Transdisciplinary Research Approach Research Articles

The Threefold Role of the University in Fostering the Energy Transition: The Case of Bologna and Its Cesena Campus

As acceleration toward the transition to a carbon-neutral energy production becomes an urgent imperative, universities are called to play a multifaceted role: to produce knowledge and cutting-edge research for the pursuit of energy transition; to transform infrastructures to promote circular economy practices and a more sustainable use of their building stock; and to promote energy citizenship through formal and informal education. The authors aim to move from these considerations to critically present some actions and programs in education, research, and campus operations in which the University of Bologna is engaged. The first part presents an overview of the role of universities in this transition, with a focus on the UI GreenMetric international standard for assessing the different dimensions of sustainability. In the core section, an empirical focus is provided on Bologna and its Cesena campus through three directions: the University’s multicampus sustainable strategy (campus operations), the relevant research–action projects on energy justice and the energy transition (research), and the EN-ACTION project to foster energy citizenship and behavioral change in students and citizens (education). This study concludes that the comprehensive approach of the University of Bologna in integrating sustainability into its operations, education, and research while fostering student engagement in energy citizenship, provides a replicable model for other institutions. It highlights the need for consistent and ongoing support to ensure the long-term impact and effectiveness of sustainability initiatives. The integration of social components and engagement with civil society is crucial for fostering a collective behavioral shift toward low-carbon systems, which can be further supported by interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches.

Putting grant/d terms to work: from promise to practice in inter- and transdisciplinary research projects

Sustainability research is increasingly based on inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches (IDR and TDR). In this article, we examine how grant terms (used in grant proposals for IDR and TDR projects) are put into practice. We analyzed three research projects to study how TDR and IDR are performed and why, and what we can learn for sustainability research. From a feminist perspective and using a conceptual framework including empty signifiers, comfort words and non-performativity we explore the difficulty of performing the terms, and the risk that they remain merely grand terms, promising and useful for proposals, but not guiding everyday research practice. Based on the analysis, we present seven patterns that complicate performing the terms. We suggest that these patterns can be helpful for other researchers developing their TDR and IDR research practice.

Impacts beyond experimentation ‐ Conceptualising emergent impacts from long-term real-world laboratory processes

Real-world laboratories are settings for joint experimentation on sustainability challenges, through the transdisciplinary collaboration of diverse actor groups. By approaching a real-world laboratory from three perspectives, this paper uncovers the emergent impacts of a long-term collaborative process.Real-world laboratories have become a recognised research format for addressing sustainability challenges. In these transdisciplinary settings, actors from civil society, local government, and academia work together using a transdisciplinary research approach to jointly experiment and learn about sustainability transformations. While these labs are considered to have potential, their impact has not yet been fully measured. Therefore, in our paper we explore the case of the Zukunfts-stadt Lüneburg 2030+ process to uncover the impacts that this long-term effort has generated over the past eight years. By examining the process and its design features from three analytical perspectives, we identify emergent impacts in three dimensions: education, governance, and the lab as an actor for sustainability. Based on our case study, we suggest that real-world labs contribute to sustainability on a local level, beyond the intentional experiments, through impacts that emerge over the course of the joint operation of the lab.

Real-world experiments as a teaching and learning approach for sustainable consumption education

PurposeThis paper aims to propose and evaluate an innovative approach to education for sustainable consumption (ESC) which empowers teenagers and young adults to improve sustainable consumption competences. This approach combines pedagogical learning approaches such as real-world learning (e.g. experiential learning and research-based learning) with transformative and transdisciplinary research approaches (i.e. real-world laboratory research).Design/methodology/approachThrough a transdisciplinary research design, the authors explore if real-world experiments (RWEs) offer a suitable approach for sustainable consumption education at schools. RWEs are a research approach for knowledge production, aiming to go beyond temporary interventions, to establish semi-permanent spaces for sustainability transformation and reflexive learning. To evaluate this proposal, the authors study already existing active teaching and learning approaches developed within and for ESC and put these in perspective, to define and understand the RWEs.FindingsInsights from a transdisciplinary research project which applied RWEs as a teaching and learning approach in German schools complement conceptual considerations. As a result, advantages, such as the development of core competencies among learners, but also challenges experienced, are illustrated. Though, the challenges found are not unique to the RWE, rather they point out important potentials for ESC through suggesting systematic changes in educational institutions and teaching approaches.Originality/valueThis paper explores RWEs as an active and participatory teaching and learning approach for sustainable consumption education at schools and delivers practical insights and a definition of RWEs as an innovative teaching and learning approach.

