Transdisciplinarity Reading List

Jess Laccetti mentioned on Twitter that she is starting a transdisciplinarity reading list. Transdisciplinarity is a relatively young research approach, and so finding information isn’t easy. The following list is not at all comprehensive, but they are some of my favourites.

It is important to note that despite the area being somewhat new, it already has (as is normal) people invoking the name of transdisciplinarity even though they mean other forms of already existing research approaches. Although I do attempt my own more complicated concept explication of the area in my thesis, I’ll quickly note there that there are (at least) two very different implementations of transdisciplinarity in the methodological realm: one that argues it should be about collaboration between academia & non-academia to address world-scale problems, and another that argues it is a conceptual approach that can be applied to anything, by an individual or group. I personally am in the school of the latter (which is the Nicolescu school if you like), but find the information and methodological rigor of the former approach invaluabe (which you’ll find at the td-net site, Handbook & Principles books). There is also ‘transdisciplinarity’ as an artistic approach (which is the leaning of the Planetary Collegium and others). I don’t use transdisciplinarity in that sense.

BOOKS

ARTICLES

RESEARCH GROUPS/CENTERS/NETWORKS

BLOGS

VIDEOS

  • Dr. Sue McGregor explains ‘The Nature of Transdisciplinary Research and Practice’ in this 30 minute interview that is available for online streaming [I don’t subscribe to all of her definitions of transdisciplinarity, but the video is interesting nevertheless]

I’d love to hear of any resources you think I’d be interested in!

3 Replies

  • Wow Christy that was quick! This is a great start for me! Thanks very much.

    Thanks for pointing out that there are divergent views of transdisciplinarity. I have already come across Basarab Nicolescu and am looking forward to meeting with him soon. [thought I’d throw that in there! ;)] I follow his and your line of thought that transdisciplinarity can be implemented across any kind of discipline/field. The former approach that divides academia and industry/non-academia suggests that both are usually unconnected (not always the case) and that fields within each are able to be amalgamated into one notion of “academic” or “non-academic.” I defintely prefer the idea that we can facilitate feedback/discussion between all kinds of sectors.

    NB: I’m loving the fact that your assistance emerged from my tweet 🙂

  • You’re meeting him soon?! I’m jealous! Actually, I was thinking of creating another podcast with a scholarly leaning just so I can do interviews with cool peeps like Basarab. Keep me posted on your journey.

  • Yup. I’m getting into the hang of saying: “I’m going to Paris for business…” It’s a difficult life

    The meeting is part of my mapping the field/background research into transdisciplinarity stage. Actually, it’s quite a neat story as Nicolescu commented on a blog post I did on transdisciplinarity and it took off from there.

    I’ll definitely keep you posted.

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