Handbook of Transdisciplinary Research (PDF)

Transdisciplinary research (TR) is an emerging field of research in the knowledge society. It relates science and policy in addressing issues such as:

• global and local environmental concerns








• migration








• new technologies








• public health








• socio-cultural change

This handbook provides, for the first time, a structured overview of the manifold experiences gained in these fields. Twenty-one projects from all over the world present their research approaches, structured along the three phases of a TR project:

• problem structuring








• problem investigation








• bringing results to fruition

Referring to these projects, cross-cutting challenges of TR are discussed, such as:

• integration








• participation








• values and uncertainties








• learning from case studies








• management








• education

A systematic positioning of transdisciplinary research in the development of sciences and humanities, and 15 propositions for enhancing transdisciplinary research situate the contributions in a larger, systematised context. The handbook gives researchers and students an overview of the state of the art in transdisciplinary research.

Audience

Written for students, researchers, and project managers who are planning or are involved in problem-driven, transdisciplinary projects, or are working on the interface of science, society and politics.