Transdisciplinary research for complex wicked challenges
By Prof Coleen Vogel
Typically, researchers, specialists and academics usually work on problems that are framed by funders, have ‘linear’ pathways to research framing, the details of which are usually decided without much consultation with ‘subjects’ of the study. When dealing with more complex, wicked challenges (e.g. climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] challenges, poverty, food security etc.), however, there is acknowledgement that an approach of something MORE than ‘science’, in its traditional framing, may be needed. Notions of science FOR policy for example is now being challenged rather strongly with several scholars calling for approaches that enable science to work more WITH society and WITH policy. Various types of knowledge – e.g. scientific and ‘formal’ knowledge, local and indigenous knowledge, and tacit knowledge can provide rich sources of information when trying to tackle complex problems.
To tackle wicked challenges researchers and specialists can find added sources of knowledge by working together with a variety of knowledge holders to co-create solutions. Transdisciplinary research enables the assembling of a range of actors and various stakeholders and actors (not only those that have a clear stakeholding). The engagement is thus not limited just to academics, researchers or specialists. By spending time at the very outset of the research effort and by assembling a team that together spends time on understanding ‘matters of concern’ or ‘hotspot issues’, and then time spent on crafting the issue to be investigated are all rich parts of TDR and of the research journey.
One challenge with TDR is that there is no ‘one’ approach of how such engagements should be created. The process of engagement and problem setting matters with often this taking up more time than the design of the details of the ‘experiment’. Often the process can be very emergent and not predefined. There are also a variety of interpretations of TDR ranging from those holding a more philosophical view to those with a more pragmatic view. Some have argued that TDR is just another version of Action Research.
The ‘playing field is also never even’ and power imbalances can frustrate TD approaches. TDR is often difficult to engage in because of power differentials in knowledge held by various actors. We have all heard the saying “knowledge is power”. Empowered people have the capacity to enable progressive change and become active agents of change. For me, TD is not just about involving stakeholders and ‘transmitting knowledge’ but also about co-understanding and co-crafting the problem needed to be tackled, the dimensions of the problem and issue requiring attention and who should be involved in addressing the research.
The GCI is currently working on an Adaptation Framework for the City of Johannesburg where we have explicitly applied TDR approaches. The Environment and Infrastructure Service Department (EISD) in the City and GCI entered into an agreement that enabled a joint framing of key issues to be investigated in development of an adaptation framework for climate variability and change for the City.
The process takes time. Once agreement and a Terms of Reference have been jointly agreed on then research and action can proceed. Setting of the scene in the Johannesburg case, for example, it took several months and the research journey has been a jointly implemented between the City officials and researchers from GCI.
Such processes, as indicated above, are not without their challenges e.g. time required to build relationships, understanding changing socio-economic and political contexts and perspectives, but the opportunities gained are a shared understanding and a co-creation of a process and deliverable that is of use to both parties.
The things I have learned thus far, is that doing TD requires patience and a willingness to attempt to understand differing viewpoints. It is not a case of science trumping all other knowledge domains.
I do believe that TDR is an interesting domain for consideration in certain areas of research – research related to complex issues. In the research arena, grants are key for pursuing projects. More and more funders are, however, also encouraging interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary approaches.
TDR is a complex research approach as hinted at above. At GCI we are committed to driving a TDR agenda where relevant. In this vein we have started a TDR reading group where we invite other Wits scholars and those from ‘outside the walls of the University’ to share their ideas on research relating to TD approaches.
I have also had the privilege to be active in hosting workshops to develop young scholars in TD initiated through the ISSC (International Social Sciences Council) e.g. in Kenya with young African scholars. This has been really exciting to see young scholars enthusiastically engaging with TDR.
Recently I gave a keynote address on transdisciplinarity at the Afromontane Seminar (27-28 June 2017) meeting held in Qwa Qwa, Free State Campus. The Seminar was about how we as scientists and non-scientists are engaging when trying to address the myriad of challenges that one can see in environments such as those in the Qwa-Qwa area and beyond. What are some of the challenges we are facing and how can we develop new ways of thinking to enhance our research outcomes for safe and sustainable transitions into the future? My talk focused on experiences in the transdisciplinary space, what to try and do, how to try and what types of challenges and opportunities exist. The Vice Chancellor of the Free State indicated that his senior executive team is supporting such efforts, encouraging support for local scholars in the area.
Additionally, I was recently invited to give a plenary address at the 16th Southern African Marine Sciences Symposium SAMMS (hosted by NMMU, CMR and SANCOR) held at the Boardwalk Convention Centre, Port Elizabeth in South Africa. My topic was entitled “Making ‘shared’ meaning of environmental change: challenges and opportunities”.
In both of the presentations given, I outlined TDR and highlighted how this approach can be used for addressing wicked challenges. I further engaged the audience on explanations of Mode 1 and Mode 2 science approaches. Mode 1, where science follows a more ‘linear’ approach following hypothesis development, methods, testing and application usually undertaken in a singular, disciplinary mode to that of Mode 2 where at the very outset, the framing and design of the problem to be investigated is co-designed and co-managed usually with multi-disciplinary and/or transdisciplinary teams i.e. actors from outside academia. The responses by the marine scientists were very encouraging as they try and grapple with ocean issues including ocean pollution, coastal zone land use management, geopolitics of the ocean, ocean ‘grabbing’ etc.
In September I will also attend an international conference on TD research in Germany where I will share our work in the City of Johannesburg and participate in the invited opening panel where we will debate TD, inter-cultural contexts and the role of TD in transformation issues.
So is TDR an approach we should be using? I believe it is, particularly for complex, wicked challenges. For us to make progress we need to engage with a range of knowledge holders, agents and brokers. But is TDR the only viable approach? No, there will always be certain research areas that require more traditional, mono-disciplinary approaches. As researchers, we need to try and understand and be flexible to the different approaches required (e.g. mono, multi-, inter and transdisciplinary approaches).
Academic institutions also need to start looking at ways of how to prepare our young academics and learn from their efforts in a variety of research approaches and challenges that we face as institutions of higher learning.
Academic institutions also need to start looking at ways of how to prepare our young academics and learn from their efforts in a variety of research approaches and challenges that we face as institutions of higher learning. The demand from the ‘next generation of scholars’ is growing and we should be positioning ourselves to work WITH our scholars at Wits to collectively improve our understanding of our very complex environment.