Comment on hess-2021-419

Roman Seidl

doi:10.5194/hess-2021-419-rc1

Abstract

The co-creation of knowledge through a process of mutual learning between scientists and societal actors is an important avenue to advance science and resolve complex problems in society. While the value and principles for such transdisciplinary water research have been well established, the power and empowerment dimensions continue to pose a challenge, even more so in international processes that bring together participants from the global north and south. We build on earlier research to combine known phases, activities and principles for transdisciplinary water research with a negotiated approach to stakeholder empowerment. Combining these elements, we unpack the power and empowerment dimension in transdisciplinary research for peri-urban groundwater management in the Ganges Delta. Our case experiences show that a negotiated approach offers a useful and needed complement to existing transdisciplinary guidelines. Based on the results, we identify responses to the power and empowerment challenges, which add to existing strategies for transdisciplinary research. A resulting overarching recommendation is to engage with power and politics more explicitly from the inception of transdisciplinary activities, as a key input for problem framing.

Highlights

Transdisciplinary research is on the rise as a process of co-creation of knowledge by science and society to offer solutions for complex problems in human-water systems (e.g. Krueger et al, 2016; Ferguson et al, 2018; Ghodsvali et al 2019; Sapkota, 35 2019; Pohl et al, 2021)
We build on earlier research to combine known phases, activities and principles for transdisciplinary water research with a negotiated approach to stakeholder empowerment
The differences in the types of knowledge and the thought styles that different groups bring to the table, are mixed with established structures for social interactions and the associated power and political dimensions (Jahn et al, 2012; 45 Krueger et al, 2016; Brown, 2018; Pohl et al, 2021). Paying attention to this power and empowerment dimension is especially important in areas where power disparities are rife and where scientific knowledge is one ingredient in a larger mix through which stakeholders seek to solve societal challenges. This is the case for water management in peri-urban areas

Summary

Introduction

Transdisciplinary research is on the rise as a process of co-creation of knowledge by science and society to offer solutions for complex problems in human-water systems (e.g. Krueger et al, 2016; Ferguson et al, 2018; Ghodsvali et al 2019; Sapkota, 35 2019; Pohl et al, 2021). Since transdisciplinary research aspires to have societal impact, addressing this challenge of 40 stakeholder participation and empowerment, as well as dealing with institutional ambiguity and informality, should become part and parcel to the effort (ibid., Van Breda and Swilling, 2019) This means that transdisciplinary water science cannot be separated from issues of power, empowerment, and capacity development. The differences in the types of knowledge and the thought styles that different groups bring to the table, are mixed with established structures for social interactions and the associated power and political dimensions (Jahn et al, 2012; 45 Krueger et al, 2016; Brown, 2018; Pohl et al, 2021) Paying attention to this power and empowerment dimension is especially important in areas where power disparities are rife and where scientific knowledge is one ingredient in a larger mix through which stakeholders seek to solve societal challenges. The findings from these experiences result in suggestions for a more power-sensitive 60 transdisciplinarity, after which we conclude with some final take-aways

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion