In response to contemporary societal challenges, universities and funders increasingly call upon researchers to generate both scientifically and societally relevant knowledge by conducting inter-and transdisciplinary (ITD) research. While the ambition to bridge scientific and societal relevance can produce tensions during the research process, we argue that such tensions should not be viewed merely as barriers. Drawing on empirical insights from three recent ITD research initiatives in Switzerland, we demonstrate how tensions embody potentials and can serve as productive catalysts for reflection, integration, and innovation. Rather than striving to eliminate tensions, our analysis highlights strategies and conditions that enable research teams to harness them constructively. We conclude that a multi-level approach and concerted efforts by various actors are needed to create the conditions which enable the generation of both societally and scientifically relevant knowledge in ITD initiatives.
Societal transformation processes, such as the energy transition, accompanied by fundamental social, economic, and political changes require research approaches capable of capturing complex sociotechnical interactions. Integrating regulatory sandboxes and Real-world Laboratories provides a methodological foundation for such interactions by incorporating scientific and nonscientific perspectives through transdisciplinary cooperation. This design report reflects the first Real-world Lab for the energy transition, SmartQuart, which was funded by the Bundesministerium f & uuml;r Wirtschaft und Energie. It focuses on evaluating research and communication strategies in a consortium of science, industry, and municipalities, with a qualitative online survey of the project participants forming the empirical basis. The results show that an open communication culture, personal encounters, and flexible exchange formats contributed to successful cooperation. However, staff turnover, unclear definitions of objectives, and the lack of independent project management posed challenges. Based on the analyzed experiences, the report derives design-relevant lessons for future real-world labs for the energy transition.
Ideal-typical transdisciplinary research (TDR) aims to generate impacts both in science and society. This results in challenges for everybody who is involved. This article sheds light on this ambivalent field of TDR and introduces a Special Section of two articles addressing the tensions that may emerge when aiming for impacts in both realms. With this opening article, we present institutional, individual, and project strategies that enable and support TDR, and we reveal ambivalences that arise from their interplay with the current academic system.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is fundamental to address sustainability problems in transdisciplinary projects. In this contribution, sociologists and hydrologists reflect on the effects and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration in transdisciplinary processes for early-career researchers, as well as for the design process itself. Based on their experiences in a transdisciplinary project, they discuss how interdisciplinary negotiation and method development affect the careers of early-career researchers. Challenges for researchers arose due to disciplinary qualification regulations influencing research modes, and due to the different paradigms of natural and social scientists. To satisfy the paradigms and meet the needs of stakeholders simultaneously, methods were developed and applied that effectively support knowledge integration. Boundary concepts and objects facilitated the inter-and transdisci-plinary collaboration. Overall, reflexive interdisciplinary collaboration in transdisciplinary processes offers opportunities for personal development and career advancement, and improves the design of transdisciplinary processes.
The One Health approach is crucial for addressing complex environ mental and health issues by considering the interdependencies between human, animal, and environmental health. The T!Raum alliance "One Health Region Western Pomerania" aims to implement One Health principles in the region of Western Pomerania in the northeast of Germanythrough transdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge transfer. In this article, we explore the transformation processes necessary to establish a One Health Region from the perspectives of local stake holders. Qualitative interviews with 32 regional stakeholders from various sectors revealed a range of issues. Key objectives identified include the promotion of regionality, enhancement of collaboration and networking, raising awareness and imparting knowledge, advancement in medical care and general health services, and improvement of local public transport and related transportation infrastructure.
