Boundary speak in sustainability studies: Computational reading of a transversal field
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In: Science and Public Policy, Vol. 48, No. 3, 10.06.2021, p. 398-411.
Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Boundary speak in sustainability studies
T2 - Computational reading of a transversal field
AU - Herberg, Jeremias
AU - Schmitz, Seán
AU - Stasiak, Dorota
AU - Schmieg, Gregor
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press.
PY - 2021/6/10
Y1 - 2021/6/10
N2 - This article discusses the role of language in the collaboration between science, policy, and society. Combining computational methods of corpus linguistics (manifold learning) with sociological field theories, we analyze approximately 30,000 articles that were published in the field of transdisciplinary sustainability studies. We show that the field oscillates between deliberative and technocratic vocabularies and can therefore be characterized as a transversal field. We conclude that researchers who collaborate in science–society interstices are thrown into a semantic pluralism that cannot be boiled down to a common language. For transdisciplinary research practice and corresponding science policies, this involves trade-offs between generating a homogenous language and a collaborative appeal; between creating a stable creole and a situated semantic plurality. A corresponding theoretical viewpoint and science policy approach should be based on a pluralist view on the science–society–policy interplay.
AB - This article discusses the role of language in the collaboration between science, policy, and society. Combining computational methods of corpus linguistics (manifold learning) with sociological field theories, we analyze approximately 30,000 articles that were published in the field of transdisciplinary sustainability studies. We show that the field oscillates between deliberative and technocratic vocabularies and can therefore be characterized as a transversal field. We conclude that researchers who collaborate in science–society interstices are thrown into a semantic pluralism that cannot be boiled down to a common language. For transdisciplinary research practice and corresponding science policies, this involves trade-offs between generating a homogenous language and a collaborative appeal; between creating a stable creole and a situated semantic plurality. A corresponding theoretical viewpoint and science policy approach should be based on a pluralist view on the science–society–policy interplay.
KW - Sustainability Science
KW - Sustainability Governance
KW - scirence-society-policy interplay
KW - trading zone
KW - computational methods
KW - transdisciplinarity sustainability Studies
KW - Sociological field theory
KW - deliberation and technocracy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112031164&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/06f41caf-4d84-38f8-8728-1f74de3b7ac2/
U2 - 10.1093/scipol/scab006
DO - 10.1093/scipol/scab006
M3 - Scientific review articles
VL - 48
SP - 398
EP - 411
JO - Science and Public Policy
JF - Science and Public Policy
SN - 0302-3427
IS - 3
ER -