In depth case presentations of transdisciplinary research projects

1. Use of analytic methods from natural sciences and engineering

Experimentation in the context of a socio-technical living lab

Electricity from solar concentrating collectors

• Core analytical tool: building of an experimental real-world prototype (“living lab”)
• Core social partners: local companies, public officials and citizens
• References:
  • Di Bono, S., Filippo Paredes, & Fabio Maria Montagnino. (2018). Solar Living Lab: implementing sustainable experimentation process, responsible innovation and community engagement in a solar energy research facility.
  • Montenon, F. P., Giaconia, A., Fylaktos, N., Di Bono, S., Papanicolas, C. N., & Montagnino, F. M. (2016). Solar multi-generation in the Mediterranean area, the experience of the STS-MED project.  EuroSun 2016.

Flood management through introducing urban green

• Core analytical tool: flood resistance analysis of a real-world green infrastructure (“living lab”)
• Core social partners: public officials from the city of Tampere, Finland
• Reference:
  • website: Urban Nature Labs (Unalab)

Measurements and observations in real-world situations for understanding coupled natural and social systems

Biodiversity preservation in mountain area, Piedmont, Italy

• Core analytical tool: vegetation analysis and soil sample measurements
• Core social partners: citizens, nature park officials
• Reference:
  • Höchtl, F., Lehringer, S., & Konold, W. (2006). Pure theory or useful tool?  Experiences with transdisciplinarity in the Piedmont Alps. Evironmental Science & Policy, 9(4), 322-329.

Dynamic equations modelling of real-world situations for understanding coupled natural and social systems

Material flows (energy, water, materials) analysis of housing in Vaud and Zurich, Switzerland

• Core analytical tool < agent based modelling
• Core social partners < housing cooperatives, insurance company, public officials
• References:
  • Pagani, A., Laurenti, R., Binder, C.R.. Sustainability Assessment of the Housing System: Exploring the Interplay between the Material and the Social Systems. In Cl. R. Binder et al. (eds.). Sustainability Assessments of Urban Systems. Cambridge University Press.
  • website: Infoscience EPFL scientific publications

Sustainable self-sufficient energy production and use in two Austrian Energy Regions

• Core analytical tool: dynamic equations modelling
• Core social partners: public officials from the energy region Weiz-Gleisdorf
• Reference:
  • Binder, Cl. R. 2014.  TERIM: Transition Dynamics in Energy Regions : an Integrated Model for Sustainable Policies. Final Project Report, 29 June 2014.

Multi-criteria assessment of bio-physical features for understanding coupled natural and social systems

Multi-criteria assessment of renewable energy options in Austria

• Core analytical tool: multi-criteria assessment
• Core social partners: policy makers
• Reference:
  • Madlener, R., Kowalski, K., & Stagl, S. (2007). New ways for the integrated appraisal of national energy scenarios: The case of renewable energy use in Austria. Energy Policy, 35(12), 6060-6074.

Socio-ecological services from increasing urban green in Gothenburg

• Core analytical tool: measurement of biophysical indicators of urban green, survey on perception of values of various socio-ecological services from urban green
• Core social partners: urban planners, citizens
• Reference:
  • Andersson-Sköld, Y., Klingberg, J., Gunnarsson, B., Cullinane, K., Gustafsson, I., Hedblom, M., … & Thorsson, P. (2018). A framework for assessing urban greenery’s effects and valuing its ecosystem services. Journal of Environmental Management, 205, 274-285.

2. Use of analytic methods from biomedical research

Epidemiological research

Obesity prevention in North Karelia, Finland

• Core analytical tool: medical examinations coupled with epidemiological survey
• Core social partners: health prevention organisations, health professionals
• Reference:
  • Puska, Vartiainen, Laatikainen, Jousilahti, Paavola (eds). 2009. The North Karelia Project: From North Karelia to National Action. Helsinki: National Institute for Health and Welfare (open access).

Asthma incidence in Brooklyn (New-York State), United States

• Core analytical tool: community health survey
• Core social partners: local community health organisation
• Reference:
  • Corburn, J. 2003. Bringing Local Knowledge Into Environmental Decision Making: Improving Urban Planning for Communites at Risk. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 22(4):420-433
    

3. Use of analytic methods from human behavioural and social sciences

Quasi-experimental design

Well-being of immigrants in Albuquerque, United States

• Core analytical tool: social interventions and analysis of data from the interventions
• Core social partners: non-profit organisations
• Reference:
  • Goodkind, J.R., Githinji, A., Isakson, B. 2010. Reducing Health Disparities Experienced by Refugees Resettled in Urban Areas: A Community-Based Transdisciplinary Intervention Model. In Kirst, M. et al. (Eds.). (2010). Converging disciplines: A transdisciplinary research approach to urban health problems. Springer Science & Business Media, pp.41-55.

Close-ended survey questionnaires

Health and well-being of homeless people in Toronto, Canada

• Core analytical tool: survey conducted by peer individuals from the homeless community
• Core social partners: non-profit organisations for the homeless
• Reference:
  • Khandor, E., Mason, K. 2010. The Street Health Report 2007: Community-Based Research for Social Change. In Kirst, M. et al. (Eds.). (2010). Converging disciplines: A transdisciplinary research approach to urban health problems. Springer Science & Business Media, pp. 57-68.

Open-ended survey questionnaires

Participant observation in real-world social interventions (“real-world laboratories”)

Re-designing 1950ies suburban dormitory towns

• Core analytical tool: social geographical mapping
• Core social partners: urban planners, citizens
• Reference:
  • Fortin, A., Carole Després and Geneviève Vachon. 2005. Design urbain en collaboration. Bilan et enjeux. Géocarrefour, vol. 80/2.

