The positive spin of covering-up failed transdisciplinary implementation Willi Haas and Barbara...

The positive spin of covering-up failed transdisciplinary implementation

Willi Haas and Barbara SmetschkaInstitute of Social Ecology, ViennaAlpen-Adria University Klagenfurt

Td-conference 2010: Implementation in Inter- and Transdisciplinary

Research, Practice and Teaching

Paper 8.3.

Haas/Smetschka | TD net conf Genf | 17.09.2010 | 2

Institute for Social Ecology, Vienna, SEC

Based in experimentally orientated faculty for interdisciplinary studies, appreciating processes and reflection

Master programme, human and social ecology, ID/TD teaching for 10 years

Society nature interactions at different scales, long term, different world regions

Thematic area Sustainability support: how to intervene into societal self-observation at different scales


Case study

Disaster destroys Nicobar islands (tsunami 2004)

Research focus: How can science help in promoting wise help and sustainable development? (translational project, funded by Austrian Science Foundation)

Aim: Promote projects which are feasible for local people, local and national government and researchers.


Please formulate a first research question!

What scientific discipline are you from?

What are the two other disciplines you will need the most?

Place yourself and the representatives of these disciplines vis a vis the research question and each other

What do you expect from each of them?

What can you offer and what are you interested in?

…

Give it a first try …

Societal actions, environ. pressures and ecological limits

Communication interface with Nicobarese

What development options based on Nicobarese needs and interests are possible given ecological limits, financial resources and social structures?

Development options and financial resourcesNeeds

Needs and interests

SocialAnthropologyHouse-

holds

Tribalcouncil

EducationalScience

Social and Cultural Ecology

DevelopmentStudies

InterestsCompatibility with social structures

Sociology


Excessive demands

Researcher Researcher with T-competence

Researcher with T-competenceworking in teams

Researcher with T-competenceworking in teamswith stakeholders

Researcher with multi-T-competence

From academia: expecting scientific excellence

From funding bodies: demanding overall success

From the field: expecting useful solutions

From within oneself: motivation to make a difference, while not jeopardizing ones career

Increasing from D to ID to TD research


Covering-up failed td implementation: strategies and their function

Bridging gaps between paragraphs independent in substance by smoothly phrased connections

One-person last-minute tour de force to wrap up td-projects by smart thoughts that point out single aspects from comprehensive but isolated parts

Smooth narratives covering different subjects but not based in disciplines (missing theory and methods)

The use of (scientific) bridging concepts by only cursorily touching disciplines or their subjects

Languageskills

One person show

Leaving science

Shallowbridging concepts

It doesn‘t help to point out failed implementation

It requires an approach that mitigates demands and helps in securing quality


Complexity: from reductionistic to holistic to dealing with complexity

Coping strategies based on reflection and (self-) observation may finally facilitate a genuine TD process

Bringing results to fruition needs backward planning: what needs to be achieved and what structures and processes are required has to be negotiated with all persons involved from the very beginning.

Learning: in order to teach TD-competencies it is necessary to steer learning processes by providing experience space and inspiring settings

Ecological, economic and social limitations

Communication interface with Nicobarese

Needs based optionsWhat development options based on Nicobarese needs and interests are possible given ecological limits, financial resources and social structures?

Development options and financial resourcesNeeds

Needs and interests

SocialAnthropologyHouse-

holds

Tribalcouncil

EducationalScience

DevelopmentStudies

InvolvementResearch question

Feeding back results

Societal actions, environ. pressures and ecological limits

Social and Cultural Ecology

Sociology

InterestsCompatibility with social structures


Project constellation

Is a method

based in Systemic Structural Constellations a group simulation procedure developed by Matthias Varga von Kibéd and Insa Sparrer

useful in therapy, consulting and coaching, mediation, and organizational development, as well as to promote creative processes

bringing representatives, locations and free elements into the constellation helps to add temporal and spatial aspects

in equidistance to scientific knowledge and life experience

treating and reaching all persons involved on equal terms

helping to create pictures of the project and foster crucial integration

giving the chance to design a process feasible and useful for all participants


To deal with complexity: from integration dogma to added value

Being aware of demands and quality dilemma (scientific excellence and/or useful solution)

Reflect and discuss shortcomings and feasible added value Experience in team constellations to enable awareness Find creative ways and use backward planning

Can they help to overcome the need to cover-up and to promote a transdisciplinary process?


TD-research: walkability of water

Thank you for your attention

The positive spin of covering-up failed transdisciplinary implementation Willi Haas and Barbara...

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