Handbook of Transdisciplinary Research [Paperback]

Transdisciplinary Research (TR) is an emerging field in the knowledge society for relating science and policy in addressing issues such as new technologies, migration, and public health. This handbook provides a structured overview of the manifold experiences gained in these fields. In the first part, 21 projects from all over the world present their research approaches. In the second part, cross-cutting challenges of TR are discussed in reference to the same projects.

In a world characterised by rapid change, uncertainty and increasing interconnectedness there is a growing need for science to contribute to the solution of persistent, complex problems. These problems include not only some of the now broadly known environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, but also related issues such as poverty, security and governance. For all of these problems, progress in nding and implementing solutions has been very slow. The increase in availability of scienti c knowledge has not been re ected in decisive action. It is this mismatch between knowledge and action that lies behind the need for a Handbook of Transdisciplinary Research. As the editors point out in their introduction, a transdisciplinary orientation in research, education and institutions aims to overcome the disconnection between knowledge production, on the one hand, and the demand for knowledge to contribute to the solution of societal pr- lems, on the other hand. This is achieved through transdisciplinary approaches in which researchers from a wide range of disciplines work together with sta- holders. Internationally the term transdisciplinary research is de ned in diff- ent ways, ranging from a diffuse conceptual term located above individual dis- plines, to any research that involves stakeholders. The Handbook contributes to a clari cation of both the concept and the term, and shows that the uniqueness of the approach lies in the partnership between members of differló˜