transdisciplinary

Transdisciplinary refers to an approach to knowledge production that seeks to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries by integrating multiple academic disciplines with non-academic knowledge sources, including practitioners, policymakers, and communities. The aim is to address complex, real-world problems whose causes and solutions span many domains. This contrasts with multidisciplinary work, where disciplines work in parallel, and with interdisciplinary work, which integrates methods across disciplines but remains within academia; transdisciplinarity aims to create a more holistic framework that includes different ways of knowing beyond the academy.

Core features include collaboration among researchers and societal actors, co-design of research questions, co-production of knowledge, and iterative interpretation that respects diverse epistemologies. It relies on systemic thinking, adaptive methods, participatory governance, and reflexivity about power and context. Methods may include stakeholder workshops, scenario planning, systems mapping, and co-creation of interventions.

The concept emerged in the late 20th century as researchers sought approaches to address complex sustainability and social-ecological problems. Basarab Nicolescu and others were influential in articulating transdisciplinarity as a framework that seeks to include the included middle and multiple levels of reality, bridging science, philosophy, and practice. The term is now used across science policy, higher education, and research programs.

Transdisciplinary work appears in sustainability science, public health, urban planning, and environmental policy. Proponents argue it can generate more relevant, implementable knowledge; critics point to challenges in evaluation, funding, and risk of tokenism or superficial integration. Success depends on institutional support, clear governance, shared incentives, and appropriate training for participants.