Transdisciplinary collaboration has achieved remarkable results in many fields,and many global challenges also require transdisciplinary collaboration.Therefore,transdisciplinary education and research is one of the i...Transdisciplinary collaboration has achieved remarkable results in many fields,and many global challenges also require transdisciplinary collaboration.Therefore,transdisciplinary education and research is one of the inevitable trends in the future development of universities.In this context,HKUST has made innovative changes in transdisciplinary education and research.First,we set three missions for the development of HKUST in transdisciplinary education and research.Second,we established the HKUST Guangzhou Campus to carry out a new revolution in transdisciplinary education and research.In addition,Big Data,AI,and computer science play a vital role in transdisciplinary research and collaboration,and we also need to rethink the role of computer science and how to better refer to supporting interdisciplinary collaboration.展开更多
Fractures of femur proximal extremity(FFPE)are the most common fragility fractures requiring hospitalization,with a high risk of mortality,low independence in the activities of daily living and severe consequences on ...Fractures of femur proximal extremity(FFPE)are the most common fragility fractures requiring hospitalization,with a high risk of mortality,low independence in the activities of daily living and severe consequences on healthrelated quality of life.Timing for surgery has a key role in the management of elderly patients with FFPE as recommended by the Australian and New Zealand guidelines and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.Early surgery(within 48 h from hospital admission)allows significant benefits in terms of lower rates of postoperative complications and risk of death and can provide better functional outcomes.Therefore,time for surgery could be considered as a comorbidity marker.The choice between conservative or surgical approach surprisingly seems to be still not strongly supported by available literature,but it seems that both 30 d and 1 year risk of mortality is higher with the conservative treatment rather than with surgery.In light of these considerations,the optimization of FFPE management care is mandatory to improve functional outcomes and to reduce sanitary costs.Albeit it is widely accepted that transdisciplinary approach to patients suffering from FFPE is mandatory to optimize both short-term and long-term outcomes,the feasibility of a comprehensive approach in clinical practice is still a challenge.In particular,the large variability of figures involved could be considered both a resource and an additional disadvantage taking into account the difficulty to coordinate multidisciplinary approach covering care in all settings.Therefore,the aim of the present article was to summarize current evidence supporting transdisciplinary management of patients with FFPE,highlighting the benefits,feasibility and limitations of this approach.展开更多
There is a growing need for both science and practice domains to collaboratively and systematically seek knowledge-based strategies for sustainable development. In recent years, transdisciplinary research has emerged ...There is a growing need for both science and practice domains to collaboratively and systematically seek knowledge-based strategies for sustainable development. In recent years, transdisciplinary research has emerged as a new approach that enables joint problem solving among scientists and stakeholders in various fields. In this paper, we aim to introduce transdisciplinary research for supporting the integration of the concept of eco- system services into land and water management in the Tarim River Basin, Xinjiang, Northwest China. While a large number of ecosystem service studies have helped to raise the awareness for the value of nature in China, a number of challenges remain, including an improved understanding of the relationships between ecosystem structure, functions and services, and the interaction of the various ecosystem services. A meaningful valuation of ecosystem services also requires the consideration of their strong spatial heterogeneity. In addition, ways to introduce the con- cept of ecosystem services into decision-making in China need to be explored. Thus, successful integration of the concept of ecosystem services into actual land and water management requires a broad knowledge base that only a number of scientific disciplines and stakeholders can provide jointly, via a transdisciplinary research process. We regard transdisciplinary research as a recursive process to support adaptive management that includes joint knowledge generation and integration among scientists and stakeholders. System, target, and transformation knowledge are generated and integrated during the process of （1） problem （re）definition, （2） problem analysis and strategy development, and （3） evaluation of the impact of the derived strategy. Methods to support transdisciplinary research comprise participatory modelling （actor-based modelling and Bayesian Networks modelling） and partici- patory scenario development. Actor-based modelling is a semi-quantitative method that is based on the analysis of problem perspectives of individual stakeholders as depicted in perception graphs. With Bayesian Networks, com- plex problem fields are modelled probabilistically in a simplified manner, using both quantitative data and qualitative expert judgments. These participatory methods serve to integrate diverse scientific and stakeholder knowledge and to support the generation of actually implementable management strategies for sustainable development. For the purpose of integrating ecosystem services in land and water management in the Tarim River Basin through trans- disciplinary research, collaboration among scientists and institutional stakeholders from different sectors including water, agriculture, forestry, and nature conservation is required. The challenge is to adapt methods of transdisci- plinary research to socio-cultural conditions in China, particularly regarding ways of communication and deci- sion-making.展开更多
