Conference Tracks
The 2nd Global Transdiscipliarity Conference is organized in thematic tracks focusing on individual aspects of the current poly crisis and the proposed potential of transdisciplinarity or other forms of science practice collaboration to deal with these challenges.
- Tracks will convene online or in person in decentralized working groups in the weeks running up to the main event, discussing their input for the marketplace of ideas and the plenary sessions.
- Representatives of the tracks are expected to participate in person in the main conference in Mustafapaşa to represent their track in the marketplace of ideas and plenary sessions and to report back to the track participants during the feedback sessions.
- Personal participation by as many contributors to individual tracks as possible is encouraged and appreciated, though we ask track organizers to make use of all forms of local or online meeting options in order to reduce the environmental impact of the event and to offer inclusive options of participation to all, regardless of geographical location, financial means or any special needs.
- Tracks will be presented by their representatives in the marketplace of ideas, an open space opened at the first evening of the conference on 26 June 2024 and remaining in place during the whole conference.
- Tracks will be presented by their representatives in the plenary sessions on the first (27) and second (28) day of the conference. Plenary sessions will be broadcast online for all participants.
- Tracks will hold a feedback session after the first plenary on 27 June to discuss the input from the other tracks and the general discussion in the plenary and provide feedback their representative will present during the second plenary on 28 June.
- Representatives from all tracks are heartily invited to participate in the two day cultural and nature experience on 29 and 30 June and in the interwoven Open Working Group on the Integration of Functional and Spiritual Transdisciplinarity.
Tracks at Cappadokia University, Mustafapaşa (Türkiye)
Transdisciplinary and Sustainable Education
Organizers:
- Filippina Risopoulos (University of Graz)
Contact: filippina.risopoulos@uni-graz.at
“Transdisciplinary learning challenges us to move beyond reductionist thinking and embrace the complexity of the world, recognizing that solutions to real-world problems often require an integrated approach.”
Abstract: Transdisciplinary education transcends the boundaries of traditional disciplines such as science, humanities, and arts. It encourages collaboration among students, educators, and experts from different fields to explore interconnectedness and find holistic solutions. This approach fosters critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to apply knowledge across diverse contexts. Sustainable education emphasizes the importance of addressing environmental, social, and economic issues to create a more sustainable future. It equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to understand and mitigate challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality. Sustainable education promotes systems thinking, encouraging individuals to consider the long-term consequences of their actions on the planet and society.
Together the two approaches integrate concepts, methodologies, and perspectives from different disciplines and encourage learners to explore complex issues from multiple angles, recognizing the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and economic systems. The focus hereby is on transformative learning as a dynamic process that involves challenging existing beliefs, exploring new perspectives, and ultimately experiencing personal growth and change. It's about more than just acquiring knowledge - it's about fundamentally transforming the way we understand ourselves and the world.
Confirmed participants: coming up
Fostering Responsible Leadership in a Transdisciplinary Era
Organizers:
- Barbara Brenner (University of Continuing Education Krems)
- Mathias Schüz (Zurich University of Applied Sciences)
Contact: mathias.schuez@zhaw.ch
"Leadership in a Transdisciplinary World aims to explore the intersection of responsible leadership and transdisciplinarity. It emphasises the importance of collaboration between different fields to effectively address complex global challenges."
Abstract In today's world, it is crucial to have responsible leaders who can work across different disciplines. In this track we aim to explore the intersection of responsible leadership and transdisciplinarity. It emphasises the importance of collaboration between different fields to effectively address complex global challenges.
We address the transdisciplinary conditions for responsible leadership in politics, business, and society and propose alternative models that serve, integrate and inspire all stakeholders. Bew challenges emerge for leaders, such as leading businesses responsibly in a multi-stakeholder context, pursuing multiple objectives (e.g., financial profit and social purpose), ensuring sustainability for the firm and society. Therefore, we investigate the role of stakeholder management as a unifying framework for complex interactions between firms and their internal and external constituencies.
Confirmed participants:
- Khaldoun Dia-Edine (ZHAW School of Management and Law)
- Romana Bates (University of Continuing Education Krems)
From Poly-Crises to One Health: Complexity, Transformation and Viable Co-Evolutionary Development Paths
Organizers:
- Gerald Steiner (University for Continuing Education Krems)
- Ilja Steffelbauer (University for Continuing Education Krems)
Contact: ilja.steffelbauer@donau-uni.ac.at
"Transdisciplinary knowledge integration between science and practice across different paradigms offers the best chance for viable transition paths to a sustainable future."
Abstract Navigating today's crises requires to transcend one-dimensional, exclusively science-centric approaches. This track advocates for a transdisciplinary strategy, integrating diverse perspectives, including especially scientific disciplines together with practical insights to address complex issues like poly-crises. It emphasizes the potential of mutual learning and knowledge generation between science and society, promoting trust in science and fostering creative, sustainable solutions within a multilayered innovation system.