Positioning research and Scholarly Innovation within a “transdisciplinary” approacht

Based on the shared expertise of two research entities at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) a transdisciplinary (TD) research approach was adopted to investigate whether Rooibos an indigenous South African plant with its unique bioactive compounds modulates oxidative stress and potentially acts as an ergogenic supplement. Due to the nature of this unique biotechnology and sport business collaboration along with support from the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) and associated academic stakeholders, various beneficial outcomes were anticipated, including: 1) to provide scientific findings informed by the innovative technologies that measure metabolic and gene-diet interaction responses to phenolic-rich Rooibos; 2) to assess the potential of Rooibos to modulate oxidative stress during exercise and underscore its anticipated ergogenic properties; 3) to utilize scientifically derived evidence to beneficiate Rooibos in the lucrative sport supplement market; 4) to provide rationale to optimize the equitable sharing of benefits derived from Rooibos to the relevant indigenous communities, and 5) to enhance sustainable economic benefits derived from various policy enactments including the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. The findings from two randomized double-blinded placebo controlled intervention trials provide a strong indication that the unique bioactive compounds of Rooibos may have benefits for exercise performance and recovery and as a potential ergogenic supplement, which may have further positive ramifications for the Rooibos value chain in terms of beneficiating Rooibos. Additionally, the TD approach has acknowledged the importance of indigenous biological resources, and the commitment to share sustainable economic benefits with traditional knowledge holders in a fair and equitable way.

Liver Flukes: Clonorchis and Opisthorchis.

Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini and O. felineus are liver flukes of human and animal pathogens occurring across much of Europe and Asia. Nevertheless, they are often underestimated compared to other, better known neglected diseases in spite of the fact that many millions of people are infected and hundreds of millions are at risk. This is possibly because of the chronic nature of the infection and disease and that it takes several decades prior to a life-threatening pathology to develop. Several studies in the past decade have provided more information on the molecular biology of the liver flukes which clearly lead to better understanding of parasite biology, systematics and population genetics. Clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis are characterized by a chronic infection that induces hepatobiliary inflammation, especially periductal fibrosis, which can be detected by ultrasonography. These chronic inflammations eventually lead to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a usually fatal bile duct cancer that develops in some infected individuals. In Thailand alone, opisthorchiasis-associated CCA kills up to 20,000 people every year and is therefore of substantial public health importance. Its socioeconomic impacts on impoverished families and communities are considerable. To reduce hepatobiliary morbidity and CCA, the primary intervention measures focus on control and elimination of the liver fluke. Accurate diagnosis of liver fluke infections in both human and other mammalian, snail and fish intermediate hosts is important for achieving these goals. While the short-term goal of liver fluke control can be achieved by praziquantel chemotherapy, a comprehensive health education package targeting school children is believed to be more beneficial for a long-term goal/solution. It is recommended that transdisciplinary research or multisectoral control approach including one health and/or eco health intervention strategy should be applied to combat the liver flukes and hence contribute to reduction of CCA in endemic areas.

Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens.

The climate crisis has migration implications, and we need to act inclusively and urgently. Climate change impacts people's decisions to migrate largely through economic, political, technological, demographic, and socio-cultural factors, and their dynamic interlinkages. These complex issues often influence climate risks and vulnerabilities and complicate effective investment and policy actions on migration. However, there is inadequate documentation on how climate change is linked to migration and social transformation. Based on a traditional literature review and inputs from a consultation dialogue, this paper analyzes climate-induced migration in West Africa using a social transformation lens. The paper conceptualizes the climate-induced migrant as an agent of adaptation and describes the complexities of climate vulnerabilities, and its intersection with social transformation in migration decisions. A social transformation conceptual framework is proposed to identify the complexities of climate-induced migration and ensure inclusive strategies are planned, implemented, and sustained. The paper discusses the need for transdisciplinary research approaches to capture various intersections of transforming socio-economic and environmental vulnerabilities across different countries and migratory landscapes. The paper also highlights the critical concern in the region regarding the "trapped population." It suggests that a social transformation lens is required to unravel the dynamics around vulnerable people unable to migrate because they do not have the resources to migrate or are constrained by cultural issues.

