Transdisciplinary Research in Land Use Science—Developments, Criticism and Empirical Findings from Research Practice

Abstract

The particular importance of transdisciplinarity (TD) is emphasised against the backdrop of urgent complex real-world challenges and a changed societal demand for knowledge. It is no longer just a matter of producing new scientific insights, but also of achieving the solution-oriented goals and producing the action knowledge that support sustainable development and land management. Transdisciplinary research (TDR) projects have been supported in Germany over the past two decades. However, critical questions are increasingly being raised about the extent to which such projects have been successful. This chapter introduces the development of the TDR concept; describes the current criticism of TDR; and presents empirical findings from research practice. The results reveal a number of implementation deficits that can be traced back to a misfit with academic structures and a lack of knowledge.