Confirmed participants:
- Eva Schernhammer (Medical University of Vienna)
- Manfred Laubichler (Arizona State University)
- Dina Ziganshina Lienhard (Arizona State University)
- Lukas Zenk (University for Continuing Education Krems)
- Markkus Pfirman Schlosser (Arizona State University)
A Transdisciplinary Economy for Individual and Collective Well-being
Organizers:
- René Schmidpeter (Bern University of Applied Science)
- Marisa Mühlböck
Contact: marisa@marisamuehlboeck.com
"In order for knowledge integration to work cross-culturally and across paradigms, new ways of integration utilitarian and philosophical transdisciplinarity have to be developed."
Abstract: The high degree of complexity that we face in today‘s world brings major challenges with, but at the same time opens up a huge window of opportunity. To achieve a positive outcome, it will be fundamental to take into account what science suggests, namely that humans are not rational and isolated, but complex and related beings, and that our individual and collective well-being is dependent on how we pay tribute to this. That applies to all of humanity, but will be particularly relevant for the business sector in light of its large scope of action.
New findings in various scientific disciplines such as psychology, neurobiology and the complexity sciences also suggest crumbling pillars in the temple of economics, at the center of which the image of the purely rational homo economicus still plays an important role today. This track investigates what a research program for a transdisciplinary economy that focuses on the well-being of individuals, society and the planet should look like.
Confirmed participants: coming soon
Transformation by Creagilization – Designing the Future of Now with “Creative Agility”
Organizers:
- Birgitta Borghoff (Zurich University of Applied Sciences)
Contact: birgitta.borghoff@zhaw.ch
“’Creative Agility’ is vital for multiperspectively transforming and innovating communication and communicative actions to tackle the polycrisis and thus transform dysfunctional narratives.”
Abstract: “Creative Agility” promotes communication and vice versa. As a multi-perspective interplay of art-based and creative strategies as well as practices of communication and organizational development, "creagility" is enriched and stimulated by the multi-perspective experiences of people in different roles, situations, contexts, disciplines and public spheres. The intuitive and systematic methods of “creagility” are particularly effective in situations of excessive demands, uncertainty and complexity. creagileLAB: In this workshop we will experiment with "creagile action" while moving outside the box and jointly develop unconventional approaches to ambiguous, often contradictory challenges.
Confirmed participants: coming up
War-(Economics) as a Transdisciplinary Challenge?
New track upcoming!
Contemporary International Crises
New track upcoming!
Sustainability
New track upcoming!
Tracks at the University for Continuing Education, Krems (Austria)
Participants in the tracks held at Krems, please register via our e-mail: gtdc@donau-uni.ac.at using the keyword "Registration KREMS".
Due to third party sponsoring, no conference fees will be levied for participation in the Krems tracks.
Urban Living Labs
- Sophie Marie Hohenwarter (University of Graz)
- Christine Rottenbacher (University for Continuing Education Krems)
- Stefanie Kotrba (University for Continuing Education Krems)
Contact: christine.rottenbacher@donau-uni.ac.at
"Lack of implementation of sustainable solutions, to challenges like heat islands, drought, biodiversity loss can be overcome through Living Labs."
Abstract: The Track “Living Labs” is aiming to discuss and promote the establishment of Living Labs as an appropriate participatory action research method for co-developing sustainable solutions between scientists and other societal actors, in the context of the current poly crises humanity is confronted with. The Track will provide a platform for conceptualising and defining Living Labs, for exchanging experiences and best practice examples, and for addressing challenges and opportunities, with a focus on Living Labs as collaborations of universities with the city they are located in. In these collaborations universities serve as innovation hubs, incubators and test-beds for solutions that can be upscaled to the city level and beyond.
Confirmed participants:
- Holger Hoff (University of Graz)
- Andrea Höltl (University for Continuing Education Krems)
This track will be held at the University for Continuing Education Krems according to the guidelines of the Ecolabel for Green Meetings and Green Events.
Legal Basis for the Establishment of Nature-human Protection Zones
Organizers:
- Elfriede Neuhold (University for Continuing Education Krems)
Contact: elfriede.neuhold@donau-uni.ac.at
„Prototypes for protected zones for people to live in harmony with nature can contribute to global transformation as a space for innovation and require transdisciplinary processes for their development.“
Abstract:
Global transformation into a sustainable society is proving difficult. Through the establishment of nature-human protection zones, so-called islands of coherence, various socio-ecological innovations are to be applied in practice on a small scale. The protection zones for nature and people are zones in which nature is to be freed from pollution and renatured. In these zones, people are to restore the fertility of the soil, cultivate it ecologically and live and work together in new social and legal forms close to nature.
As part of this GTDC Conference, a concept for nature-human-protection zones that can be rolled out globally is to be developed. Furthermore, the legal framework conditions for Austria are to be concretized, such as the tax consideration of the costs for the reprocessing of fertile soils as well as for social services such as childcare and care for relatives in need of care. Possible further measures and projects such as prototypes will be evaluated as a cross-cutting topic for the tracks of this conference.
