Rogga, S., Zscheischler, J. (2021) Opportunities, balancing acts, and challenges - doing PhDs in transdisciplinary research projects. Environmental Science & Policy 120, 138-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.03.009 Doing a PhD in a transdisciplinary research (TDR) project allows early-career scientists (ECSs) to study innovative topics in socioecological systems and to apply methods involving the co-design and co-production of knowledge with practitioners. However, a series of interviews and a group discussion with ECSs involved in TDR projects revealed not only the benefits for career development but also a number of challenges and even risks related to working on such projects. The paper discusses the vital role of ECSs in sustainability science and the professionalization of TDR processes. Will, M., Dressler, G., Kreuer, D., Thulke, H.-H., Grêt‐Regamey, A., Müller, B., (2021). How to make socio‐environmental modelling more useful to support policy and management? People and Nature. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10207 The paper synthesises four key factors for successful modelling for policy and management support in socio-environmental systems. They cover (a) the specific requirements caused by modelling the human dimension, (b) the importance of data availability and accessibility, (c) essential elements of the partnership between modellers and decision-makers and (d) insights related to characteristics of the decision process. For each of these aspects, we give recommendations specifically to modellers, decision-makers or both to make the use of models for practice more effective. We argue that if all parties involved in the modelling and decision-making process take into account these suggestions during their collaboration, the full potential that socio-environmental modelling bears can increasingly unfold.
Schneider, F., Tribaldos, T., Adler, C., Biggs, R.O., de Bremond, A.,Buser, T., Krug, C., Loutre, M.F., Sarah Moore, Norström, A.V., Paulavets, K., Urbach, U., Spehn, E., Wülser, G., Zondervan, R. (2021). Co-production of knowledge and sustainability transformations: a strategic compass for global research networks. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Volume 49, 127-142. ISSN 1877-3435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2021.04.007. An increasing number of voices highlight the need for science itself to transform and to engage in the co-production of knowledge and action, in order to enable the fundamental transformations needed to advance towards sustainable futures. But how can global sustainability-oriented research networks engage in co-production of knowledge and action? The present article introduces a strategic tool called the ‘network compass’ which highlights four generic, interrelated fields of action through which networks can strive to foster co-production. |