Climate change adaptation in mountain areas

• Core analytical tool: windows of agency analysis
• Core social partners: inhabitants of the mountain area
• Reference:
  • Lavorel, S., Colloff, M. J., Locatelli, B., Gorddard, R., Prober, S. M., Gabillet, M., … & Peyrache-Gadeau, V. (2019). Mustering the power of ecosystems for adaptation to climate change. Environmental Science & Policy, 92: 87-97.

Re-designing an urban square to deal excessive heat during heat waves

• Core analytical tool: social geographical mapping (adapting David Lynch)
• Core social partners: citizens
• References
  • Foshag, K., Aeschbach, N., Höfle, B., Winkler, R., Siegmund, A., & Aeschbach, W. (2020). Viability of public spaces in cities under increasing heat: A transdisciplinary approach. Sustainable Cities and Society, 59: 102215.

Sustainable mobility in Stuttgart, Germany

• Core analytical tool: real-world laboratory: social interventions and triangulation of observational data from the interventions
• Core social partners: citizens and non-profit organisations
• References:
  • Knorr, Ch., Heydkamp, C. Denkanstösse für alternative mobilitätsressourcen der babyboomer. Synthesebericht. Reallabor für nachhaltige mobilitätskultur. Future City Lab. Universität Stuttgart.
  • Website: Reallabor für nachhaltige mobilitätskultur

Analytic methods from legal research

Implementation of the regime on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources

• Core analytical tool: legal analysis of contracts
• Core social partners: managers of microbial culture collections
• References
  • Dijkshoorn, L., De Vos, P., and Dedeurwaerdere, T., 2010, Understanding patterns of use and scientific opportunities in the emerging global microbial commons, Research in Microbiology 161(6): 407-413.
  • Dedeurwaerdere, T., 2010, Global microbial commons: institutional challenges for the global exchange and distribution of microorganisms in the life sciences, Research in Microbiology. 161(6): 414-421.

Equity in access to healthy housing infrastructure and neighbourhoods

• Core analytical tool: legal analysis of housing policies, effectiveness analysis of various legal tools
• Core social partners: public officials and non-profit advocacy for fair housing policies
• References
  • Website: Temple University. Center for Public Health Law Research

4. Use of analytic methods from cultural sciences

Literary analysis

Use of creative works to promote nature protection

• Core analytical tool: literary analysis
• Core social partners: Contemporary writers
• References:
  
  • Website: Land Lines project
  • Higgins, D., Somervell, T., & Clark, N. (2020). Introduction: Environmental Humanities Approaches to Climate Change. Humanities 9(3), 94 (open access)

Nuclear colonisation of Asia-Pacif islands (orchid island etc.)

• Core analytical tool: literary analysis
• Core social partners: natural scientists and indigeneous writers
• References
  • Wendt’s, A., & Rapongan’s, S. (2017). Radiation ecologies, resistance and survivance on Pacific Islands. In: Adamson J. and Davis, M. (eds.). Humanities for the Environment: Integrating knowledge,  forging new constellations of practice. Routledge (chater 11).

Creation of a nature park in the Northern Black Forest, Germany

• Core analytical tool < historical analysis
• Core social partners: natural park managers
  
• References
  • Websit: Wissendialog Nordschwarzwald
  • Rhodius, R., Bachinger, M., Koch, B. (eds.). 2020. Wildnis, Wald, Mensch. Forschungsbeiträge sur Entwicklung einder Nationalparkregion am Beispiel des Schwarzwalds. Oekom Verlag (chapter 6).

Methodological overviews of knowledge integration tools

Use of analytic tools from the natural sciences and engineering

Design thinking for developping nature based solutions

• DeLosRíos-White, M. I., Roebeling, P., Valente, S., & Vaittinen, I. (2020). Mapping the life cycle co-creation process of nature-based solutions for urban climate change adaptation. Ressources 9(4):39

Use of analytic tools from bio-medical research

Community health epidemiology

• Puska, P., Salonen, J. T., Tuomilehto, J., Nissinen, A., & Kottke, T. E. (1983). Evaluating community-based preventive cardiovascular programs: Problems and experiences from the North Karelia Project. Journal of community health, 9(1), 49-64.

Use of analytic tools from the human behavioural and social sciences

Participatory multi-criteria analysis

• Andersson-Sköld, Y., Klingberg, J., Gunnarsson, B., Cullinane, K., Gustafsson, I., Hedblom, M., … & Thorsson, P. (2018). A framework for assessing urban greenery’s effects and valuing its ecosystem services. Journal of Environmental Management, 205, 274-285.

Combining scenarios and participatory multi-criteria analysis

• Kowalski, K., Stagl, S., Madlener, R., & Omann, I. (2009). Sustainable energy futures: Methodological challenges in combining scenarios and participatory multi-criteria analysis. European Journal of Operational Research, 197(3), 1063-1074.

Real-world Laboratories

• Beecroft, R., Trenks, H., Rhodius, R., Benighaus, C., & Parodi, O. (2018). Reallabore als Rahmen transformativer und transdisziplinärer Forschung: Ziele und Designprinzipien. In Antonietta Di Giulio and Rico Defila, Transdisziplinär und transformativ forschen. Springer VS, Wiesb, pp. 75-100.

Empirical turn in legal scholarship

• Shaffer, G., & Ginsburg, T. (2012). The empirical turn in international legal scholarship. American Journal of International Law, 106(1), 1-46.

Use of analytic tools from the cultural sciences

Environmental humanities

• Kueffer, C., Thelen Lässer, K., & Hall, M. (2017). Applying the environmental humanities: Ten steps for action and implementation. GAIA, January 2017.