Confirmed participants: comig soon
Floods: their drivers and complex consequences
Organizers:
- Kathrin Pascher (University of Continuing Education Krems)
Contact: kathrin.pascher@donau-uni.ac.at
"Floods and their complex relations to human use and impacts on waterways call for multi-stakeholder, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches."
Abstract Floods are a natural landscape-shaping force. However, as a result of environmental degradation, river regulation, climate change, and other factors such as deforestation that affect the water cycle, floods are occurring more frequently and are causing devastating damage not only to natural ecosystems and biodiversity, but also on human lives and property. The multiple use of water bodies for water management including energy production, river regulation and infrastructure construction for safety reasons, water use for agriculture and the discharge of wastewater containing toxic substances also from industry and waste, etc. pose major challenges to the quality of a water body as drinking water as well as to well-functioning ecological river ecosystems. In our interdisciplinary expert panel, we will discuss floods as a poly-crisis from different perspectives of water management and water protection, try to identify the main drivers for flood disasters and jointly develop effective inter- and transdisciplinary strategies for flood management.
Confirmed participants:
- Thomas Frank (BOKU Vienna, Institute of Zoology)
The Role of Institutions of Research & Education in a (Poly-)Crisis World
Organizers:
- Sabine Scherer (University of Continuing Education Krems)
- Anna Maria Kaiser (University of Continuing Education Krems)
Contact: sabine.scherer@donau-uni.ac.at
"Learnings from recent experiences in knowledge integration with governance structures and non-academic expert cultures under crisis conditions."
Abstract: The past years have not only confronted us worldwide with different expressions of the looming poly-crisis (COVID, supply chain insecurities, energy & food supply insecurities, migration, climate change adaptation) while at the same time, risks for ordinary natural (e.g. the 2020 earthquake in eastern Anatolia) as well as man-made disasters remain with us. The rise of evidence-based policy and the growing realization that science and the institutions of higher education and research that deal in these matters have societal responsibility to contribute to solutions to these challenges has been handled in different manners within different national frameworks of governance and public intellectual discourse.
This track brings together representatives of and experts on institutions of higher education to discuss past experiences, present developments and future perspectives on the role of universities in dealing with crisis and the special challenge of interfacing with institutions of governance, administration, practitioners in crisis management (governmental or NGO) before, during and after crisis events. Starting form lessons learned in the Turkish university network after the 2020 earthquake and COVID worldwide.
Confirmed participants:
- Milan Petit (University of Oxford)
- Eva Schernhammer (Medical University of Vienna)
Participate
Join a track?
In order to join an existing track, contact the track organizers via the e-mail provided in the track description up until 30 April 2024. Organizers will review all applications and come back to you for further information.
In order for your application to be considered please provide the following information:
1. Your name and contact
2. A photo that we may publish on our website
3. Your institutional affiliation (if any)
4. Self description (100 words) of your position, research or work interests and current focus
5. Motivational statement (150 words) about your motivation to join that particular track
6. Proposition statement (15-20 words) about what specific aspect of the poly crisis you believe requires what kind of transdisciplinary engagement.
(e.g. "Biodiversity loss through soil degradation can only be stopped through citizen science in rural communities.")
7. Abstract (150 words) of what and in what form you would like to contribute to the track (e.g. project presentation, poster presentation, artistic intervention, best practice example, listening & discussion etc.)
8. Suggestions as to further participants (individuals or organizations) you would like to invite to the track. Forwarding invitations after your own applications has been accepted is up to you in coordination with the track organizers.
Suggest a track?
Suggestion for new tracks is closing down by the end of this week on May 5th. You may still join existing tracks and the upcoming tracks being posted over the days.
In order to suggest an additional thematic track, contact the organizing committee via gtdc@donau-uni.ac.at up until 30 March 2024. The organizing committee will review all applications and come back to you for further information.
In order for your application to be considered, please provide the following information:
1. Your name and contact
2. A photo that we may publish on our website
3. Your institutional affiliation (if any)
4. Self description (100 words) of your position, research or work interests and current focus
5. Motivational statement (150 words) about your motivation to open this particular thematic track in relation to that specific aspect of the poly crisis and the role of transdisciplinarity in tackling that specific challenge.
6. Proposition statement (15-20 words) about what specific aspect of the poly crisis you believe requires what kind of transdisciplinary engagement.
(e.g. "Biodiversity loss through soil degradation can only be stopped through citizen science in rural communities.")
7. Optional: Long Text (500-1000 words) describing in more detail what your track should be about and also linking to any relevant publications, online resources and projects.
8. A list of likely participants (individuals or organizations, at least 3) you offer to personally contact and invite to your track with names, contacts and (if possible) confirmation of participation.