Inter- and Transdisciplinary Integration

Meeting pressing environmental and societal challenges of our time requires inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) research that formulates “socially robust” responses by crossing boundaries of not only different scientific disciplines but also research, policy, and practice.

Integration across the boundaries of different disciplines (interdisciplinary integration) as well as across research, policy and practice (transdiciplinary integration) is widely regarded as the key challenge of ITD research. As such, it shares many similarities with Citizen Science where encounters between actors with diverse backgrounds and perspectives require systematic and accountable ways of respectful exchange.

Therefore, integration across boundaries is critical to the success or failure of both ITD and Citizen Science projects. Drawing on case studies, participants will explore concepts, methods and tools of integration in a hands-on experimental setting and reflect on researchers’ roles in integration processes across multiple boundaries.