transdisciplinarity for social learning? the contribution of the german socio-ecological research...
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Transdisciplinarity for social learning? The contribution of the German socio-ecological research initiative to sustainability governance.
Presented by: Matai Blacklock
Authors: Dr. Fred Luks and Bernd Siebenhuner
Published in Ecological Economics (Jan, 2007)
Education Hamburg University of Economics and Policy University of Hawaii at Manoa
U.S. Based Research posts Professorship
at the Hamburger Fern-Hochschule University of Hanburg
Often lectured in Germany and the U.S. Numerous publications
Focus of Career sustainable development | ecological
economics growth and the environment the history of economic ideas corporate social responsibility sustainability communications
DR. Frank Luks
Leader of an interdisciplinary research project at the Austrian Institute for Sustainable Development in Vienna
Currently
Education PH.D. from Martin-Luther University Halle-
Wittenberg (2000) Master’s degrees in Economics (1994) Free
University Berlin Master’s in Political Science (1995) Free University
Berlin
Research at the Global Environmental Assessment Project at John F.
Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Currently Deputy Project leader of the Global Governance
Project at the Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) at the Global Change and
Social Systems Department
Vice-president for Graduate Education and Quality Management at the Carl von Ossietzky
University in Oldenburg
DR. Bernd Seibenhuner
The authors rely heavily upon knowledge from other academics in the field.
The authors also draw upon their own personal experiences
Participant observation : occurred while they were actively involved in the
Socio-Ecological Research Program in Germany.
Research Methods
The role of science for social learning ( in the context of sustainable development )
5 specific challenges associated with modern scientific activities
The German Socio-Ecological Research Initiative
The relation between socio-ecological research, ecological economics and sustainable development.
Main Topics
• Ecological Economics:• the science and management of sustainable
development• Adequate governance can promote sustainable
development• connection between the economy, society and the natural environment. Must consider many societal actors
Key Terms & Theories
• Novel Perspectives on Science• New View: the political systems depend on
collaboration with other societal systems. • Supports sustainable development
• Old View: science is seen as an advisor of policy makers and both spheres need to be rigorously separated
Key Terms & Theories
Complexities and uncertainties require this new perspective
New multidimensional problems: poverty eradication, safeguarding ecosystem and
sustainable economic development…
Can cope with changing governance systems
Promotes social learning
Novel Perspectives on Science
Social Learning: A change in the norms of a society
Not based on individual learning A process based on acquiring new
knowledge Requires an innovative scientific approach
Results in practical solutions to sustainability challenges
Key Terms & Theories
Mode 2 Science
The Co-production of Knowledge
Sustainability Science
Post-normal Science
Changing Roles in Science
Coined by Michael Gibbons Novel way of approaching science Challenges contain many uncertainties and
complexities Sharing must occur across traditional
scientific boundaries Allows for the generation of Insightful knowledge
Mode-2 Science
Involves multiple societal actors collaborating
Very effective at improving the policy making process
Science and politics are intermingled
Four key areas of co-production
Co-Production of Knowledge
Engineer’s identities are formed during knowledge production.
Scientist interaction with society develops beneficial institutions.
Science and society mutually assign meaning to topics
Historical, political and cultural influences are formed by scientific concepts and theories
Four Key Areas of Co-Production
Knowledge about sustainable development is crucial Can create sustainability related policies and incentives Leads to the improvement of ecosystems
Goal oriented sustainable development topics Reinforce the need for interaction between science and
society Provokes the need for normative scientific research
Normative: evokes key social norms which aim to promote specific goals
Sustainability Science
Aims to increase the problem solving ability of science “soft” scientific inputs vs. “hard’ value decisions Think climate change issues
New methodologies must aim to avert dangerous outcomes of sustainability
problems
New forms of communication with non-scientific actors
Post-Normal Science
Created in 1999 by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research.
Part of the national sustainability strategy of Germany.
Incorporates the changing roles of science into research design.
Based upon Transdisciplinarity: The inclusion of non-scientific actors into the processes of
knowledge generation.
The German Socio-Ecological Research Program
Projects clustered by topics Networks of supply and disposal systems
Sustainable food and agriculture systems
Urban and regional development
Others The evaluation of transdisciplinary research
The German Socio-Ecological Research Program
Five Main Challenges: Transdisciplinarity
Policy integration
Normativity
Learning approaches to governance
International dimension
The relationship between the S.E.R.P and 5 main challenges related to
Sustainability
Described as inclusion of non-scientific actors into the processes of knowledge generation.
Demonstrated by the Socio-Ecological Research Program
Room for improvement
Transdisciplinarity
Goal: For collaborative scientific and societal actors to
influence the policy making process.
The S.E.R.P fell victim to this challenge Collaborative actor groups were from too limited of a
region
S.E.R.P could be improved if a broader range of societal actors were chosen.
Active Policy Integration
Goal: Develop widespread social norms based on
scientific knowledge that foster sustainable development
The S.E.R.P goal was to develop normative knowledge
Researchers attempted to, however it is quite hard
Good communication skills are needed
Normativity
The S.E.R.P originated as a learning endeavor
Proponents of S.E.R.P acknowledge its need to adapt Institutions established to help Strategic Advisory Board | External Review
Committee
Most successful aspect of the S.E.R.P program
Learning
International research projects result in more significant findings. Due to the scope of the knowledge generated
The S.E.R.P was not able to use an international approach Seen as a major flaw in the program by the authors
Room for improvement and input from other nations Difficult to achieve due to Federal German funding
source
International Approach
Conventional science methods need to be abandoned and novel ones adapted
The S.E.R.P had its pros and cons
Socio-ecological research shares the same intrinsic values as ecological economics
Conclusion