A Model Walkability Index for Sustainable Urban Mobility of a Region: The Case of Soccsksargen- A Transdisciplinary Research Approach

Although walkability studies have been pronounced and recognized as an important factor for sustainable urban development, few studies have focused on calculating a reliable walkability index that captures the multifaceted dimensions of urban mobility. Hence, this study aimed to formulate a Model Walkability Index for SoCCSKSarGen Region as the basis for urban development policies in achieving sustainable mobility. Using a convergent mixed methods design, data were collected from 399 pedestrians, five professional design organizations, and 2 public health experts. Through a transdisciplinary approach, it utilized statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and multivariate analysis. For the qualitative findings, data were analyzed using Quirkos and MaxQDA software. Likewise, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was employed to derive the key Walkability factors for formulating the Walkability Index Model. Data revealed that all groups of experts were similar in identifying safety, comfort, and aesthetics as walkability attributes. On the contrary, only the transdisciplinary design professionals considered anthropometric measures and activities as walkability attributes aside from those previously mentioned. Likewise, the converged data provided substance in developing the Model Walkability Index (MWI) for SoCCSKSarGen Region. The resulting MWI discussed in the study represents the convergence of transdisciplinary efforts integrating safe roadway design concepts and sustainability considerations. Furthermore, the study offers a holistic assessment of walkability, enabling stakeholders to foster the creation of future walkable urban communities that are safe, healthy, and environmentally conscious.

Communicating results and uncertainties of radioecological modelling – a transdisciplinary workshop

Abstract. Compared with geological structures, many processes and fluctuations in the biosphere take place on much shorter timescales and are difficult, often nearly impossible to predict over long periods of time. Consequently, modelling results are subject to tremendous uncertainties. While German regulations require biosphere modelling for dose estimations as part of the site selection procedure for a nuclear waste repository, they also recognize those uncertainties by stating that the calculated dose estimates are not an actual prognosis of the effective dose used in practical radiation protection but merely an indicator for the safety of the repository (BASE, 2022, p. 6). In addition to the complex technical aspects, this subtle but important distinction might pose an additional difficulty in understanding the meaning of dose modelling results and their uncertainties when presented to an interested public. Within a transdisciplinary online workshop on safety indicators in nuclear waste management, relevant aspects for communicating dose estimates and uncertainties were evaluated. As the target group, the Citizens' Working Group (CWG) of the TRANSENS research project was chosen. TRANSENS is a transdisciplinary project addressing socio-technical questions concerning the disposal of nuclear waste (TRANSENS, 2023). As an “extended peer community”, the CWG is an important part of the transdisciplinary research approach (Seidl et al., 2021). Currently, the group consists of 14 citizens with a diverse distribution of age, profession and degree of (scientific) education. By design, citizens with no stakes and no particular expertise concerning nuclear waste or radioactivity were recruited. However, the members of the CWG acquired ever-increasing knowledge about the subject in over 2 years of regular meetings and workshops within the project. Thus, the CWG can be seen as a proxy for members of the public with high interest in nuclear waste disposal but potentially without distinct scientific education. The workshop took place over two days as a virtual meeting and covered the full modelling chain from the confinement providing rock zone to the biosphere. Here, mainly results concerning the radioecological modelling will be presented. As a central element we investigated the use of an interactive web tool to illustrate the effects of parameter uncertainties on dose estimates. The web tool, created specifically for this workshop, consists of some slide controls, allowing the user to select values from a given range for four parameters relevant for biosphere modelling. From the selected parameter combination, a dose estimate based on the biosphere model described in the German regulations (BASE, 2022) is calculated and displayed. Additionally, a probability is displayed for each combination, which results from (not necessarily scientifically accurate) underlying probability distributions assumed for each parameter. This rather abstract numerical value, which varies over many orders of magnitude, is in addition visualized by a density plot. The user is asked to rate the information regarding dose value and probability on a scale from “very concerning” to “very reassuring” in an input form at the lower end of the screen. After an introductory presentation on the concepts of effective dose and radioecological modelling, the participants had time to try out the web tool in breakout rooms of three to four people followed by a free discussion on various aspects connected to the tool. Afterwards, the CWG members were asked to collect decisions that need to be made when designing such a tool together with available options (e.g. “Which colour should the slide controls have” → “red, green, blue …”). For inspiration, two alternative designs were shown as examples. A subsequent multiple-choice survey found that the employment of explanatory information boxes, the indication of (legal) references values and the annotation of the dose axis were perceived as the most important aspects within the group. Each of these questions was then revisited in a silent discussion collecting advantages and disadvantages for multiple options on how to address these issues. In the last part of the workshop, the effective dose was compared to two other safety-related indicators resulting from modelling calculations (porosity of the backfill material and radionuclide concentration in groundwater). For this purpose, the participants were asked to discuss to what extent each of the three indicators matched a number of desirable features identified in a previous part of the workshop. The workshop was planned, conducted and evaluated by a team of engineers and natural scientists with support of CWG's coordination team offering psychological and social–scientific expertise as well as experience from a number of previous workshops with the CWG.

