Transdisciplinary Research

Welcome to the dedicated page for transdisciplinary science at our university. As we face increasingly complex societal challenges, the need for a collaborative, integrative approach to research has never been more critical. Transdisciplinary science bridges disciplines to create holistic solutions, driving innovation and societal impact. By fostering collaboration across fields, we aim to address global issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical tensions, ensuring a sustainable future for all.

“Concerns like climate change, artificial intelligence and geopolitical tensions have a disruptive force and affect our daily lives. They can and, most likely, will endanger our future and that of future generations.” - Liesbeth Noordegraaf-Eelens 

Join the learning community

As a follow-up to the conference on Transdisciplinary Science at Erasmus University on 11 April, we aim to form a learning community with researchers, policymakers, innovation experts, and stakeholders. This registration will allow us to identify the specific interests of participants so we can organize the community accordingly. Together, we can shape the research landscape and create meaningful solutions to the world's most pressing problems. Please note that if there are too few registrations, we will interpret this as a lack of interest and will not proceed with the initiative. 

Related activities

• The “Jonge Akademie” , the Young Dutch Academy of Sciences is gathering insights from researchers and societal stakeholders involved with Transdisciplinary research. The report is expected to be published after the Summer. 
• AWTI advisory reports (in Dutch):
  • Report Stimulate Innovation from SSH science
  • Report Stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Report Wicked problems: lessons Learned from the Corona crises
• NWO has developed a platform on transdisciplinary research. The Knowledge platform for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research develops knowledge on programming, conducting and evaluating interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, and it consolidates existing knowledge and experience. The pilot was completed in April 2023. Phase 2 of the program is under development.
• Design impact Transition Platform (DIT) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. DIT is a platform at the university that aims at radical new and innovative ways of education, research and engagement for a sustainable and just future. DIT will organise a sustainability Summit in the fall (2024).
• 4 – 8 November 2024 Conference ITD2024: Inter- and Transdisciplinarity Beyond Buzzwords: Educational Pathways for Sustainable Research Collaborations organised by the ITD Alliance.