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Sustainability and Collaboration: Crossdisciplinary and Cross-Sector Horizons

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  • Julie Thompson Klein

    (Wayne State University and Transdisciplinarity Lab, ETH-Zurich, 111 Linden Court, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA)

Abstract

The title of this article signals increasing collaboration across boundaries aimed at understanding and solving complex scientific and societal problems. The article is a reflective analysis of five intersecting keywords in discussions of sustainability and boundary crossing. This genre of discourse studies interprets language use, drawing in this case on a representative sample of authoritative definitions, case studies, and state-of-the-art accounts. The Introduction situates the discussion around the increasing number and size of teams as well as research across both academic disciplines and other sectors, followed by the five keywords that structure the overall argument. Section 2 examines the first of the five keywords, defining interdisciplinarity by marking its alignment with integration, confluence, interdependence, interaction, and balance. Section 3 considers the second keyword—transdisciplinarity—by tracing evolution of a problem-focused connotation, links to sustainability, inclusion of stakeholders, the imperative of critique, and transdisciplinary action research. Section 4 brings together insights on inter- and trans-disciplinarity in a composite “crossdisciplinary” alignment with collaboration, factoring in the nature of teamwork, public engagement, and translation. Section 5 then turns to learning, noting the difference between education and training then emphasizing transformative capacity, double- and triple-loop learning, reflexivity, and a transdisciplinary orientation. Section 6 takes up the final keyword—knowledge—by calling attention to inclusion, indigenous and local perspectives, nomothetic versus idiographic perspectives, the question of fit, and the nature of crossdisciplinary knowledge. The article concludes by identifying future research needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Julie Thompson Klein, 2020. "Sustainability and Collaboration: Crossdisciplinary and Cross-Sector Horizons," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1515-:d:322083
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jahn, Thomas & Bergmann, Matthias & Keil, Florian, 2012. "Transdisciplinarity: Between mainstreaming and marginalization," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-10.
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    1. Susanne Kubisch & Sandra Parth & Veronika Deisenrieder & Karin Oberauer & Johann Stötter & Lars Keller, 2020. "From Transdisciplinary Research to Transdisciplinary Education—The Role of Schools in Contributing to Community Well-Being and Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Tigran Keryan & Andreas Muhar & Tamara Mitrofanenko & Ashot Khoetsyan & Verena Radinger-Peer, 2020. "Towards Implementing Transdisciplinarity in Post-Soviet Academic Systems: An Investigation of the Societal Role of Universities in Armenia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Ya-Ching Chang & Hsing-Lung Lien, 2020. "Mapping Course Sustainability by Embedding the SDGs Inventory into the University Curriculum: A Case Study from National University of Kaohsiung in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Mirjam Braßler & Martin Schultze, 2021. "Students’ Innovation in Education for Sustainable Development—A Longitudinal Study on Interdisciplinary vs. Monodisciplinary Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Adrian Ely & Anabel Marin & Lakshmi Charli-Joseph & Dinesh Abrol & Marina Apgar & Joanes Atela & Becky Ayre & Robert Byrne & Bikramaditya K. Choudhary & Victoria Chengo & Almendra Cremaschi & Rowan Da, 2020. "Structured Collaboration Across a Transformative Knowledge Network—Learning Across Disciplines, Cultures and Contexts?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-20, March.
    6. Kamanamaikalani Beamer & Axel Tuma & Andrea Thorenz & Sandra Boldoczki & Keliʻiahonui Kotubetey & Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz & Kawena Elkington, 2021. "Reflections on Sustainability Concepts: Aloha ʻĀina and the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-16, March.

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