Transdisciplinary research from a social-ecological point of view

Transcription

1 Transdisciplinary research from a social-ecological point of view Diana Hummel Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) 3rd International Conference on Urban Ecology Shrinking Cities - Ecological Consequences and Challenges for Urban Development Humboldt-University, Berlin, 15/16 September 2006

2 outline demography, urbanization and city shrinking social ecology as problem related science of societal relations to nature (SRN) transdisciplinary approach of ISOE example: junior research group demographic trends, needs & supply systems (demons) 2

3 shrinking cities & urban ecology changing settlement & land use patterns worldwide heterogeneous population dynamics & globalization processes spacio-temporal impacts urban shrinking accompanied by urban growth low-income countries face greater difficulties more than half of world population lives in urban settlements eroding distinction between urban and rural changing understandings, ideas & perceptions of city 3

4 urban ecology: a genuine transdisciplinary subject 1. urban decline (& urban growth) as feature of transformations of societal relations with nature 2. problems are related and thus cannot be assigned to one single discipline 3. the affected : landscape, natural environment, habitats, buildings, infrastructure, dwellers, companies, administration etc. ecological consequences and challenges for urban development always include social impacts objective sustainability of urban futures requires robust science, considering the natural & the social normative, analytical & operational issues 4

5 transdisciplinarity...should at least fulfil the following conditions: (1) problems stem from life world. Issues are conjointly formulated and structured with stakeholders and affected people. (2) Formation of teams (disciplinary compounds)...(3) research work in effect is conducted by interactions between scholars and practice; (4) results are broadly disseminated to the public (Häberli/ Grossenbacher-Mansuy 1998: 200, own translation) The core idea of transdisciplinarity is different academic disciplines working jointly with practioners to solve a real-world problem. It can be applied in a great variety of fields (Klein et al. 2001) Transdisciplinary research focuses on the organisation of knowledge around complex heterogeneous domains, rather than the disciplines and subjects into which knowledge seems inevitably to become organised in academic settings, transcending the academic disciplinary structure (Bruce et al. 2004; see Pohl/ Hirsch Hadorn 2006) 5

6 knowledge forms system knowledge questions referring to genesis & possible developments of problems and its interpretations orientation knowledge questions referring to determination & justification of changes and desired goals & better practices transformation knowledge questions referring to technical, social, legal, cultural etc. action opportunities for change of existing/ desired practices (Pohl/ Hirsch Hadorn 2005) enhancing individual & societal agency 6

7 problem-orientation in social ecology (1) societal problems societal structures of problems societal problem transformations problem solving - second order problems science-dependent problem dynamics 7

8 problem orientation in social ecology (2) scientific problems translation: societal problem transformations into scientific problem transformations analysis of transformation processes under the aspects of reality, potentialtiy and normativity focus on integration problems 8

9 transdisciplinary research process life-world centered approach societal problems life-world actor specific constitution of research subject team formation administration industry alliances households politics (...) new knowledge results for societal practice strategies concepts policies prototypes Source: Becker, Egon/Thomas Jahn (Eds.) (2006): Soziale Ökologie Grundzüge einer Wissenschaft von den gesellschaftlichen Naturverhältnissen. Campus, Frankfurt/New York. Modified for 15 Sept. 06, Berlin 9

10 transdisciplinary research process science centered approach constitution of research subject team formation scientific knowledge contested knowledge/ ignorance lack of methods disciplinary specialization new connecting knowledge universities other research institutions industrial research (...) results for scientific practice methodological & theoretic innovation new research issues Source: Becker, Egon/Thomas Jahn (Eds.) (2006): Soziale Ökologie Grundzüge einer Wissenschaft von den gesellschaftlichen Naturverhältnissen. Campus, Frankfurt/New York. Modified for 15. Sept. Berlin 10

11 transdisciplinary methodology integrative approach societal problems life-world orientation actor-specific constitution of common research subject team formation scientific problems contested knowledge / ignorance lack of methods disciplinary specialization actor specific societal discourse administration industry enterprises private households politics (...) new connecting knowledge scientific discourse universities & other research institutions results for societal practice strategies concepts policies transdisciplinary Integration problem related interdisciplinary results for scientific practice theoretical & methodological innovation new research issues Source: Becker, Egon/Thomas Jahn (Hg.) (2006): Soziale Ökologie Grundzüge einer Wissenschaft von den gesellschaftlichen Naturverhältnissen. Campus, Frankfurt/New York. Modified for Berlin 15. September 06 11

12 conclusions for theoretical practice theoretical practice focuses on research process (context of discovery) has a heuristic function (development of hypothesis) seeks to generalize (overcoming disciplinary reductionism) has a regulative function (better results for practice, teaching) 12

13 societal relations to nature (I) The epistemic object of social ecology is societal relations to nature. Conceptually, they represent the dynamic relation patterns between the sphere of society and the sphere of nature. Societal relations to nature are materially and culturally-symbolic regulated. In processes of needs satisfaction basal societal relations to nature emerge. They manifest in everyday actions and are structured by gender relations and production structures. Jahn / Becker 2006: 489 (own transl.) 13

14 societal relations to nature (II) basic distinction of society & nature / mediation dynamic relation patterns between natural & societal sphere materially & culturally regulated and symbolized basal SRN are generated in processes of needs satisfaction (nutrition, mobility, housing, hygiene etc.) historically constituted and culturally specified scientifically discernible (importance of models & language) no real entities or marked-off fields of expericence, rather an abstraction of real contexts and conditions 14

