Interdiscplinary research: communication skills

This workshop consists of three days and is a combination of Intervision (sharing knowledge and experience among participants) and Communication Skills within the context of Interdisciplinary (or transdisciplinary) Research. Each morning we will discuss theoretical topics regarding fundamental knowledge needed for the effective execution of interdisciplinary research (i.e. post-normal science, Mode I and II science, sociology and philosophy of sharing science, user based knowledge, evaluation of different aspects of quantitative and qualitative research, etc.). Each afternoon of the workshops, we focus on training relevant communication skills needed within interdisciplinary research, such as Babylon Training, Team Analysis, Matrix of Controversy, etc.

The need for this course lies in the complicating factors that separate regular scientific research from Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research. Such research requires cooperation between researchers with different scientific backgrounds. Such research also opens a dialogue between researchers and between researchers and stakeholders and end-users (including for instance farmers). The communication process revolves around convincing, capacity building, inquiring, negotiation, mediation, and gaining commitment. This complexity demands insight into the sociology and philosophy of different scientific disciplines and stakeholder perspectives. The course tests these dynamics in a complex case study, in which both theoretical background as well as communication skills are required. The case studies are matched with the participants’ scientific backgrounds by means of intake forms, which they will receive after registration.