Journal: Futures

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Elsevier

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ISSN

0016-3287

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Publications 1 - 10 of 11
  • Transdisciplinary collaboration in environmental research
    Item type: Journal Article
    Pohl, Christian Erik (2005)
    Futures
  • Energy descent as a post-carbon transition scenario: How ‘knowledge humility’ reshapes energy futures for post-normal times
    Item type: Journal Article
    Floyd, Joshua; Alexander, Samuel; Lenzen, Manfred; et al. (2020)
    Futures
  • Strategic foresight in public policy
    Item type: Journal Article
    Habegger, Beat (2010)
    Futures
  • Problem structuring for transitions: The case of Swiss waste management
    Item type: Journal Article
    Scholz, Roland W.; Spoerri, Andy; Lang, Daniel J. (2009)
    Futures
    Transdisciplinarity is considered an appropriate approach in supporting transitions of complex socio-technical systems as such transitions demand highly contextualized real world knowledge and valuations. This holds especially true for the problem identification and structuring (initial) phase of a transition project, which aims at supporting goal formation based on a sound understanding and representation of the system's current state and its dynamics. Throughout this phase, it is important that all relevant perspectives in terms of expertise and interests are considered and adequately fed into a process of knowledge integration. This paper presents in its first part the structuring for complex transitions (SCT) procedure aiming at this requirement. The procedure has been specifically designed for problem structuring in socio-technical systems in the initial phase of a transition project. The results of the procedure provide sound inputs for the next project phases and the transition methods applied therein, but can themselves already be used as fruitful orientations in strategy development. The second part of the paper briefly outlines the application of the SCT procedure to Swiss waste management. This application involved 48 participants who reached consensus on relevant impact factors and developed a shared vision for managing a complex transition process in the area of waste management. The approach is marked by high feasibility and socially robust results.
  • Unlocking wise digital techno-futures: Contributions from the Degrowth community
    Item type: Journal Article
    Pansera, Mario; Ehlers, Melf-Hinrich; Kerschner, Christian (2019)
    Futures
    Many of the benefits anticipated from technology in the 1960s remain unrealized today. Alongside the optimism that drives technological development, more sceptical views that regard the promises of technology with reflection, mistrust, and even hostility, have emerged within Western societies. One such group is the Degrowth community, a heterogenous group of researchers and activists who question technological advancements that contribute to environmentally and socially harmful economic growth. In this vein, the movement critically observes the current hype surrounding digital technology, which seems to reflect a mantra of “the more digital technology, the better”. This paper presents perspectives that emerged from a dialogue among members of the Degrowth community, who were asked to imagine wise and unwise futures of digitalisation in 2068. Key concerns of unwise futures include increasing disconnection of humans from the natural environment and from one another as individuals, the use of digital technology for optimising the allocation of scarce resources to the benefit of the wealthy few, and authoritarian governance of technologies and life itself. Wise technological futures, in turn, allow people to freely access digital technologies that are convivial, just, environmentally sustainable, and guided by democratic deliberation. It remains controversial how far digital technologies and the interests and skills surrounding them can facilitate the principles of Degrowth, and the extent to which the harmful effects of digital technologies are already shaping social, ecological and technological futures. However, the dialogue clearly emphasised the need to develop more detailed socio-technological imaginaries that provide practically feasible alternatives.
  • Systemic scenarios of nanotechnology
    Item type: Journal Article
    Wiek, Arnim; Gasser, Lukas; Siegrist, Michael (2009)
    Futures
  • Functions of scenarios in transition processes
    Item type: Review Article
    Wiek, Arnim; Binder, Claudia; Scholz, Roland W. (2006)
    Futures
  • Anticipating transitions beyond the current mobility regimes
    Item type: Journal Article
    Epprecht, Nils; von Wirth, Timo; Stünzi, Christian; et al. (2014)
    Futures
  • What is progress in transdisciplinary research?
    Item type: Journal Article
    Pohl, Christian Erik (2011)
    Futures
  • Who is doing inter- and transdisciplinary research, and why? An empirical study of motivations, attitudes, skills, and behaviours
    Item type: Journal Article
    Guimarães, Maria H.; Pohl, Christian Erik; Bina, Olivia; et al. (2019)
    Futures
    We witness a persistent tension between established ways of knowledge production through disciplines, and the urgent need to widen and change, both the production of knowledge and its organization, not least, in order to be able to understand and address the future and its challenges. Witnessing a growing call for inter- and transdisciplinarity (ITD), we set our goal to learn more about scholars who engage in this kind of research by asking these questions: What characterizes inter- and transdisciplinary researchers (ITDRs)? To what extent do these characteristics help ITDRs deal with the challenges of an academic career path? We address both questions by comparing the findings from the relevant literature and semi-structured interviews with ITDRs at different stages in their careers. Our results bring the ITDR personality a step further in taking a form. ITDR personalities can be characterized by a particular mix of motivations, attitudes, skills, and behaviors. However, the academic environment and its career paths do not seem prepared and adapted for such ITDR personalities. Furthermore and in contrast to the literature, the T-shaped training (first, disciplinary depth and then, ITDR) is considered one possible career path, with the other one being a specialization in facilitating knowledge integration and in developing theories, methods, and tools for ITD. Our analysis concludes by exploring the future of ITD if formal training and learning would be available and if the contextual conditions would be more conducive to undertaking this type of research.
Publications 1 - 10 of 11