Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change

Sustainability Science - Tập 16 - Trang 541-564 - 2021
Matthias Bergmann1,2, Niko Schäpke3,4, Oskar Marg1, Franziska Stelzer5, Daniel J. Lang2, Michael Bossert6, Marius Gantert7, Elke Häußler8, Editha Marquardt9, Felix M. Piontek10, Thomas Potthast11, Regina Rhodius12, Matthias Rudolph13, Michael Ruddat14, Andreas Seebacher15, Nico Sußmann16
1Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE), Frankfurt a. M., Germany
2Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany
3Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
4Institute of Environmental Social Sciences and Geography, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
5Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Wuppertal, Germany
6Concordia University Montréal, Montreal, Canada
7TELEINTERNETCAFE Architektur Und Urbanismus, Berlin, Germany
8Institute for Transport Systems and Infrastructure (IVI), Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
9University of Administrative Sciences Speyer, Speyer, Germany
10Institute for Sustainable Corporate Management, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
11International Centre for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
12Remote Sensing and Landscape Information Systems, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
13Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Stuttgart, Germany
14ZIRIUS, Centre for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Research, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
15Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
16Faculty for Mechanics and Electronics: Automotive Systems Engineering, Heilbronn University of Applied Science, Heilbronn, Germany

Tóm tắt

The transdisciplinary research mode has gained prominence in the research on and for sustainability transformations. Yet, solution-oriented research addressing complex sustainability problems has become complex itself, with new transdisciplinary research formats being developed and tested for this purpose. Application of new formats offers learning potentials from experience. To this end, we accompanied fourteen research projects conceptualized as real-world labs (RwLs) from 2015 to 2018. RwLs were part of a funding program on ‘Science for Sustainability’ in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Here, we combine conceptual and empirical work to a structured collection of experiences and provide a comprehensive account of RwLs. First, we outline characteristics of RwLs as transformation oriented, transdisciplinary research approach, using experiments, enabling learning and having a long-term orientation. Second, we outline eleven success factors and concrete design notes we gained through a survey of the 14 RwLs: (1) find the right balance between scientific and societal aims, (2) address the practitioners needs and restrictions, (3) make use of the experimentation concept, (4) actively communicate, (5) develop a ‘collaboration culture’, (6) be attached to concrete sites, (7) create lasting impact and transferability, (8) plan for sufficient time and financial means, (9) adaptability, (10) research-based learning, and (11) recognize dependency on external actors. Characteristics and success factors are combined to illustrate practical challenges in RwLs. Third, we show which methods could be used to cope with challenges in RwLs. We conclude discussing the state of debate on RwLs and outline future avenues of research.

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