Skip to 0 minutes and 9 seconds We call complex what is difficult to understand. Systems made of parts that interact in manifold ways. Situations in which actors need to cooperate, even if they have diverging aims and approaches. Climate change is complex and so are societies. Migration starts from local necessity and leads into difficult contexts. Health care is a basic need, but faces intricate issues on a local, as well as, on a global scale. Today, we need to address many challenges that are complex. All have one thing in common. They cannot be tackled by one party alone. To improve them, several actors need to bring together what they know, jointly creating new knowledge. Researchers are often one of these actors.
Skip to 0 minutes and 59 seconds They bring science to the table to address problems that can only be solved together with decision makers and affected people. For this, they propose an approach that is called transdisciplinary research. Our cause brings together scientists from several esteemed Swiss universities and institutions who let you experience transdisciplinary research. They have the vision to share it with everybody motivated to address complex societal challenges. Five cases show how the approach may vary when applied. Climate change demands new water management systems in the Alps. Mobile pastoralists need better health care. A peripheral village faces many challenges because of tourist development. Labour migrants from Nepal to India start to understand their rights.
Skip to 1 minute and 55 seconds A project supports the World Health Organisation to address the problem of antibiotic resistance. With these cases, you will explore how transdisciplinary research works. You will investigate benefits and pitfalls. In addition, experts explain the theoretical background, proposing methods and tools, and inviting you to develop your own ideas. Many people collaborated for this course, coordinated by the network for transdisciplinary research, which is part of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.
Skip to 2 minutes and 31 seconds They are convinced that the approach is promising to address the complex challenges in our current world.
Skip to 2 minutes and 40 seconds So find out what this means for you, for your research, for your career, for your life. We very much look forward to welcome you to the course.
