Presented by: Matai Blacklock

1. Transdisciplinarity for social learning? The contribution of the German socio-ecological research initiative to sustainability governance. Authors: Dr. Fred Luks and Bernd Siebenhuner Presented by: Matai Blacklock Published in Ecological Economics (Jan, 2007)

2. DR. Frank Luks Education Hamburg University of Economics and Policy University of Hawaii at Manoa U.S. Based Research posts Professorship at the Hamburger Fern-Hochschule University of Hanburg Often lectured in Germany and the U.S. Numerous publications Focus of Career sustainable development | ecological economics growth and the environment the history of economic ideas corporate social responsibility sustainability communications Currently Leader of an interdisciplinary research project at the Austrian Institute for Sustainable Development in Vienna

3. DR. Bernd Seibenhuner Education PH.D. from Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (2000) Master’s degrees in Economics (1994) Free University Berlin Master’s in Political Science (1995) Free University Berlin Research at the Global Environmental Assessment Project at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Currently Deputy Project leader of the Global Governance Project at the Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) at the Global Change and Social Systems Department Vice-president for Graduate Education and Quality Management at the Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg

4. Research Methods • The authors rely heavily upon knowledge from other academics in the field. • The authors also draw upon their own personal experiences • Participant observation : • occurred while they were actively involved in the Socio-Ecological Research Program in Germany.

5. Main Topics • The role of science for social learning ( in the context of sustainable development ) • 5 specific challenges associated with modern scientific activities • The German Socio-Ecological Research Initiative • The relation between socio-ecological research, ecological economics and sustainable development.

6. Key Terms & Theories • Ecological Economics: • the science and management of sustainable development • Adequate governance can promote sustainable development • connection between the economy, society and the natural environment. • Must consider many societal actors

7. Key Terms & Theories • Novel Perspectives on Science • New View: the political systems depend on collaboration with other societal systems. • Supports sustainable development • Old View: science is seen as an advisor of policy makers and both spheres need to be rigorously separated

8. Novel Perspectives on Science • Complexities and uncertainties require this new perspective • New multidimensional problems: • poverty eradication, safeguarding ecosystem and sustainable economic development… • Can cope with changing governance systems • Promotes social learning

9. Key Terms & Theories • Social Learning: • A change in the norms of a society • Not based on individual learning • A process based on acquiring new knowledge • Requires an innovative scientific approach • Results in practical solutions to sustainability challenges

10. Changing Roles in Science Mode 2 Science The Co-production of Knowledge Sustainability Science Post-normal Science

11. Mode-2 Science • Coined by Michael Gibbons • Novel way of approaching science • Challenges contain many uncertainties and complexities • Sharing must occur across traditional scientific boundaries • Allows for the generation of Insightful knowledge

12. Co-Production of Knowledge • Involves multiple societal actors collaborating • Very effective at improving the policy making process • Science and politics are intermingled • Four key areas of co-production

13. Four Key Areas of Co-Production Engineer’s identities are formed during knowledge production. Scientist interaction with society develops beneficial institutions. Science and society mutually assign meaning to topics Historical, political and cultural influences are formed by scientific concepts and theories

14. Sustainability Science • Knowledge about sustainable development is crucial • Can create sustainability related policies and incentives • Leads to the improvement of ecosystems • Goal oriented sustainable development topics • Reinforce the need for interaction between science and society • Provokes the need for normative scientific research • Normative: • evokes key social norms which aim to promote specific goals

15. Post-Normal Science • Aims to increase the problem solving ability of science • “soft” scientific inputs vs. “hard’ value decisions • Think climate change issues • New methodologies • must aim to avert dangerous outcomes of sustainability problems • New forms of communication with non-scientific actors

16. The German Socio-Ecological Research Program • Created in 1999 by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research. • Part of the national sustainability strategy of Germany. • Incorporates the changing roles of science into research design. • Based upon Transdisciplinarity: • The inclusion of non-scientific actors into the processes of knowledge generation.

17. The German Socio-Ecological Research Program Projects clustered by topics • Networks of supply and disposal systems • Sustainable food and agriculture systems • Urban and regional development • Others • The evaluation of transdisciplinary research

18. The relationship between the S.E.R.P and 5 main challenges related to Sustainability Five Main Challenges: Transdisciplinarity Policy integration Normativity Learning approaches to governance International dimension

19. Transdisciplinarity Described as inclusion of non-scientific actors into the processes of knowledge generation. Demonstrated by the Socio-Ecological Research Program Room for improvement

20. Active Policy Integration • Goal: • For collaborative scientific and societal actors to influence the policy making process. • The S.E.R.P fell victim to this challenge • Collaborative actor groups were from too limited of a region • S.E.R.P could be improved if a broader range of societal actors were chosen.

21. Normativity • Goal: • Develop widespread social norms based on scientific knowledge that foster sustainable development • The S.E.R.P goal was to develop normative knowledge • Researchers attempted to, however it is quite hard • Good communication skills are needed

22. Learning • The S.E.R.P originated as a learning endeavor • Proponents of S.E.R.P acknowledge its need to adapt • Institutions established to help • Strategic Advisory Board | External Review Committee • Most successful aspect of the S.E.R.P program

23. International Approach • International research projects result in more significant findings. • Due to the scope of the knowledge generated • The S.E.R.P was not able to use an international approach • Seen as a major flaw in the program by the authors • Room for improvement and input from other nations • Difficult to achieve due to Federal German funding source

24. Conclusion Conventional science methods need to be abandoned and novel ones adapted The S.E.R.P had its pros and cons Socio-ecological research shares the same intrinsic values as ecological economics

25. Questions?

26. Bibliography Luks, F., & Siebenhüner, B. (2007). Transdisciplinarity for social learning? The contribution of the German socio-ecological research initiative to sustainability governance. Ecological Economics, 63(2–3), 418–426. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2006.11.007