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Inter- and Transdisciplinary Integration in Science, Policy and Practice (Summer School)
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:32:52
Abstract
Integration is an integral part of inter- and transdisciplinary research. It implies the co-production and synthesis towards a problem and its potential solutions. It is a fundamental process when collaborating across disciplines and thematic fields and working at the interface between science, policy and practice. Drawing on empirical cases students work in a hands-on experiential setting.
Objective
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). Integration, in this context, is an integral part of inter- and transdisciplinary research. It implies the co-production and synthesis of different knowledges, perspectives, insights, interests, expectations and collaborative approaches towards a problem and its potential solutions. It is a fundamental process in research 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. The summer school offers a hands-on experiental setting together with empirical cases situated at that interface. At the end of the summer school students are able to: • Understand and analyse different theories, concepts, methods and tools of integration and assess their strenghts and weaknesses. • Apply methods and tools of integration to selected case studies and critically reflect on their potentials and limitations. • Communicate and collaborate with others in different contexts and forms, bringing in own viewpoints, recognising others, and synthesising ideas.
Content
The summer school 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.) and researchers’ diverse roles at the interface between science, policy and practice. To approach these topics students will work on two 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, 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), coordinated interactions among partners in the energy system (COSI).
Resources
Literature
Mandatory readings: • Pohl, C., Klein, J.T., Hoffmann, S., Mitchell, C., Fam, D. (2021) Conceptualising transdisciplinary integration as a multidimensional interactive process, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 118, Pages 18-26, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.12.005 • Vienni-Baptista, B., Fletcher, I., Lyall, C. Pohl, C. (2022) Embracing heterogeneity: Why plural understandings strengthen interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity, Science and Public Policy, 2022;, scac034, https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scac034 • Bulten E, Hessels LK, Hordijk M, Segrave AJ (2021) Conflicting roles of researchers in sustainability transitions: balancing action and reflection. Sustain Sci 16 (4):1269-1283. https://doi:10.1007/s11625-021-00938-7 • Hoffmann, S., Deutsch, L., Klein, J.T. et al. (2022) Integrate the integrators! A call for establishing academic careers for integration experts. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 9, 147 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01138-z Complementary readings and resources Students will be offered complementary readings and online resources to use in the group work. The list will be provided in Moodle. Some examples of those resources are: • Guides and Case studies, SHAPE-ID toolkit ( https://www.shapeidtoolkit.eu/downloadable-guides/ ) • Method factsheets for transdisciplinary research, td-net toolbox ( https://naturalsciences.ch/co-producing-knowledge-explained/about ) • Selected posts, Integration and Implementation Insights Blog ( https://i2insights.org )
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC , DR
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 30 minutes
Registration & Places
- Signup End
- 15.05.2025
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar | Inter- and Transdisciplinary Integration in Science, Policy and Practice (Summer School) |
|
30 h semesterly |
Offered In
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Wahlfächer (Wahlfächer dürfen aus dem gesamten Lehrangebot der ETH Zürich und der Universität Zürich stammen.)
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Doktorat Umweltsystemwissenschaften (Mehr Informationen unter: )