News from td-net

The successful innovative course presents transdisciplinary research as a living experience. With a basis on sound theoretical and methodological background, five outstanding projects illustrate promising different ways of dealing with complex societal challenges. Go to registration page

For those who are in search of a tool that helps to visualize, structure and discuss complex issues: The constellation analysis (see profile) captures interrelations between social actors, natural elements, technical elements as well as signs/symbols. Many thanks to Martina Schäfer, Gabriele Wehndorf and Susanne Schön for sharing their experiences (see experience report)!

«Zukunftsbilder entwickeln und reflektieren – Wie kann TD-Forschung helfen, gesellschaftliche Vorstellungs- und Transformationsräume zu erweitern?»

Mitwirkung: Der Austausch über praktische Erfahrungen und das gegenseitige Lernen werden dieses Jahr im Vordergrund stehen. Anhand von Leitfragen beleuchten wir den Umgang mit impliziten und expliziten Zukunftsbildern in transdisziplinären Prozessen. Alle sind eingeladen ein Poster zur eigenen Arbeit auszuarbeiten. Wir informieren bald über das Format. Updates regelmässig hier

«Développer et réfléchir à des visions d’avenir - Comment la recherche TD peut-elle aider à élargir les espaces d’imagination et de transformation de la société?»

Participation: L’échange d?expériences pratiques et l’apprentissage mutuel seront au premier plan cette année. A l’aide de questions-clés, nous mettrons en lumière le traitement des visions d’avenir implicites et explicites dans les processus transdisciplinaires. Chacun·e est invité·e à élaborer un poster sur son propre travail. Nous informerons bientôt sur le format. Mises à jour régulières ici

«Hochschulen und die Agenda 2030: Welche Rolle spielen soziale Herausforderungen, der Dialog mit dem Umfeld und das Engagement der Studierenden?» Das nun fertig gestellte Programm des Sustainable University Days 2022 in Mendrisio lädt dazu ein, dieser Fragestellung nachzugehen. Im Mittelpunkt des Programms steht eine Diskussionsrunde mit Akteuren aus der akademischen und der studentischen Welt. Mehr Informationen

«Les hautes écoles et l'Agenda 2030 : quel rôle jouent les défis sociaux, le dialogue avec le territoire et l'engagement étudiant ?» Le programme du Sustainable University Day 2022 à Mendrisio, désormais prêt, invite à explorer ce questionnement. Au cœur du programme, se tiendra une discussion avec des acteurs et actrices du monde académique et étudiant. Plus d'informations

«Higher education institutions and the Agenda 2030: What role do social challenges, dialogue with the territory and student engagement play?» The programme of the Sustainable University Day 2022 in Mendrisio, which has now been finalized, invites you to explore this question. The programme will focus on a roundtable discussion with actors from the academic and student world. More information

News from the community

The Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center finished 11 years of successful cooperation with the Mercator Foundation Switzerland. During that time inputs for policymaking in biodiversity, land use and agriculture, climate change in the alpine areas got generated. Transdisciplinarity has played a vital role. Outcomes have been summarized in a blog post. 

The Via Alpina, the transalpine long-distance hiking trail, is getting a makeover in 2022. The Via Alpina website will be developed into a modern information and networking platform in five languages, where all interested parties can find out and exchange information about hiking conditions, mountain huts and route guidance. CIPRA is launching a crowdfunding campaign to implement these plans. More information

The tdAcademy is a research and community platform for transdisciplinarity. As a project, research on central topics of transdisciplinary research is conducted and the joint production of knowledge strengthened. With their website tdAcademy supports the direct exchange of researchers through new community offers and information on events and projects. The international community is actively involved in the project through a group of supporting partner institutions as well as a guest and fellow program. tdAcademy webpage 

In Workshops und Programmen können Studierende sich mit Themen wie Fundraising, Social Media, Projektmanagement und Dialog mit Hochschulen auseinandersetzen. Den krönenden Abschluss bildet der nationale Networking-Event im schönen Tessin (im Rahmen des Sustainable University Day 2022). Die Angebote sind für alle Studierenden der Schweizer Hochschulen offen und kostenlos zugänglich.

