Abstract:
This discussion shows that transdisciplinarity is a field situated at the intersection of science and practice, and – due to its intersecting interests – a field fraught with controversy and misunderstanding. It is worth bringing more clarity to this issue:
a) first, to clarify the term and its origins,
b) to highlight the current political mandate in German higher education laws and its rationale,
c) to map out the fields of action for this activity (including a brief historical perspective from contract research to scientific policy consulting), and
d) to examine its forms of action, extending to “citizen science,”
e) the risks posed by an overly close intertwining of science and practice due to non-scientific interests and attempts at influence (as a form of practical interests), and
f) the resulting internal scientific resistance,
g) the opportunities to foster greater public understanding of typical pathways to scientific knowledge, including the necessity of basic research,
h) to enhance reputation through cooperation and its visible benefits for society, thereby increasing public willingness to accept scientific findings, including the degree of freedom necessary for research (particularly basic research).
Über die Autor*innen:
- Bettina Böhm
Dr. jur., Generalsekretärin der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft, Berlin - Uwe Schimank
Prof. Dr. i.R., Professor für soziologische Theorie, Universität Bremen - Wolff-Dietrich Webler,
Dr. rer. soc., ehem. Prof. of Higher Education, Universität Bergen/Norwegen und Leiter des Instituts für Wissenschafts- und Bildungsforschung Bielefeld (IWBB)