15 analytical conclusion transdisciplinary research refers to societal & scientific problems analytical categories of ISOE approach needs gender every day life system regulation transformation 15

16 demographic trends, needs & supply systems (demons) junior research group (financed by bmbf/soef) co-operation between ISOE & Goethe-University Frankfurt/ Main duration: core team: 3 post-docs; 2 phd students 16

17 project goals contribute to a better, integrative understanding of interactions identifying dynamic dimensions that reinforce or weaken processes in order to determine regulatory failures of supply systems developing solutions for a more sustainable regulation of supply systems for water & food on a conceptual basis qualification of team members for inter- & transdisciplinary socialecological research 17

18 project characteristics interculturally comparing wide historic perspective model based focus: generation of system knowledge 18

19 general research subject Interactions among demographic changes & transformations of supply systems for water and food In which way is population dynamics relevant for critical deveolpments & tranformations of supply systems? Which role has population size, -distribution and -structure? How must supply systems be regulated to adapt adequately to demographic changes? 19

20 transdisciplinary research process in demons Source: Becker / Jahn

21 transdisciplinary approach sociology political science economics geography biology theory modelling concepts 21

22 interdisciplinary integration theory modelling concepts 22

23 multi-disciplinary knowledge generation biology theory modelling Dr. Christine Hertler biology: evolutionary models of relations among organisms, populations, and resources of hominids, their modes of living and habitats (South-East Asia) concepts 23

24 multi-disciplinary knowledge generation biology geography theory modelling Dr. Steffen Niemann geography: Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) & migration, population distribution & water transfer (Namibia) concepts 24

25 multi-disciplinary knowledge generation biology geography economics Alexandra Lux economics: demographic shrinking, institutional arrangements & water theory resource management (Germany) modelling concepts 25

26 multi-disciplinary knowledge generation biology geography economics political science Dr. Diana Hummel political science: Ressource conflicts, sector competion & governance in theory regions under conditions of population growth (Jordan Basin/ ME) modelling concepts 26

27 multi-disciplinary knowledge generation biology geography economics political science sociology Cedric Janowicz Sociology: Interactions of urbanization processes & theory transformations of food supply systems (Accra/ Ghana) modelling concepts 27

28 transdisciplinary integration Interdisciplinary problem analysis problem transformation modelling knowledge integration, -generation, - mediation interdisciplinary concepts re-contextualization of disciplinary concepts (e.g. population, resources) 28

29 interdisciplinary problem analysis translation of societal, life-world problems in research issues population dynamics systematically related to supply systems re-formulation as social-ecological problem problem transformation social-ecological understanding of population dynamics social-ecological understanding of supply systems interactions between both 29

30 functions of modelling integration: of knowledge & different disciplinary perspectives cognition: understanding of relations, contexts & interactions; determining relevant structures, factors & patterns communication: mediation of contexts/ results structuring: issues & questions in (disciplinary) sub-projects & case studies 30

31 supply systems as social-ecological systems Source: demons 31

32 social-ecological understanding of population dynamics heterogeneity & a-syncronal demographic developments combining qualitative & quantitative aspects interactions adaptivity 32

33 space as disciplinary & transdisciplinary category social-ecological point of view: perspective on spacial arrangements allows new insights into regulations of food supply systems in their interactions with urbanization processes space is nothing pre-existent, but structured & established by social actions and practice preconditions of an adequate social-ecological concept of space : processual: acting fabric of space in the frame of historic situated supply practice feed-backs of (changing) physico-material characteristics of space to societal practice have to be considered in order to realize structures & practices resp. practices and their structurations 33

34 example: dis-aggregation of general model in sub-project economics Source: demons 34

35 references Becker, E./ Jahn, Th. (Eds.) (2006): Soziale Ökologie. Grundzüge einer Wissenschaft von den gesellschaftlichen Naturverhältnissen. Frankfurt/ Main Bergmann, M. et al. (2005): Quality Criteria of Transdisciplinary Research. A Guide for the Formative Evaluation of Research Projects. Frankfurt/ Main Defila, R./ DiGiulio, A./ Schermann, M. (2006): Forschungsverbundmanagment. Handbuch für die Gestaltung inter- und transdisziplinärer Projekte. Zürich Hertler, C./ Hummel, D. (2005): Wechselbeziehungen zwischen Bevölkerungsdynamik und Versorgungssystemen - Einige Überlegungen zur Modellbildung. In: Hummel, D. et al. (Eds.): Bevölkerungsdynamik und Versorgungssysteme - Modelle für Wechselwirkungen. Frankfurt/ Main, Hummel, D./ Hertler, C./ Niemann, S./ Lux, A./ Janowicz, C. (2004): Supply Systems as Subjects of Social- Ecological Researc: Food and Water. Frankfurt a.m. (abstract in english) Jahn, Th. (2005): Soziale Ökologie, kognitive Integration und Transdisziplinarität. In: Technikfolgenabschätzung Theorie und Praxis, Vol. 14, Nr. 2, Jahn, Th./ Keil, F. (2004): Social-Ecological Research: A New Approach towards Generating, Integrationg and Transferring Knowledge for Sustainble Development. In: 1st European Networks Conference on Sustainability in Practice. Conference Reader. Berlin, Keiner, M./ Koll-Schretzenmayr, M./ Schmid, W.A. (2005): Managing Urban Futures. Sustainability and Urban Growth in Developing Countries. Hampshire/ Burlington Pohl, C./ Hirsch Hadorn, G. (2006): Gestaltungsprinzipien für die transdisziplinäre Forschung. Ein Beitrag des tdnet. München Serres, M. (1994): Atlas. Paris 35