MAK’IT talks “implementing transdisciplinarity »

Thursday 29 September 2022, 9:30 – 12:30

In the last few decades, transdisciplinarity has quickly gained attention and momentum as a new approach to research and education, together with growing pressures for scientists to pursue impactful and socially-relevant projects.

However, how transdisciplinary research is defined and how it relates to other concepts remains a heavily debated issue. Is transdisciplinarity an ideal or can it really be pursued? If so, what are related scientific methodological levers to activate and implementation challenges to meet? How is transdisciplinarity valorised and what kinds of impacts has it on a scientific career?

This first conference of the ‘MAK’IT Talks’ series aims to present the different definitions and characteristics of ‘transdisciplinarity’ and to propose a modular approach for implementing transdisciplinary transformative research programmes, debated in the light of concrete experiences of Montpellier’s researchers

Programme and speakers

9:30 – 9:45 Welcome coffee

9:45 – 10:00 Introduction

Patrick Caron, Director of MAK’IT

10:00 – 11:00 Keynote address

Ortwin Renn, , Scientific Director, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) – ‘Transdisciplinarity research and approaches: concepts, practices and pitfalls’

11:00 – 12:15 Panel discussion – Transdisciplinary approaches and experiences from Montpellier

Adeline Barnaud, IRD, UMR DIADE

Olivier Barreteau, INRAE, ICIReWaRD UNESCO Center & JRU G-EAU

Aurélie Binot, CIRAD, MSH-SUD, JRU ASTRE

Dimitri Justeau-Allaire, IRD, JRU AMAP & Recipient of the 2020 Interdisciplinary Thesis Awards, Doctoral College, University of Montpellier

12:15 – 12:30 Closing remarks

Carlos Alvarez Pereira, Vice-President of the Club of Rome

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch buffet

About the ‘MAK’IT Talks’:

The Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions (MAK’IT) opens this year one of its monthly seminars, previously reserved exclusively for its resident fellows, to Montpellier’s scientific and student community.

Entirely in English, these ‘MAK’IT Talks’ are intended to serve as a space for productive dialogue between international and local experts and aim to strengthen links and synergies around transversal topics, at the science-society interface.

We encourage you to take full advantage of this new exchange platform and we look forward to seeing you at these monthly meetings!