Sustainability and inter- and transdisciplinarity
Our understanding of sustainability is that of meeting the needs of social and economic progress for humanity while staying within planetary boundaries of our biosphere. Planetary boundaries and the social foundations of human welfare together shape a safe and just space for humanity.
In doing sustainability research, adopting interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary approaches appears crucial, not to say imperative. However, most scholars have been educated and work within what are very often siloed disciplines, such as management or law. Inter- and transdisciplinarity often require coming out of our comfort zones, requiring curiosity, humility and time. Inter- and transdisciplinarity need to be cultivated and questioned. Interdisciplinarity is also a team’s effort where we both listen and share, challenge our own beliefs, contribute to other research fields and develop our the knowledge of our own field of research.
Theme and content
The seminar will take place on Friday 9 June. It will be preceded on Thursday 8 June by a celebration of three interdisciplinary books on business and sustainability released in the second half of 2022. The book celebration, held from 4.30-6 pm CEST, is also hybrid and open for all interested. You can sign up to both events through the same online form. Participants to both days are invited to a drinks reception following the book celebration (6-7 pm), followed by a dinner for speakers and organisers of both events.
The seminar will be divided in two sessions, each including two brief presentations and followed by an interactive panel discussion. The first session will focus on opportunities, best practice examples, and challenges in doing interdisciplinarity for sustainability, and will aim to discuss how we, sustainability scholars, can further improve and strengthen how we conduct our research. The second session will ask similar questions, but with transdisciplinarity as focal point. Each session will feature legal and non-legal scholars who have long-standing experience working inter- and transdisciplinarily. They will share their vision and insights, and challenge themselves and the audience on how we can better use those approaches to address the greatest challenges of our time, namely transitioning to sustainability.
Programme
Hybrid format: Lødrups kjeller, The faculty of law, and Zoom
8:45 – 9:00 Coffee and tea, and fruits
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome by Jukka Mähönen
9:15-12:00 First session: How can we better do interdisciplinarity for sustainability? Opportunities, best practice examples, challenges
Chair: Eléonore Maitre-Ekern
Brief introductions to set the scene by:
-
Mary Preston Sutphen, (from EMPOWER, UiO department of Education) improving collaboration for interdisciplinary research and work to meet complex societal problems
- Jukka Mähönen, University of Oslo, on the necessity of interdisciplinarity for legal theory
Coffee/tea break with refreshments
Interactive panel discussion, involving the audience and their experiences
Panel participants:
- Stefan Grundmann, European University Institute
- Théophile Martin, NTNU
- Beate Sjåfjell, University of Oslo
- Mary Preston Sutphen
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch for all participants at the venue
13.00-14.45: Second session: How can we better do transdisciplinarity for sustainability? Opportunities, best practice examples, challenges
Chair: Beate Sjåfjell
Brief introductions to set the scene by:
- Celinda Palm, Stockholm Resilience Centre
- Hanna Ahlström, EY
Coffee/tea break with refreshments
Interactive panel discussion, involving the audience and their experiences
Panel participants:
- Jay Cullen, Edge Hill University
- Carol Liao, British Columbia University
- Heidi Rapp Nilsen, NTNU
- Celinda Palm
- Hanna Ahlström
14.45-15.00 Closing of the event
Registration
Please register your participation by 1 June for physical participation and by 7 June for digital participation.