Pathways Forum #9 – Communicating ‘messy’ science: Capturing the transformative potential of communication & outreach in transdisciplinary work

Dissemination is an essential part of transdisciplinary work. Effective communication can foster mutual learning and build trust between different actors. It can draw in different audiences, bringing attention to and sparking interest in important issues and inspire action. It can open the door for critical reflection, debate and the co-construction of possible solutions. In many cases, dissemination can contribute to the transformative capacity of transdisciplinary projects. Yet, the role of communication is still too often overlooked and undervalued by researchers, with many perceiving it as peripheral to their work.

This webinar invites us to reflect on the challenges and opportunities for communication in transdisciplinary contexts. How does communication in transdisciplinary settings differ from traditional research? How do we navigate issues of transparency, objectivity, and inclusivity? What makes communication « effective », and what methods/tools can support this? By anchoring this discussion with concrete examples, this session seeks to support researchers wishing to engage more meaningfully with different actors, test new methods of communication, and go beyond the linear model of science communication to enact transformative change.

Dissemination is an essential part of transdisciplinary work. Effective communication can foster mutual learning and build trust between different actors. It can draw in different audiences, bringing attention to and sparking interest in important issues and inspire action. It can open the door for critical reflection, debate and the co-construction of possible solutions. Yet, the role of communication is still too often overlooked and undervalued by researchers, with many perceiving it as peripheral to their work.

How does communication in transdisciplinary settings differ from traditional research? How do we navigate issues of transparency, objectivity, and inclusivity? What makes communication « effective », and what methods/tools can support this? By anchoring this discussion with concrete examples, this webinar seeks to support researchers wishing to engage more meaningfully with different actors, test new methods of communication, and go beyond the linear model of science communication to enact transformative change.

ABOUT THE PATHWAYS FORUM

The Pathways Forum is a bi-monthly online event where researchers from diverse disciplines who engage, or want to engage, with societal actors in processes of adaptive learning to design, implement, and evaluate pathways to sustainability get a chance to reflect on concepts and theories of change, and discuss the practical implications of sustainability science and transdisciplinarity for research practices. Through this webinar series, the Pathways Initiative aims to develop and support agenda-setting, synthesis and capacity building around pathways for sustainability.