Invitation: peer-coaching the 'sticky bits' of transdisciplinary research (May 27th and autumn)
Jeanne Feaux de la Croix
Dear fellow experimenters,
Below an invitation that addresses the tricky moments of transdisciplinary work.
If you would like to forward elsewhere, thanks for helping to circulate.
Best wishes, Jeanne
Dear colleagues,
As the Enjust working group on Environmental Justice in Transdisciplinary Contexts, we warmly invite you to our first
Peer-coaching Workshop on the ‘sticky-bits’ (i.e. difficult moments) in transdisciplinary research collaborations.
Our 'sticky-bits' kick-off event at the Enjust conference in Hamburg confirmed a strong interest among colleagues for
a safe sharing and learning format on transdisciplinary practice.
As a follow-up, our first online session will take place on 27th May, 3-5 pm CET on Zoom.
In line with transdisciplinary ethics, we believe that everyone can bring experience or thoughtfulness to the table.
So the session is aimed at academic and non-academic participants who would like to present their issues with a particular
collaboration, or contribute to discussing other participants’ tricky situations, conflicts, moments of doubt, etc. in transdisciplinary projects. We will practice active listening and peer-coaching in a confidential setting.
Outline of 2-hours sessions roughly as follows:
- Mutual introductions, concept on safe space ethics + definitions of transdisciplinary work
- 45-60 minutes for developing and peer-coaching the case study (break-out sessions possible)
- A general discussion at the end for take-aways and outlook.
The session is limited to 20 participants. For better planning, please let us know via email if you’d like to participate. Please also tell us whether you wish to present your own case and to have it discussed by the group (optional!).
We envisage two more sessions to follow in the autumn on 9th September and 4th November.
If you are interested in the peer-coaching sessions but cannot make it on the 27th May, feel free to express your general interest through this short survey. It will help us discern availabilities and needs within the group, to pre-match cases with recurrent themes, your time zones for coordinating sessions, and whether you’d want to take on an active role. e.g. coaching or presenting a case. Taking on active roles is optional - there is no obligation to coach or to receive feedback on your case.
To recall why we are doing all this, please read our original abstract in attachment.
We hope to hear and see you soon! Thank you for helping us to share this Enjust invitation widely.
Warm regards,
Judith Bopp, Jeanne Féaux de la Croix, Juneseo Hwang, and Juliane Schumacher
Abstract for the EnJust Conference 2024 – 21.-23. November 2024 in Hamburg “Environmental Justice in the Age of Planetary Peril: Concepts, Agencies, Mobilisations”
Transdisciplinary Tools for Environmental Justice:
The ‘Sticky Bits’ in Research Collaboration
Forms of transdisciplinary collaboration are a hugely promising avenue in striving towards environmental justice. At the same time, these modes of work usually present complex challenges in setting collective goals, power-sharing and everyday interactions between highly diverse collaborators. How can we successfully co-produce knowledge and action with diverse groups, such as citizens affected by water pollution, natural scientists modelling climate change, policy-makers negotiating agricultural policy, or artists highlighting species extinctions?
Based on our workshop “Transdisciplinary tools FOR Environmental Justice” held at the Environmental Justice conference at University of Bern in September 2022, we suggest a follow-up session to bring to the table the 'sticky bits', and analyse the difficult moments in collaborative processes. In an atmosphere of trust, the proposed session will create a moment of discussion for peers to share the challenging realities of collaborative practice, their moments of doubt, difficulty or conflict.
We invite academic and non-academic participants experienced in transdisciplinary and collaborative research and those interested in trying it out. The session will be held as an open forum. We welcome contact in advance with potential participants. All are free to bring issues they would like to discuss with the group.
Participants will take away a sustained reflection on TD principles and on-the-ground practice for environmental justice. We also think of the session as a potential kick-off for a peer-coaching series where invited expert commentators will share a learning moment from their own practice, and then advise on the issues that are raised from concrete experiences in the peer group.