November 24, 2022
November 25, 2022
On 24 and 25 November 2022, we are pleased to invite you to the second edition of the “Conference on Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development" that will be held in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
This annual conference was introduced as part of UCLouvain's “Transition Plan” that aims at “stimulating and supporting the emergence of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in the field of sustainable development ». Nearly 150 researchers participated in the first edition where more than 50 contributions were accepted and presented in 16 parallel sessions. (read more about the 2021 edition)
For the second edition, the conference intends to be international and will be open to researchers from the European University Alliance Circle U. The conference will indeed conclude the "Circle U. sandpits", one of Circle U.’s flagship actions in support of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches. In addition, with the "Inter Circle U. Prize for inter- and transdisciplinary research", this conference will be an opportunity to highlight some remarkable initiatives carried out in Circle U. universities.
Scope
Both interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches are increasingly required to address ecological and social transition challenges involving interdependent technical, economic or socio-cultural dimensions and a plurality of social actors at the level of society. These social actors include both actors from the NGOs, private enterprises, public administrations, non-university research institutions or engaged citizens. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches mobilize specific disciplinary knowledge from all sectors of the university (Sciences and Technology, Social sciences and Humanities, Health Sciences), but they also attempt to integrate different types of knowledge through processes of co-construction of knowledge between researchers from different disciplines and social actors involved in transition initiatives.
The Transition Plan highlights that such research often requires specific support in terms of methodological tools, types of partnerships with social actors or visibility in academic journals and international conferences.
In this context, on 24-25 November 2022, the second edition of the scientific “Conference on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research for sustainable development” will be organised in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Programme
The conference will be formatted along several programme activities:
- Opening Plenary session (on 24 November) on Increasing the contribution of transdisciplinary research to accelerating sustainability transitions.
Our guest speakers, Alexandra Lux and Flurina Schneider (Institute for Social-Ecological Research, Germany), will deliver two plenary keynote lectures entitled “Strengthening societal effects of transdisciplinary sustainability research” and “Transdisciplinary knowledge co-production on sustainability transformations”.
- Thematic Sessions (on 25 November)
Following an open call for scientific contributions, researchers from Circle U. universities and UCLouvain involved in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary research projects will present their research work or their research protocols in a series of thematic parallel sessions.
- Panel discussions with representatives of Circle U. Universities on creating interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge ecosystems for research and higher education at universities
- Best practice examples of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in the European University Alliance Circle U.
Videos presenting the three initiatives selected in the framework of the Inter-Circle U. Prize for inter and transdisciplinary research (ICUP) can be viewed on the website of the Circle U. Alliance.
Practicalities
The conference will take place in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium on 24 and 25 November 2022.
Thursday 24 November
Time: 16:15 – 18:00
Location:
The Opening session will take place at :
Auditorium SOCRATE 11
Place Cardinal Mercier 10
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Friday 25 November
Time: 09:30 -17:30
Location:
The Thematic parallel sessions will take place at Collège Thomas More
Place Montesquieu, 2
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Registration:
Participation is free but registration is mandatory via this form.