Transdisciplinarity For Sustainability

I am pleased to welcome the first book in the Routledge International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS) series in sustainable development research. ISDRS is a global network of sustainable development professionals, linking researchers in academia and implementation practice from all continents to each other. Primarily through our annual conferences, members share their research experiences and practices, exchange ideas and form collaborations. Fittingly, this inaugural book is a product of discussions at recent ISDRS conferences including in Messina (2018) and Nanjing (2019). Transdisciplinary research, as the book explains, has been understood in different ways by researchers in different disciplines, different countries and across time. A significant characteristic, however, is a deep collaboration beyond academia in a shared experience of defining and conducting research. This is a markedly different approach from traditional research, breaking down the ‘us’ and ‘them’ relationship between those inside the bounds of academia (the researchers) and those outside, who might be the audience, or perhaps subjects of research but traditionally not participants. The importance of breaking through that division to build shared understandings of complex social issues has been recognized not only by researchers, but also policy makers and funding bodies. This relatively recent awareness has helped to bring new interest in the field of transdisciplinary research, in which some of the ISDRS community, including the editors of this book, are highly experienced. These recent discussions, have brought to light the need for a volume such as this to provide a foundation in transdisciplinary research which is relevant to researchers from a range of disciplines. This book will provide an invaluable guide to and insight into the theoretical and practical issues in carrying out research with partners beyond the walls of research institutions, not only for new and experienced researchers, but also for a broad audience.

Prof.Dr. Pauline Deutz

President, International Sustainable Development Research Society

Department Geography, Geology and Environment

University of Hull, UK

Endorsement

I am pleased to welcome the first book in the Routledge International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS) series in sustainable development research. ISDRS is a global network of sustainable development professionals, linking researchers in academia and implementation practice from all continents to each other. Primarily through our annual conferences, members share their research experiences and practices, exchange ideas and form collaborations. Fittingly, this inaugural book is a product of discussions at recent ISDRS conferences including in Messina (2018) and Nanjing (2019). Transdisciplinary research, as the book explains, has been understood in different ways by researchers in different disciplines, different countries and across time. A significant characteristic, however, is a deep collaboration beyond academia in a shared experience of defining and conducting research. This is a markedly different approach from traditional research, breaking down the ‘us’ and ‘them’ relationship between those inside the bounds of academia (the researchers) and those outside, who might be the audience, or perhaps subjects of research but traditionally not participants. The importance of breaking through that division to build shared understandings of complex social issues has been recognized not only by researchers, but also policy makers and funding bodies. This relatively recent awareness has helped to bring new interest in the field of transdisciplinary research, in which some of the ISDRS community, including the editors of this book, are highly experienced. These recent discussions, have brought to light the need for a volume such as this to provide a foundation in transdisciplinary research which is relevant to researchers from a range of disciplines. This book will provide an invaluable guide to and insight into the theoretical and practical issues in carrying out research with partners beyond the walls of research institutions, not only for new and experienced researchers, but also for a broad audience.

Prof.Dr. Pauline Deutz

President, International Sustainable Development Research Society

Department Geography, Geology and Environment

University of Hull, UK