In intersection 1, Centre for Technology and Society (ZTG) at the Technische Universität of Berlin and ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research are jointly investigating the interlinkages between activities to generate scientific and societal effects of transdisciplinary research.
Background
Intersection 1 continues the work that has been startet in topic line 1 "Societal effects" and topic line 2 "Scientific effects". During the first phase of tdAcademy, topic line 1 and 2 analyzed the societal and scientific effects of transdisciplinary research separately. The now running second phase focuses on their interplay, for which the ZTG and ISOE are joining forces.
The ideal-typical transdisciplinary research process aims at achieving both societal and scientific effects with the newly generated integrated knowledge. This is where the research of interface 1 starts. It assumes that activities for generating scientific and societal effects in transdisciplinary research processes are interrelated, which can lead to trade-offs or synergies for both science and practice. A trade-off exists when activities to generate one form of effect lead to a reduction in the other or to negative unintended effects. A synergy exists when the same activities simultaneously promote the emergence of scientific and societal effects.
Research questions
- Research question 1: How do trade-offs and synergies manifest themselves in transdisciplinary research processes?
- Research question 2: What factors influence the emergence of synergies and trade-offs?
- Research question 3: What strategies exist for dealing with syntheses and trade-offs?
The joint research of ZTG and ISOE is designed as a qualitative second-order analysis of the empirical data collected in the first phase of tdAcademy. ZTG is analyzing workshops carried out with transdisciplinary projects to promote their societal effects. ISOE analyses qualitative interviews conducted with researchers. The empirical material will be coded and categorized to develop an exploratory understanding of constellations and factors that may lead to synergies and trade-offs. The aim is to formulate empirically grounded statements on trade-offs and synergies in transdisciplinary research as well as on existing strategies for consciously dealing with them in research practice.
Photo: Collection of potential synergies and trade-offs in transdisciplinary research processes.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please get in touch with the contact persons of topic line 1 and topic line 2.
