Global Consortium for Systems Research (GCSR) — Conference Paper 2023.11.11.01

A Theory on Transdisciplinary Systems Research (TSR)

This is Part 2 of 2: see What can systems research teach us about conducting impactful research for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals? (Part 1)

For the full conference paper, please scroll to the bottom of this webpage

Author: Marvin Cheung (Chair, Global Consortium for Systems Research; Co-Director, Center for Global Agenda at Unbuilt Labs; United Nations Expert and Fellow) Marvin@UnbuiltLabs.com

Venue: 2023 Future of Global Governance Series: Sustainable Development, Risk, and Strategic Foresight in a Transdisciplinary Systemic World (with press attendance from Nature Sustainability)

Date: 11 November 2023

💡 I introduced a novel theory on Transdisciplinary Systems Research recently. In 10 minutes, I describe strategies to research problems we commonly face in sustainable development.

❓ How might we incorporate theories on grand challenges, wicked problems, and systems into our research projects?

❓ How might we reconcile academic and non-academic (such as local, practical, or indigenous) knowledge?

❓ How might we evaluate this type of research?

Adding onto a previous keynote "What can systems research teach us about conducting impactful research for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals", this presentation adds:

1️⃣ Ontological considerations through the theory of boundaries

2️⃣ Epistemological considerations through procedures for examining evidence

3️⃣ Axiological considerations through valuation lenses

Abstract:

This brief presentation introduces a novel theory on Transdisciplinary Systems Research (TSR) as well as its related concepts Transdisciplinary Systems Thinking (TST) and Transdisciplinary Systems Intervention (TSI). As a response to critiques of Soft Systems Thinking (SST), Hard Systems Thinking (HST), and Critical Systems Thinking (CST), TST has been formulated to solve grand challenges such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by combining transdisciplinary research (TDR) and systems thinking, with a dedicated research philosophy including a theory on boundaries (ontology), procedures for examining evidence (epistemology), and valuation lenses (axiology). TSR is when TST is applied to research. TSI are outputs of TSR which can include recommendations, interventions, and other actions. The methodological implications and evaluation criteria for TSR will not be covered in the presentation but they will be available in the conference paper.

Please note, concepts with an asterisk (*) are explained in the conference paper “What can systems research teach us about conducting impactful research for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals?”: https://unbuiltlabs.com/conducting-impactful-research-for-the-2030-sdgs   

The presentation is adapted from Part 1 of the author’s forthcoming publication with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Closing the Compliance Gap: System-wide Transformation Methods for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.