Social acceptability and household expectations of green sanitation systems

Large-scale, centralised sanitation systems provide safe, reliable, affordable and dignified sanitation to those located within the waterborne sewerage network. However, publicly managed hydro-modernist sanitation systems are not available to all, with many households and communities across the world having to access basic off-grid, state-provided sanitation services, such as pit latrines or Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets, or having to provide their own solutions to sanitation waste. Urban green sanitation, which is non-sewered and off-grid, represents a new form of hydro-social and socio-technical relations. It aims to address sanitation backlogs and provide an alternative to centralised sanitation systems using ecological circularity. This paper categorises the social acceptability of urban green sanitation technologies into four main dimensions: social concerns, environmental concerns, the right to sanitation, and making a contribution to change. It draws on social assessments undertaken between 2016 and 2023, for the testing of sanitation technologies in Durban, South Africa, as part of the Engineering Field Testing Platform funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Reinvent the Toilet Challenge and the Water Research Commission, South Africa, to reflect on the social dimensions of urban green sanitation. It argues that transdisciplinary research approaches and the co-production of knowledge are essential in understanding the social acceptability of green sanitation.

Changing local climate patterns through hail suppression systems: conflict and inequalities between farmers and wine producers in the Burgundy Region (France)

Meteorological hazards can lead farmers to resort to strategies such as weather modifications. In this paper, we study how the use of such strategies, in this case silver iodide ground generators aimed at protecting vineyards from hail, caused a conflict between farmers (wine producers and cattle breeders) in Burgundy, France. The conflict emerged as the installation of these generators coincided with 3 years of severe droughts (2018, 2019 and 2020), which incurred additional expenses and organisational difficulties for local cattle breeders and led them to suspect a potential link between the generators and the droughts. We followed a transdisciplinary research approach, based on local stakeholder input and their need to mitigate the negative impacts of the conflict. Based on this approach, we studied the links between generator use and precipitation, and carried out in-depth interviews to study farmers’ experiences of climate, generators and conflicts in the region. Whilst the climatic analysis shows no local or regional effects of the generators on precipitation volumes, the sociological study highlights the vulnerability of farmers to successive droughts, found to be part of a wider pattern of climate change based on water balance variables (temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration potential, soil wetness index) over a long period (1959–2020). Our results suggest that the use of technical solutions to mitigate meteorological hazards, within a broader context of climate engineering, can lead to conflicts at the regional level, and that the climate change challenge in the context of agriculture requires a focus on wider social issues including vulnerability.

Building a Transdisciplinary Team to Prevent Intimate Partner Homicide: A Research Note.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and intimate partner homicide (IPH) are complex global problems. Transdisciplinary research approaches offer the potential to increase the understanding of these events and inform best practices for prevention. To encourage scholars to adopt transdisciplinary practices when investigating multifaceted problems, this note employs a case study approach to detail one such effort-The Preventing and Assessing Intimate Partner Homicide Risk (PAIR) Studies. The goal of the PAIR Studies is to improve the understanding of IPH to inform the development of best practices for prevention. The note concludes with a discussion of the benefits of transdisciplinary approaches.

Co-constructing Dynamic thick / Deep Maps for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research (TTDR) in the Context of Complex Sustainability Transitions

