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Unveiling assumptions through interdisciplinary scrutiny: Observations from the German Priority Program on Climate Engineering (SPP 1689)

Author

Listed:
  • Judith Kreuter

    (Technische Universität Darmstadt)

  • Nils Matzner

    (Technical University of Munich
    Klagenfurt University)

  • Christian Baatz

    (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel)

  • David P. Keller

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Till Markus

    (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research)

  • Felix Wittstock

    (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research)

  • Ulrike Bernitt

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Nadine Mengis

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
    Simon Fraser University)

Abstract

The interdisciplinary exchange in climate engineering research offers a unique opportunity to make assumptions more explicit for such research projects. While making assumptions explicit is the standard in all disciplinary sciences, some assumptions in the context of societal challenges can only be usefully unveiled, discussed, and verified from the perspective of other research disciplines. Results from successful interdisciplinary collaborations are then more accessible and more generalizable to actors beyond the confines of the academic community. We aim to illustrate how interdisciplinary exchange helps to unveil assumptions in research endeavors and why this is important for successful interdisciplinary collaborations. We therefore follow different stages of the German Priority Program on Climate Engineering (SPP 1689), which we use as an example case of a successful interdisciplinary project. SPP 1689 focused on risks, challenges, and opportunities of Climate Engineering from the perspectives of numerous disciplines. Major results were that the initial assessments of technologies had to be sobered, the consideration of trade-offs is crucial for the potential assessment, and governance issues appeared larger than previously considered. From the reflections of SPP 1689, we conclude with three lessons learned: (1) The project profited from egalitarian organizational structures and communicative practices, preventing the predominance from single disciplines. (2) Within the project continuous efforts were undertaken to foster interdisciplinary understanding. In addition, the flexible project structure allowed for the accommodation of research needs arising as a result of these exchanges. (3) SPP 1689 offered early career researchers a platform for professional exchange on common challenges and best practices of being a part of an interdisciplinary research project.

Suggested Citation

  • Judith Kreuter & Nils Matzner & Christian Baatz & David P. Keller & Till Markus & Felix Wittstock & Ulrike Bernitt & Nadine Mengis, 2020. "Unveiling assumptions through interdisciplinary scrutiny: Observations from the German Priority Program on Climate Engineering (SPP 1689)," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 57-66, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:162:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02777-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02777-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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