233044 SE How to do Inter- and Transdisciplinarity? (2024S)

Collaborations that stretch beyond the confines of single disciplines and/or include knowledge from different stakeholders or civil society have the potential to tackle big societal challenges in an increasingly complex world. Therefore, such practices have become evermore important within scientific research and knowledge production and have found their way into the academic landscape under various names such as inter- and transdisciplinarity, knowledge co-creation and integration, participatory research, stakeholder involvement, open (innovation in) science or citizen science. Yet, such collaborations also bear the potential of various challenges and difficulties uncommon to disciplinary knowledge production. For instance, implicit epistemic hierarchies can lead to the perception that some forms of knowledge are more legitimate than others, participants may feel exploitation of their knowledge or different modes of knowledge production and circulation could come into conflict. So how to tackle these challenges and facilitate co-production of knowledge on equal terms? In this seminar we will look at the historic and disciplinary development of participatory practices, how potential conflicts and challenges of such collaborations are intertwined with the contemporary academic system and what methods can be used to integrate various kinds of knowledge and expertise. Throughout the class, students will not only learn about the theory of inter- and transdisciplinarity but also have the opportunity to practically engage with various facilitation methods as well as design and conduct a small participatory research project. Thereby they will continuously receive feedback and support by the lecturers.