Transdisciplinarity for social learning? The contribution of the German socio-ecological research initiative to sustainability governance.

Presented by: Matai Blacklock

Authors: Dr. Fred Luks and Bernd Siebenhuner

Published in Ecological Economics (Jan, 2007)

Education Hamburg University of Economics and Policy University of Hawaii at Manoa

U.S. Based Research posts Professorship

at the Hamburger Fern-Hochschule University of Hanburg

Often lectured in Germany and the U.S. Numerous publications

Focus of Career sustainable development | ecological

economics growth and the environment the history of economic ideas corporate social responsibility sustainability communications

DR. Frank Luks

Leader of an interdisciplinary research project at the Austrian Institute for Sustainable Development in Vienna

Currently

Education PH.D. from Martin-Luther University Halle-

Wittenberg (2000) Master’s degrees in Economics (1994) Free

University Berlin Master’s in Political Science (1995) Free University

Berlin

Research at the Global Environmental Assessment Project at John F.

Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Currently Deputy Project leader of the Global Governance

Project at the Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) at the Global Change and

Social Systems Department

Vice-president for Graduate Education and Quality Management at the Carl von Ossietzky

University in Oldenburg

DR. Bernd Seibenhuner

The authors rely heavily upon knowledge from other academics in the field.

The authors also draw upon their own personal experiences

Participant observation : occurred while they were actively involved in the

Socio-Ecological Research Program in Germany.

Research Methods

The role of science for social learning ( in the context of sustainable development )

5 specific challenges associated with modern scientific activities

The German Socio-Ecological Research Initiative

The relation between socio-ecological research, ecological economics and sustainable development.

Main Topics

• Ecological Economics:• the science and management of sustainable

development• Adequate governance can promote sustainable

development• connection between the economy, society and the natural environment. Must consider many societal actors

Key Terms & Theories

• Novel Perspectives on Science• New View: the political systems depend on

collaboration with other societal systems. • Supports sustainable development

• Old View: science is seen as an advisor of policy makers and both spheres need to be rigorously separated

Key Terms & Theories

Complexities and uncertainties require this new perspective

New multidimensional problems: poverty eradication, safeguarding ecosystem and

sustainable economic development…

Can cope with changing governance systems

Promotes social learning

Novel Perspectives on Science

Social Learning: A change in the norms of a society

Not based on individual learning A process based on acquiring new

knowledge Requires an innovative scientific approach

Results in practical solutions to sustainability challenges

Key Terms & Theories

Mode 2 Science

The Co-production of Knowledge

Sustainability Science

Post-normal Science

Changing Roles in Science

Coined by Michael Gibbons Novel way of approaching science Challenges contain many uncertainties and

complexities Sharing must occur across traditional

scientific boundaries Allows for the generation of Insightful knowledge

Mode-2 Science

Involves multiple societal actors collaborating

Very effective at improving the policy making process

Science and politics are intermingled

Four key areas of co-production

Co-Production of Knowledge

Engineer’s identities are formed during knowledge production.

Scientist interaction with society develops beneficial institutions.

Science and society mutually assign meaning to topics

Historical, political and cultural influences are formed by scientific concepts and theories

Four Key Areas of Co-Production

Knowledge about sustainable development is crucial Can create sustainability related policies and incentives Leads to the improvement of ecosystems

Goal oriented sustainable development topics Reinforce the need for interaction between science and society Provokes the need for normative scientific research

Normative: evokes key social norms which aim to promote specific goals

Sustainability Science

Aims to increase the problem solving ability of science “soft” scientific inputs vs. “hard’ value decisions Think climate change issues

New methodologies must aim to avert dangerous outcomes of sustainability

problems

New forms of communication with non-scientific actors

Post-Normal Science

Created in 1999 by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research.

Part of the national sustainability strategy of Germany.

Incorporates the changing roles of science into research design.

Based upon Transdisciplinarity: The inclusion of non-scientific actors into the processes of

knowledge generation.

The German Socio-Ecological Research Program

Projects clustered by topics Networks of supply and disposal systems

Sustainable food and agriculture systems

Urban and regional development

Others The evaluation of transdisciplinary research

The German Socio-Ecological Research Program

Five Main Challenges: Transdisciplinarity

Policy integration

Normativity

Learning approaches to governance

International dimension

The relationship between the S.E.R.P and 5 main challenges related to

Sustainability

Described as inclusion of non-scientific actors into the processes of knowledge generation.

Demonstrated by the Socio-Ecological Research Program

Room for improvement

Transdisciplinarity

Goal: For collaborative scientific and societal actors to

influence the policy making process.

The S.E.R.P fell victim to this challenge Collaborative actor groups were from too limited of a

region

S.E.R.P could be improved if a broader range of societal actors were chosen.

Active Policy Integration

Goal: Develop widespread social norms based on scientific

knowledge that foster sustainable development

The S.E.R.P goal was to develop normative knowledge

Researchers attempted to, however it is quite hard Good communication skills are needed

Normativity

The S.E.R.P originated as a learning endeavor

Proponents of S.E.R.P acknowledge its need to adapt Institutions established to help Strategic Advisory Board | External Review

Committee

Most successful aspect of the S.E.R.P program

Learning

International research projects result in more significant findings. Due to the scope of the knowledge generated

The S.E.R.P was not able to use an international approach Seen as a major flaw in the program by the authors

Room for improvement and input from other nations Difficult to achieve due to Federal German funding

source

International Approach

Conventional science methods need to be abandoned and novel ones adapted

The S.E.R.P had its pros and cons

Socio-ecological research shares the same intrinsic values as ecological economics

Conclusion

Questions?

Luks, F., & Siebenhüner, B. (2007). Transdisciplinarity for social learning? The contribution of the German socio-ecological research initiative to sustainability governance. Ecological Economics, 63(2–3), 418–426. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2006.11.007

Bibliography