Embedded researchers as transdisciplinary boundary spanners strengthening urban climate resilience

Taylor, Anna; Pretorius, L.; McClure, Alice; Iipinge, Kornelia N.; Mwalukanga, Brenda; Mamombe, Rudo

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.002

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…This allows 'boundary spanners' (Williams, 2002) to bring diverse institutional logics and cultures from practice and academia together. They can support communication (Horlick- Jones & Sime, 2004), and some projects have engaged 'embedded researchers' with the specific goal of bridging between practice and academia (Taylor et al, 2021). Similarly, boundary organizations are designed to mediate between different communities and build links between intellectual neighbors (Cundill et al, 2015).…”

Section: Building the Transdisciplinary Research Teammentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Facilitators are important in building relationships between actors and ensuring that all voices are encouraged to speak out and be heard (Renner et al, 2013; Taylor et al, 2021). Where the cultural distance between parties is great, these intermediaries can bridge the boundaries by recognizing and working with the competing logics (Schauppenlehner-Kloyber & Penker, 2015; Yusuf, 2008).…”

Section: Navigating the Tensions In Transdisciplinary Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Working with the tensions of transdisciplinary research: a review and agenda for the future of knowledge co-production in the Anthropocene

Harris,

Lyon,

Sioen

et al. 2024

Glob. Sustain.

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Non-technical summary. Transdisciplinary approaches for sustainability brings natural and social science researchers together with non researchers to fill gaps in scientific knowledge and catalyze change. By connecting diverse academic fields and sectors, it addresses complex problems and enables learning for problem solving. However, institutional barriers, funding constraints, time limitations, and evaluation criteria hinder collaborative progress. Our review reveals tensions at institutional and individual levels. Our findings underscore the significance of soft skills in assembling effective transdisciplinary teams. Embracing transdisciplinary science, as suggested by our review, can enhance problem-solving, and foster transformations for sustainability and resilience. Technical summary. Sustainability challenges in the age of the Anthropocene require researchers and practitioners to collaborate across multiple academic disciplines and multiple professions outside of universities. In this paper we draw on theories of institutional logics to explore how those involved in transdisciplinary environmental research and practice draw on particular sets of values and norms but encounter challenges to collaboration. These institutional logics include (among others) seeking societal/environmental impact, commercial objectives, and academic knowledge generation. In this paper we review the growing literature on the research experience of transdisciplinarity in sustainability; discuss the processes of managing such research; and present a framework that outlines the challenges and tensions at each stage of the innovation/research process. We set out an agenda for managing tension that calls for recognizing the challenges, learning how to work with tensions, and building capabilities for future careers involving transdisciplinary research. The paper shows a key competence or skill for transdisciplinarians is the ability to develop complex collaborative relationships for sustainability drawing together different institutional logics, approaches, methods, goals, and values. Social media summary. Transdisciplinary science: bridging disciplines, solving challenges. Soft skills and collaboration key to success.

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Section: Building the Transdisciplinary Research Teammentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Navigating the Tensions In Transdisciplinary Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with the tensions of transdisciplinary research: a review and agenda for the future of knowledge co-production in the Anthropocene

Harris,

Lyon,

Sioen

et al. 2024

Glob. Sustain.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Moving beyond the plan: Exploring the opportunities to accelerate the implementation of municipal climate change adaptation policies and plans

Rogers,

Adams,

Byrne

2024

Env Pol Gov

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Across the globe, ecosystems, biodiversity and human societies are experiencing the escalating and often catastrophic impacts of anthropogenic climate change. Well‐considered, properly resourced and trans‐scalar adaptation responses are essential. Local governments (e.g., municipal councils) can provide crucial support to communities enabling planning, response and recovery from climate change impacts. While innumerable municipal climate change adaptation policies, strategies and plans have been developed, the implementation of adaptation actions typically lags, creating a planning‐to‐implementation gap. Contributing factors and the opportunities to overcome key constraints remain underexplored. This article reports the results of research addressing that knowledge gap analysing the circumstances that give rise to a municipal climate adaptation implementation gap, and the opportunities to progress from adaptation planning to implementation. Interviews with 25 local government leaders and staff reveal five key opportunities to advance the implementation of adaptation polices and plans—(i) mobilising novel finance solutions; (ii) developing an adaptation skills pipeline; (iii) building collaborative and trans‐disciplinary ways of working across municipal councils; (iv) enhancing the salience and prominence of adaptation as a core municipal concern and (v) legislating for municipal climate change adaptation mainstreaming. Establishing good climate governance and improving capacity for adaptation will be critical if local governments are to close the municipal climate change adaptation planning‐to‐implementation gap.

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A bridge between worlds: Embedding research in telepractice co‐design with disability community

Benz

2024

Learning Health Systems

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IntroductionCo‐production approaches are increasingly being advocated for as a way of addressing the research translatory gap while including patient and public involvement in development of services they access, and particularly in disability service provision. Embedded research (ER) is a method which integrates the researcher within the target organization to better facilitate both co‐production of research outputs and the reduction of the research translation gap. The aim of this reflection is to better understand the commonalities and differences between ER in a disability context to accounts published in academic literature.MethodA review of embedded researcher literature was completed in combination with a personal reflection of lived experience as an embedded researcher within a disability support service organization. The reflective process included review of research journal entries and other records of lived experience (photographs, audio recordings, drawings) maintained throughout the period in the role of embedded researcher. A reflexive thematic analysis process was used.ResultsI reflect throughout the article upon five themes which highlight both the commonalities between my experiences and those of other embedded researchers as well as instances where they differed. The five themes include (1) A knowledge bridge, (2) Considerations of positionality, (3) Ethical complexity, (4) Anticipating change, and (5) Existing in the in‐between together.ConclusionExperiences of ER appear to transcend the discipline in which the research is being embedded, and while the lived experience in a disability host organization was invaluable in facilitating a successful co‐produced research project, significant avenues for improvement exist in terms of ethical frameworks, methodological guidance, and communities of support.

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Embedded researchers as transdisciplinary boundary spanners strengthening urban climate resilience

Cited by 9 publications

References 44 publications

Working with the tensions of transdisciplinary research: a review and agenda for the future of knowledge co-production in the Anthropocene

Working with the tensions of transdisciplinary research: a review and agenda for the future of knowledge co-production in the Anthropocene

Moving beyond the plan: Exploring the opportunities to accelerate the implementation of municipal climate change adaptation policies and plans

A bridge between worlds: Embedding research in telepractice co‐design with disability community

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