Transformative research contributes to solving societal problems and is characterised by an explicit aspiration to get involved: The aim is to catalyse processes
of change and to actively involve stakeholders in the research process. In this way,
transformative research generates “socially robust” knowledge needed for sustainability transitions. Research at the Wuppertal Institut thus follows a transdisciplinary concept of knowledge: it does not only serve to generate “systems
knowledge” (e.g., technological or resource-oriented systems analysis), but also
integrates stakeholders in the process of generating “target knowledge” (visions and
guiding principles) and “transformation knowledge” in concrete settings of urban or
sectoral transitions to sustainability.
The quality of transformative research must be measured on the basis of its own
aspiration to catalyse societal change for sustainability. Assessment schemes for
transformative research thus include not only academic quality criteria, but also
new forms of measuring societal impact. At the Wuppertal Institut, transformative
research approaches and innovative methods of assuring their scientific quality are
being developed. This is done in cooperation with leading national and international
institutions in the field of transdisciplinary sustainability research.
See at: http://wupperinst.org/en/research/transformative-research/.
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Wuppertal Institut’s Research Focus on Sustainability Transition
of change and to actively involve stakeholders in the research process. In this way,
transformative research generates “socially robust” knowledge needed for sustainability transitions. Research at the Wuppertal Institut thus follows a transdisciplinary concept of knowledge: it does not only serve to generate “systems
knowledge” (e.g., technological or resource-oriented systems analysis), but also
integrates stakeholders in the process of generating “target knowledge” (visions and
guiding principles) and “transformation knowledge” in concrete settings of urban or
sectoral transitions to sustainability.
The quality of transformative research must be measured on the basis of its own
aspiration to catalyse societal change for sustainability. Assessment schemes for
transformative research thus include not only academic quality criteria, but also
new forms of measuring societal impact. At the Wuppertal Institut, transformative
research approaches and innovative methods of assuring their scientific quality are
being developed. This is done in cooperation with leading national and international
institutions in the field of transdisciplinary sustainability research.
See at: http://wupperinst.org/en/research/transformative-research/.
180
Wuppertal Institut’s Research Focus on Sustainability Transition