interest group
- Public sector (authorities and administration)
- Economy
• Large enterprise
• SMUs
- Civil society (NGOs, Associations,..)
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19. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Stakeholder Analysis: Scale and place
• Local
• Regional
• National
• Supranational/Multinational
• Are there “hot spots” for the topic?
• Relevant Interactions between the scales for the topic?
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20. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Stakeholder Analysis: Power and relations
Knowledge of the stakeholder-system is essential to design the
involvement
- Simple tool: power/interest grid
- Advanced tools: Mapping of the stakeholders and their relations
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21. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Example Stakeholder Analysis: Power/interest grid
high
Power
low Interest high
Awareness
raising / Try to
involve
Empower / keep
Informed
Involve
Monitor
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22. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Example Stakeholder Mapping – Power and relations
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Source: F. Schneider
and T. Buser:
Ressourcenprobleme
und Macht in der
Peripherie Chiles, eine
politisch-ökologische
Untersuchung in der
Region Aysén, Master
Thesis, Basel 2003

23. td-net
Network for Transdisciplinary Research
Example integration method: the Sustainability Wheel (Schneider
et al. 2014: Assessing the sustainability of water governance systems: the
sustainability wheel. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Volume 58,
Issue 9, 2015)
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