Embarking upon sustainability transitions <i>from</i> an unsustainable <i>towards</i> a more sustainable world is a complex undertaking which cannot be approached with one-size-fits-all approaches (panaceas). The social and institutional arrangements necessary for performing this double-movement, inherent in all sustainability transitions, never takes place within exactly the same set of (universal) conditions, but rather under radically different contextual conditions. Ontologically speaking, it is possible to distinguish at least three fundamentally different kinds of sustainability transitions namely: <i>clear</i>, <i>complicated</i> and <i>complex </i>transitions – each with its own internal transitioning logics and dynamics – warranting different methodological approaches. The consequences of approaching <i>all</i> transitions as if they were essentially the same, with one-size-fits-all methodologies, runs the risk of falling into the trap of path-dependency – i.e. becoming (permanently) locked into pursuing certain dominant – single-track – transitioning pathways, regardless of the contexts in which the transitions are embedded. One way of avoiding this is through methodological agility (MA) –a meta-level research strategy which has purposely been developed for knowing <i>when</i> and <i>how</i> to switch between mono-, multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary research approaches when facing said ontologically different kinds of transitions. The purpose of this paper is to focus specifically on <i>complex</i> transitions and some of the key methodological challenges we face when dealing with the emergence and subsequent fluidity of these challenges. As a starting point, performing the double movement in complex transitioning processes means / implies dealing with multiple non-linear transitioning pathways between ill-defined current and future states as opposed to more linear transitioning pathways between well-defined current and future states when dealing with clear and complicated situations. However, the prospect of facing the <i>complexity</i> of complex transitioning challenges can quite easily be construed as things being <i>overly</i> <i>complex</i> to deal with, especially at a practical level of working with real-world sustainability transitions. Overcoming this concern will be addressed in this paper by introducing the co-constructing of dynamic thick / deep maps as an appropriate practical, research method for being methodologically agile when <i>performing</i> TTDR.

Research Report: Exploring Needs, Impediments and Perspectives for a Digital Mental Health Tool in Psychiatric Settings.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought forth rapid responses and changes in the acceptance of digital health interventions. Digital solutions appear increasingly promising, yet little is known about the peculiarities in the psychiatric context, contrary to other medical branches. The project MeHealth aimed at disclosing specific needs and reservations of patients and professionals in the psychiatric field. Apprehensions towards technology were found to be held on both sides. Cooperating with a psychiatric hospital in Austria, through a transdisciplinary research approach including focus groups and workshops, a framework for an integrated Digital Mental Health Tool was established. The findings leading to the framework show a strong need for patient-empowerment, enhancement of trust in technology and the need for multi-stakeholder cooperation. Digital tools should be designed to enhance the continuity of care and information exchange on behalf of the patient. Learnings were gained, which prove recommendable for future R&D projects on digitalization in the delicate field of psychiatry.

From reflection diaries to practical guidance for transdisciplinary research: learnings from a Kenyan air pollution project

Transdisciplinary research (TDR) approaches have been cited as essential for overcoming the intractable sustainability challenges that the world is currently facing, including air pollution, water management and climate change. However, such approaches can be difficult to undertake in practice and can consequently fail to add value. Therefore, examples of what works in practice (and what does not) are helpful to guide future research. In this study, we used a conceptual TDR framework as the basis to examine and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of our approach in a project exploring air pollution in an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. Reflection diaries exploring experiences of participation in the project were undertaken by the project team (comprising academic and community partners) at multiple time points throughout the project. These reflection diaries played an important role in evaluation and for providing space for team learning. Diaries were thematically coded according to the TDR framework to explore aspects of the project that worked well, and areas which presented challenges. We draw upon our reflections, and the extant literature, to make practical recommendations for researchers undertaking TDR projects in future. Recommendations focus on three key project stages (pre-funding, funded period, post-funding) and include; building the team in a way that includes all key stakeholders in relevant and appropriate roles, giving everyone sufficient time to work on the project, and ensuring regular and open communication. Building these recommendations into the design and delivery of transdisciplinary sustainability science projects will support progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Polskie biblioteki publiczne w obliczu wyzwań dotyczących migracji z Ukrainy. Propozycja metodologii badań

The migration of Ukrainians to Poland intensified after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The significant rise in migrants has prompted the question of how public libraries can or should serve their needs for cultural, informational, and educational offerings. The purpose of this article is to propose research methodology that diagnoses and confronts how Polish libraries have managed and will continue to manage the needs of migrants from Ukraine.The specificity of this multifaceted issue will require a transdisciplinary research approach and a compilation of various research methods and techniques (both classical and those in a participatory approach).The analysis of the literature on the subject shows that this research area has not been sufficiently explored to date. Significant gaps in this area are apparent. The research methodology proposed in this article can become an important element in learning about the needs of migrants from Ukraine and how Polish public libraries are adapting their activities to meet the needs and expectations of these library visitors.Due to the large influx of migrants from Ukraine, the existing activities of Polish public libraries need to be revised, transformed, and expanded; therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis of the needs of migrants and the capabilities of the libraries is necessary. This proposed research project fulfills this requirement. Furthermore, due to the unique transdisciplinary nature of this proposal, previous approaches to library research will also be addressed.

