Transdisciplinary Concepts and Methods
Contact Person:
Dr. Engelbert Schramm,
schramm@isoe.de
Institute Team:
- Dr. Engelbert Schramm
(Spokesman) - Dr. Egon Becker
- Dr. Matthias Bergmann
- Dr. Thomas Jahn
- Dr. Florian Keil
- Dr. Stefan Liehr
Projects:
- Systemic Risk – Knowledge Integration and Risk Governance ...more
- Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre ... more
- Strengthening the Practice of Transdisciplinary Research - tdPrax ... more
- Transdisciplinary Integration - Cooperation and Concept Devlopment in Knowledge Networks ... more
- Management Strategies for Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water - start ... more
References
Bergmann, Matthiias and Thomas Jahn, 2008: CITY:mobil: A Model for Integration in Sustainablity Research. In: G. Hirsch Hadorn et al. (eds.): Handbook of Transdisciplinarity Research, 89-102. Bern
Bergmann, Matthias et al., 2005: Quality Criteria of Transdisciplinary Research. A Guide for the Formative Evaluation of Research Projects. ISOE-Studientexte, Nr. 13. English Version, Frankfurt am Main.
Research Focus Transdisciplinary Concepts and Methods
Developing transdisciplinary concepts and methods is one of the main research activities at the Institute. Conceived and then further developed, methodologically and conceptually well-founded, such concepts and methods create new modes of access to individual social-ecological areas of action. Here an understanding of the context of development, and the procedures and scope of the science and technology involved play a critical roll. For although scientific method and technical procedures are a necessary condition if social-ecological problems are to be recognized, analyzed and possible solutions suggested, science and technology are not neutral tools for such problem recognition and solution. To the contrary, they are often a part of the problem, for they are also capable of causing social-ecological risks and dangers. That is why the reflexive application of scientific methods and technical procedures is extremely important in social-ecological research, and it is the reason research at the Institute is constantly confronted with new methodological challenges.
Research takes place today for the most part still within disciplinary boundaries, and questions are posed in terms of internal scientific interests. Moreover, the immediate goal of the sciences is not to find solutions to problems anchored in daily life. And though researchers are more and more moving into new and ever more complex terrain, their methods of finding scientific solutions to problems and for developing quality criteria for research remain locked within a system ordered around disciplines.
Concrete problem complexes require solution strategies (and solutions) that transcend discipline boundaries and move beyond research governed solely by the processes and approaches of pure science. The newer the problems that need practical solutions are, and the more uncertain the available scientific knowledge needed for their solution is, the more important such boundary crossings will become. Transdisciplinary research involves at its core the investigation of these boundary crossings and the methods involved in their practice.
Contact Person: Dr. Engelbert Schramm, schramm@isoe.de