Transdisciplinarity in Practice. Experience from a Concept-based Research Programme Addressing Global Change and Sustainable Development

Abstract

Our twelve-year North-South research programme aimed at better understanding global change and contributing to sustainable development in local to regional contexts. As this required collaboration among numerous disciplines, work with non-scientific stakeholders, and time for learning, we designed a long-term, flexible, and participatory research approach that followed a clear concept, was responsive to changing environments and theories, allowed us to translate findings for policy and practice, and produced effective outcomes. For us, these qualities are the main elements of transdisciplinarity.