Stratification of stakeholders for participation in the governance of coastal social-ecological systems.

Knowledge co-production has become part of an evolution of participatory and transdisciplinary research approaches that are increasingly important for achieving sustainability. To effectively involve the most appropriate stakeholders there is a need for engagement and increasing prominence of stakeholders in environmental management and governance processes. The paper aims at developing and testing a methodology for stratifying stakeholders by (i) classifying organisations involved in coastal and ocean governance by their agency, and (ii) grouping them into organisational archetypes for representation and selection in research processes. Agency was measured by the three dimensions of scale, resources, and power. Each dimension was further elaborated as a set of indicators. The methodology is applied in the context of a research project set in Algoa Bay, South Africa. The stratification of organisations enabled the research team to gain a better understanding of the stakeholder landscape of organisational agency, and thus identify the most relevant stakeholder with which to engage. The use of a hierarchical cluster analysis identified five organisational archetypes in relation to ocean and coastal governance in Algoa Bay. The methodology used in this study proposes an informed and intentional approach to create the conditions under which the co-production of and participation in research processes can take place.

Food policy networks and their potential to stimulate systemic intermediation for food system transformation

Food policy networks (FPNs) are innovative governance instruments that aim to stimulate much-needed food system transformation. However, there is limited insight into what factors affect their potential to be impactful. This study aimed to investigate what challenges FPNs as systemic transition intermediaries face and how they navigate those challenges. We analyzed four Dutch FPNs using interviews, document analysis, and participant observation. Five major challenges were identified: (1) establishing a diverse core group, (2) engaging with specific actor groups, (3) developing a shared vision and transition pathways, (4) positioning an FPN vis-à-vis government, and (5) meaningfully connecting with other intermediaries. Although several navigation strategies were identified, three elements are considered important for Dutch FPNs and other early development stage FPNs to strengthen their potential to engage in systemic intermediation. First, FPNs need strengthening of their transformative leadership capacity to stimulate production of transformative knowledge and establish meaningful connections to other FPNs. Second, FPNs need stronger partnerships with higher education and research institutions. Third, FPNs need representation of different actor roles to integrate transformative transdisciplinary research approaches. R&I policy support and competence development are essential to stimulate all three and, thus, support FPNs in their ambition to contribute to food system transformation.

Indigenous-Amazonian Traditional Medicine's Usage of the Tobacco Plant: A Transdisciplinary Ethnopsychological Mixed-Methods Case Study.

Harmful usage of tobacco is a global public health problem associated with adverse health effects and addiction. Yet, in the Peruvian Amazon, the native region of Nicotiana rustica L., this plant is used in remarkably different manners: it is considered a potent medicinal plant, applied in liquid form for oral ingestion to treat mental health problems, a common and ancient healing practice in this region. Using a transdisciplinary field research approach with mixed ethnopsychological methods, this work aimed to report for the first time a case study in this context. The intervention took place in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto) and involved ritual tobacco ingestion in a weeklong retreat-like frame, administered by a specialized traditional Amazonian healer. The patient was a 37-year-old woman with diagnosed mood, anxiety, and attention deficit disorders, as well as a chronic somatic condition. We applied qualitative experience-sampling during and quantitative symptom assessments pre- and post-treatment. Our findings offer a detailed description of the experiential therapeutic process during the treatment week and suggest clinically relevant improvements in patient well-being. This work is significant in view of the globally prevalent harmful uses of tobacco and the current scientific trend of revisiting herbal psychoactives (e.g., cannabis, psilocybin) for their therapeutic potentials.

Water as a metaphorical marker in Setswana and Afrikaans poetry

The finding of this article is that water in poetry serves specifically as a marker of metaphorical information in the sense that it accentuates, continues and establishes relationships between elements of metaphorical constructions. To Raditladi and the Batswana in general, rain is compared to cattle, which provide and sustain life for the people. To Marais and the Afrikaner tradition in general, the wedding day is the beginning of a new life; the rain brings new life to the land. This article examines two poems in Setswana and Afrikaans. The aim is to analyse water images in the poems and make comparisons. This research study is informed by the multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary (MIT) research approach cutting across subjects, themes, concepts, ideologies, races and languages. This is a textual study with textual analysis as the methodology. It also employs critical discourse analysis and intertextuality as theoretical frameworks to analyse and interpret the data gathered.