Literature about Inter- and Transdisciplinarity

In its td-info and on its homepage, td-net regularly informs about publications selected and recommended by the community. td-net also draws attention to its own publications.

Since 2012, td-net has been identifying important publications in the network once a year and aims to use this Tour d'Horizon to increase the citation and visibility of TD research, which is important in the academic world. In addition, we use the publication radar to monitor the development of international publication activity in the thematic area of interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity.

Please contact us if you are interested in participating in the annual survey of top publications: bibliography@transdisciplinarity.ch.

News from td-net and its activities

Forschung für gesellschaftliche Innovationen - das Potenzial der Fachhochschulen

Fachhochschulen haben das grosse Potenzial soziale Innovationen und gesellschaftliche Transformationsprozesse durch transdisziplinäre Forschung anzustossen und zu begleiten. Sie sind damit wichtige Pfeiler im Schweizer Wissenschaftssystem, wie Präsident Marcel Tanner im Vorwort betont. Die neue Publikation der Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz beleuchtet Rahmenbedingungen und Handlungsfelder, damit diese Potenziale besser zum Tragen kommen. Mit dem Titel "Forschung für gesellschaftliche Innovationen an Fachhochschulen (FHs)" laden die Akademien Akteurinnen und Akteure auf verschiedenen Handlungsebenen dazu ein, TD-Forschung an Fachhochschulen breit zu verankern. Dafür sind künftig Workshops in allen Sprachregionen vorgesehen.

Addressing societal challenges using transdisciplinary research

OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Paper, June 2020

This report looks at how transdisciplinary research, which combines knowledge from different scientific disciplines with that of public and private sector stakeholders and citizens, can be used to address complex societal challenges. This includes developing effective responses in acute crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as longer-term solutions for sustainability development. In a series of 28 case studies, each of which is briefly summarised in the report, it identifies the key obstacles to effectively implementing transdisciplinary research. Many of these are embedded in the way that research systems are structured and managed and they are amenable to policy intervention. Examples of how various actors, including funding agencies and universities are adapting to better accommodate the requirements of transdisciplinary research are included in the report and related policy actions are ascribed for these actors.