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Transdisciplinary research is increasingly used in projects dealing with transitions to sustainable, resilient and low-carbon societies. Transdisciplinary research projects require collaboration and coordination between researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds. Academic literature provides valuable insights on designing, facilitating, leading and evaluating transdisciplinary projects. While a substantial body of literature explores the challenges associated with transdisciplinary research, there is a scarcity of case studies exploring the challenges faced during different phases of project execution. In this paper we present a reflective account and analysis of our experiences during the first fifteen months of a transdisciplinary research project. The project is used as a case study, following a participatory action research methodology. Our findings verified the three types of challenge mentioned in the literature – inherent, institutional and teamwork related. This paper identifies a fourth type – emergent – that has not been discussed in the literature. Emergent challenges introduce uncertainty into TDR projects and are uncontrollable. Such challenges require research consortium leaders to develop adaptive strategies, and to take a mediation and leadership role in dealing with them. The article makes the following recommendations: emergent challenges require emergent strategies; funding should be more flexible to account for the nature of TDR research; TDR could be evaluated on the basis of its overall impact rather than on inflexible ‘deliverables’; academic publishing strategies must be incorporated into TDR projects; team development and co-location should be facilitated; and academic institutions should include performance and promotion criteria encouraging researchers to undertake roles in TDR projects
A. Idil Gaziulusoy; Chris Ryan; Stephen McGrail; Philippa Chandler; Paul Twomey. Identifying and addressing challenges faced by transdisciplinary research teams in climate change research. Journal of Cleaner Production 2016, 123, 55 -64.
AMA StyleA. Idil Gaziulusoy, Chris Ryan, Stephen McGrail, Philippa Chandler, Paul Twomey. Identifying and addressing challenges faced by transdisciplinary research teams in climate change research. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2016; 123 ():55-64.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Idil Gaziulusoy; Chris Ryan; Stephen McGrail; Philippa Chandler; Paul Twomey. 2016. "Identifying and addressing challenges faced by transdisciplinary research teams in climate change research." Journal of Cleaner Production 123, no. : 55-64.
Visioning exercises were convened in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, to explore how these cities could become low-carbon and maintain resilience over the next 25 years. Drawing on the concept of frames—in particular Schon and Rein’s conceptualisation of a frame as a “diagnostic-prescriptive story” that is based on an underlying structure of beliefs, perceptions and appreciation—this paper seeks to: Attend to the ways that workshop participants framed the problems (of emissions reduction and maintaining resilience); surface framing processes and potential related sources of political contention; and discuss the role of visioning exercises in sustainability transitions. Five frames are identified, along with the interpretive orientations underpinning each frame, framing processes and the potential for frame conflict and alignment. The study suggests that the designers and facilitators of visioning exercises need to be attentive to framing processes, potential framing contests, and related social processes during a visioning exercise. Key implications are identified, with a focus on whether an exercise seeks to “open up” a complex issue or to agree upon a singular, i.e., consensual, agenda.
Stephen McGrail; A. Idil Gaziulusoy; Paul Twomey. Framing Processes in the Envisioning of Low-Carbon, Resilient Cities: Results from Two Visioning Exercises. Sustainability 2015, 7, 8649 -8683.
AMA StyleStephen McGrail, A. Idil Gaziulusoy, Paul Twomey. Framing Processes in the Envisioning of Low-Carbon, Resilient Cities: Results from Two Visioning Exercises. Sustainability. 2015; 7 (7):8649-8683.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStephen McGrail; A. Idil Gaziulusoy; Paul Twomey. 2015. "Framing Processes in the Envisioning of Low-Carbon, Resilient Cities: Results from Two Visioning Exercises." Sustainability 7, no. 7: 8649-8683.