Africa has always been a site of medical innovation but for too long this has not been adequately acknowledged and examined. This interdisciplinary five-week Massive Open Online Course was created by the team members of the Sinergia Project „African Contributions to Global Health“. The course offers a unique Africanist perspective and insights into different discipllines. Learners acquaint themselves with various tools, methodoologies and theories. Thereby learners familiarise themselves with innovations that benefit public health not only in Africa but in other parts of the world as well as globally. The course started 28 of February 2022 and will be mentored until 1 April 2022. Access to course

Helpful overview of values pluralism, plus strategies for managing problematic diversity in values in teams is presented by Bethany Laursen, Steve Crowley and Chad Gonnerman in their blog post. Problematic value pluralism undermines norms that govern projects & leads to missing or flawed guidance of actions in right ways with right outcomes. Identify whether values directly conflict or lead to conflicting actions or violate moral standards. What strategies & tools have you found to be effective? Go to blog

Calls

Mountain Research and Development is looking for papers that systematically assess experiences of how digitalization supports transformative change in mountains. Analyses of how digitalization changes mountain societies, affects spatial and socioeconomic interrelations, or helps address gaps in knowledge about mountain societies and environments are also welcome, as are reviews of existing knowledge, practices, or policies related to digitalization. Full papers are due by 1 July 2022. More information

The new Solution-oriented Research for Development (SOR4D) programme has been launched. New insights and innovative approaches are needed to reduce poverty and to implement the 2030 Agenda in developing countries. Joint efforts by international transdisciplinary research partnerships can make a difference.

Deadline: 2 May 2022 - More information

Building on the recent open access publication in German language, the new book will bring together international expert teams to show the broad variety of transdisciplinary education formats and their societal implications. The handbook is scheduled for open access publication in 2023. 

Deadline: 30 April 2022 -  More information

The Future of the Earth - a performance-based symposium -  is looking for researchers and practictioners from different climatic zones (especially from sub-Saharan Africa and polar regions) to contribute to a performative and transdisciplinary „pre-enactment“ of climate scenarios in June 2022 bringing together science and the performing arts. The venue takes place in Basel from 15 - 18 June 2022 - More information

Die Digitalisierung mit ihren vielfältigen Ebenen wirkt sich als umfassender Transformationsprozess in der Gesellschaft aus und greift in alle Lebensbereiche ein. Dieser Wechsel in die virtuelle Welt wirft vielfältige Fragen für Gesellschaft, Demokratie und Staat auf. Diese werden vom  14.-16. November 2022 an der der 10. NTA-Tagung diskutiert.

Deadline: 18. April 2022 - Mehr Informationen

The mLAB, located at the Institute of Geography at the University of Bern, is pleased to announce its third call for residencies in the form of transdisciplinary research collaborations between academia, research, (digital) media, and art. Related to the theme ON UN/HEALTHY GROUNDS, applicants collaborate with researchers at the institute to develop new transdisciplinary perspectives.

Deadline: 14 April 2022 - More information

In 2022, the theme of the 44th AIS Annual Conference is "Wicked Problems and Interdisciplinarity: Sustainability, Resilience, and Designing the Future". An international array of scholars, students, and community experts are invited to address complex issues. Proposals in a variety of collaborative formats are welcomed.

Deadline: 1 April 2022 - More information

The programme Leading Integrated Research for Agenda 2030 in Africa (LIRA) sought to increase the production of high-quality, integrated (inter- and transdisciplinary), solutions-oriented research on sustainable development. LIRA was concluded in December 2021 and the ISC is now seeking expressions of interest to carry out an independent final evaluation of the programme between March and October 2022.

Deadline: 22 March 2022 - More information