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

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change. / Bergmann, Matthias; Schäpke, Niko; Marg, Oskar et al.
In: Sustainability Science, Vol. 16, No. 2, 01.03.2021, p. 541-564.

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Harvard

Bergmann, M, Schäpke, N, Marg, O, Stelzer, F, Lang, DJ, Bossert, M, Gantert, M, Häußler, E, Marquardt, E, Piontek, FM, Potthast, T, Rhodius, R, Rudolph, M, Ruddat, M, Seebacher, A & Sußmann, N 2021, 'Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change', Sustainability Science, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 541-564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-020-00886-8

APA

Bergmann, M., Schäpke, N., Marg, O., Stelzer, F., Lang, D. J., Bossert, M., Gantert, M., Häußler, E., Marquardt, E., Piontek, F. M., Potthast, T., Rhodius, R., Rudolph, M., Ruddat, M., Seebacher, A., & Sußmann, N. (2021). Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change. Sustainability Science, 16(2), 541-564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-020-00886-8

Vancouver

Bergmann M, Schäpke N, Marg O, Stelzer F, Lang DJ, Bossert M et al. Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change. Sustainability Science. 2021 Mar 1;16(2):541-564. Epub 2021 Jan 2. doi: 10.1007/s11625-020-00886-8

Bibtex

@article{b6ee9408379f4ef58162d7542ed5026a,
title = "Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change",
abstract = "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 {\textquoteleft}Science for Sustainability{\textquoteright} in the German federal state of Baden-W{\"u}rttemberg. 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 {\textquoteleft}collaboration culture{\textquoteright}, (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.",
keywords = "Methods, Real-world lab, Success factors, Sustainability transitions, Transdisciplinarity, Transformative research, Transdisciplinary studies, Sustainability Science",
author = "Matthias Bergmann and Niko Sch{\"a}pke and Oskar Marg and Franziska Stelzer and Lang, {Daniel J.} and Michael Bossert and Marius Gantert and Elke H{\"a}u{\ss}ler and Editha Marquardt and Piontek, {Felix M.} and Thomas Potthast and Regina Rhodius and Matthias Rudolph and Michael Ruddat and Andreas Seebacher and Nico Su{\ss}mann",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",
year = "2021",
month = mar,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1007/s11625-020-00886-8",
language = "English",
volume = "16",
pages = "541--564",
journal = "Sustainability Science",
issn = "1862-4065",
publisher = "Springer Japan",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs

T2 - success factors and methods for change

AU - Bergmann, Matthias

AU - Schäpke, Niko

AU - Marg, Oskar

AU - Stelzer, Franziska

AU - Lang, Daniel J.

AU - Bossert, Michael

AU - Gantert, Marius

AU - Häußler, Elke

AU - Marquardt, Editha

AU - Piontek, Felix M.

AU - Potthast, Thomas

AU - Rhodius, Regina

AU - Rudolph, Matthias

AU - Ruddat, Michael

AU - Seebacher, Andreas

AU - Sußmann, Nico

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).

PY - 2021/3/1

Y1 - 2021/3/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Methods

KW - Real-world lab

KW - Success factors

KW - Sustainability transitions

KW - Transdisciplinarity

KW - Transformative research

KW - Transdisciplinary studies

KW - Sustainability Science

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098717924&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/c57d0980-44fb-3757-8d53-31c3cbf13145/

U2 - 10.1007/s11625-020-00886-8

DO - 10.1007/s11625-020-00886-8

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85098717924

VL - 16

SP - 541

EP - 564

JO - Sustainability Science

JF - Sustainability Science

SN - 1862-4065

IS - 2

ER -

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