Integration in Science, Policy and Practice: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Concepts, Methods, Tools

Abstract

Meeting environmental and societal challenges requires responses that integrate a wide range of perspectives from different disciplines (i.e., interdisciplinary integration), as well as from science, policy and practice (i.e., transdisciplinary integration). Drawing on case studies, students will explore concepts, methods and tools of integration in a hands-on experiential setting.

Objective

Integration is a core feature and key challenge of inter- and transdisciplinary research. It is a fundamental process when collaborating across scientific disciplines (e.g., natural and social sciences) and thematic fields (e.g., policy analysis) and working at the interface between science, policy and practice. It refers to the process of combining different types of knowledge, perspectives, insights, interests, expectations and collaborative approaches to address complex environmental and societal problems and generate potential solutions. It also refers to the integrated output that emerges from this process. In the course, we work on method and personal competencies to analyse and cross-compare empirical cases studies (e.g inter- and transdisciplinary research projects and programs) addressing complex problems in the field of sustainability transformations. We offer a hands-on experiential setting together with empirical cases situated at that interface between science, policy and practice. At the end of the course students are able to: • Understand and apply different theories, concepts, strategies, dimensions, and principles of integration • Analyse and cross-compare selected case studies in terms of integration • Apply different procedures, methods and tools of integration and assess their strengths and weaknesses • Design and implement integration processes and generate integrated outputs • Communicate and collaborate with others in different contexts and forms • Bring in own viewpoints, recognise other viewpoints, and synthesise ideas from all viewpoints • Analyse and discuss own strengths and weaknesses and recognise and appreciate strengths and weaknesses of others • Reflect and manage internal group dynamics and conflicts

Content

The course focuses on: • Theories and concepts of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary integration (i.e. process, output, one-sided, mutual) across different scientific communities (science of team science, integration and implementation science, science and technology studies, transformative research). • Dimensions (i.e. strategic, cognitive, social, emotional, spatial, temporal) and principles of integration (i.e. design integrative process, form diverse group, forge robust social bonds, create boundary objects, etc.). • Methods and tools of integration (e.g. Theory of Change; nomadic concepts, common conceptual framework, joint research questions, boundary objects, etc.). • Researchers’ diverse roles at the interface between science, policy and practice, especially intergration experts and their personal qualities (e.g. flexibility, creativity, humility, persistence, patience, etc.) and expertise in integration (i.e. contributory expertise, interactional expertise, referred expertise). To approach these topics students will work on specific tasks within a diversity of case studies to gain hands-on experience on inter- and transdisciplinary integration. Cases lie at the interface between science, policy and practice targeting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary integration (including humanities and social sciences). Experts from different research projects or programs will be invited to share insights from selected case studies, for example: innovative resource-oriented water and sanitation systems (WINGS), sustainable water management (NRP61), transformation of pesticide governance (TRAPEGO), integrated assessment models for sustainable development (DIAMOND), design and discovery of novel materials for energy harvesting (INTERSECTIONS), coordinated interactions between the Swiss society and the energy system (COSI).

Resources