Lesson 2. Integrate transdisciplinarity and participatory processes in academic research

From a scientific point of view, participatory assessment requires a high level of interdisciplinarity, i.e. interaction between different scientific disciplines, as well as transdisciplinarity, i.e. interaction with different stakeholders. To address the complex issues of environmental sustainability, the broad continuum of social, economic and natural sciences must find a common language and create interfaces between their respective perspectives and approaches.

To encourage this transdisciplinarity, it is important to ensure that someone in the team has experience or is trained in transdisciplinary methods. However, it is not a question of delegating, no one is instrumentalizing anyone, everyone has his or her role and important place. Moreover, the legitimacy of each person’s expertise must be recognised by the others.

Publishing is imperative in any researcher’s career, but it is not always easy in the context of stakeholder engagement and transdisciplinary experiences. Thus, scientists need to keep in mind that they are also accountable to their management partners. Therefore, as well as being accurate about the facts, they must take into account political agendas. What is written must do justice to the positions of the different stakeholders, and scientists must be able to justify any writing. Publishing and co-writing with managers are effective strategies to take into account all points of view, gain legitimacy and thus reduce the risk of social or political blunders. In short, it is important that science and management work together on the outputs of the project.