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Pledge for a transformative science: A conceptual framework

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  • Schneidewind, Uwe
  • Singer-Brodowski, Mandy
  • Augenstein, Karoline
  • Stelzer, Franziska

Abstract

"Transformative science" is a concept that delineates the new role of science for knowledge societies in the age of reflexive modernity. The paper develops the program of a transformative science, which goes beyond observing and analyzing societal transformations, but rather takes an active role in initiating and catalyzing change processes. The aim of transformative science is to achieve a deeper understanding of ongoing transformations and increased societal capacity for reflexivity with regard to these fundamental change processes. The concept of transformative science is grounded in an experimental paradigm, which has implications for (1) research, (2) education and learning, and (3) institutional structures and change in the science system. The article develops the theoretical foundations of the concept of transformative science and spells out the concrete implications in these three dimensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Schneidewind, Uwe & Singer-Brodowski, Mandy & Augenstein, Karoline & Stelzer, Franziska, 2016. "Pledge for a transformative science: A conceptual framework," Wuppertal Papers 191, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:wuppap:191
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    2. Schneidewind, Uwe & Singer-Brodowski, Mandy, 2015. "Vom experimentellen Lernen zum transformativen Experimentieren: Reallabore als Katalysator fuer eine lernende Gesellschaft auf dem Weg zu einer Nachhaltigen Entwicklung (From Experimental Learning to ," Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik - Journal for Business, Economics & Ethics, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 16(1), pages 10-23.
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    9. Schneidewind, Uwe & Singer-Brodowski, Mandy, 2015. "Vom experimentellen Lernen zum transformativen Experimentieren: Reallabore als Katalysator fuer eine lernende Gesellschaft auf dem Weg zu einer Nachhaltigen Entwicklung (From Experimental Learning to ," Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik - Journal for Business, Economics & Ethics, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 16(1), pages 10-23.
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    Cited by:

    1. Larjosto, Vilja, 2022. "Research through Design as a transformative approach," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Spatial transformation: Processes, strategies, research design, volume 19, pages 201-208, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    2. Küblböck, Karin & Omann, Ines & Grohs, Hannes & Karutz, Raphael & Klassert, Christian & Klauer, Bernd & Zhu, Yuanzao & Zozmann, Heinrich & Smilovic, Mikhail & Gorelick, Steven, 2021. "The role of sustainability living labs in understanding food-water-energy nexus challenges and solutions in India and Jordan," Working Papers 63, Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE).
    3. Jorrit Holst & Antje Brock & Mandy Singer-Brodowski & Gerhard de Haan, 2020. "Monitoring Progress of Change: Implementation of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within Documents of the German Education System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Deparnay-Grunenberg, Anna & Llerandi, Bianca, 2020. "Cultivating Common Good: A Call for Transformative Science to renew the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)," SocArXiv 3xjgr, Center for Open Science.
    5. Schäpke, Niko & Stelzer, Franziska & Bergmann, Matthias & Singer-Brodowski, Mandy & Wanner, Matthias & Caniglia, Guido & Lang, Daniel J., 2017. "Reallabore im Kontext transformativer Forschung: Ansatzpunkte zur Konzeption und Einbettung in den internationalen Forschungsstand," EconStor Preprints 168596, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    6. Jennifer Maria Krah & Julian Reimann & Heike Molitor, 2021. "Sustainability in Brandenburg Study Programs. Perspectives for Anchoring Sustainability in Higher Education Curricula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-32, April.
    7. Anna Bogedain & Rüdiger Hamm, 2020. "Strengthening local economy – an example of higher education institutions’ engagement in “co-creation for sustainability”," REGION, European Regional Science Association, vol. 7, pages 9-27.
    8. Jana Zscheischler & Sebastian Rogga & Maria Busse, 2017. "The Adoption and Implementation of Transdisciplinary Research in the Field of Land-Use Science—A Comparative Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-20, October.
    9. Larjosto, Vilja, 2019. "Research through Design as a transformative approach," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Abassiharofteh, Milad & Baier, Jessica & Göb, Angelina & Thimm, Insa & Eberth, Andreas & Knaps, Falc (ed.), Räumliche Transformation: Prozesse, Konzepte, Forschungsdesigns, volume 10, pages 217-225, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    10. Marlen Gabriele Arnold, 2022. "The challenging role of researchers coping with tensions, dilemmas and paradoxes in transdisciplinary settings," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 326-342, April.
    11. Michael Rose & Katharina Schleicher & Katrin Maibaum, 2017. "Transforming Well-Being in Wuppertal—Conditions and Constraints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-27, December.

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