A couple of decades ago natural phenomena began to be approached from a comprehensive and transdisciplinary point of view, as it was understood that living beings and their environments are not linear but complex. The...A couple of decades ago natural phenomena began to be approached from a comprehensive and transdisciplinary point of view, as it was understood that living beings and their environments are not linear but complex. There is no doubt that this perspective of visualizing complexity and working inter- and trans-disciplinarily has to be applied. The reflection on the theoretical observation （i.e., meta-observation） involved in the concept of poly-contexturality is the framework in which a theory of complex systems is possible, which in turn enables an observation that oscillates （a concept of chaos theory） between models structured in a hierarchical order （normally linked to a logical-deductive formalization） and models structured in hetero-hierarchy. And this would allow this reflection to be done in a formalized language that does not follow either the principles of the Aristotelian logic or the postulates of the Kantian transcendental reflection. It is precisely this liberation from the dictates of mono-contextural logic what paves the way to an observation of complexity, in which one or the other language is used to model the states of things, such as the epistemological problems of molecular biology or the social systems. And-what is gaining relevance-it also paves the way to a true transdisciplinary meta-observation, since each discipline chooses its own contexture and only the use of poly-contexturality makes it possible to formulate transdisciplinary relationships within the framework of such meta-logic.展开更多
One Health has been recognized as a cost-effectiveness approach that intricate connections between human health,animal health,and ecosystem health.This holistic perspective is crucial for addressing complex health cha...One Health has been recognized as a cost-effectiveness approach that intricate connections between human health,animal health,and ecosystem health.This holistic perspective is crucial for addressing complex health challenges that arise at the intersection of these domains,such as emerging infectious diseases,antimicrobial resistance,food safety&food security,and environmental degradation.The beneficiaries of the One Health ap-proach have been demonstrated by many case studies worldwide,and summarized by The World Bank that not only support poverty alleviation in developing countries,but also can reduce pandemic risk globally.It is essential for us to understand the means of promoting the initiatives in building the transdisciplinary science of One Health that requires a global vision with integration of various disciplines,stakeholders,and resources.Therefore,we introduce the role of the transdisciplinary science of One Health,and the key steps and strategies necessary to implement One Health approach in the real world.We also propose three research priorities,including empha-sizing climate change and health,enhancing global health security,and promoting equity and inclusivity which is crucial for the success of One Health initiatives.Hence,building a transdisciplinary science of One Health will not only improve holistic health between human,animal,and environmental domains,but also contribute to the global health security and sustainable development.展开更多
Computer science continues to grow at a rapid pace,raising the issue of how universities can best adapt to this trend.At the third Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science(GFDCS),five heads of departments o...Computer science continues to grow at a rapid pace,raising the issue of how universities can best adapt to this trend.At the third Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science(GFDCS),five heads of departments of computer science from Asia,Europe,and North America came together to exchange ideas under the theme Challenges and Opportunities of Computer Science in the New Era.Through the discussions,a number of new challenges were explored,including how to meet the growing demand for computer science education,how to manage increased teaching loads,how to foster collaboration between computer science and other disciplines,how to raise ethical awareness,and how to support new“transdisciplinary”modes of education and research.At the same time,there was a consensus on the need to strengthen the role of computer science in other departments,the importance of industrial collaboration,and the need for more scalable approaches to teaching.The evolving role of computer science within the context of broader science was also discussed.展开更多
Three recent global agreements have been established to facilitate the implementation of global-level responsibilities to deal with disaster risk reduction(DRR),human development,and climate change adaptation(CCA)resp...Three recent global agreements have been established to facilitate the implementation of global-level responsibilities to deal with disaster risk reduction(DRR),human development,and climate change adaptation(CCA)respectively.While these agreements have a common goal of reducing social,economic,and environmental vulnerability,they have been developed by largely independent communities of practice.This has limited cross-fertilization despite the inherent multidimensional nature of global challenges and the considerable thematic overlap.We argue that developing a transdisciplinary strategy that effectively integrates disciplines,approaches,and knowledge systems will lead to greater and more sustainable impacts,together with a more efficient use of financial resources.Hybrid approaches should be encouraged during planning of future development efforts so that risk reduction is conducted simultaneously with CCA.Transdisciplinary processes are central to generating contextsensitive knowledge to support decisions on CCA and DRR options that minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies and complementarities required to guide sustainable development trajectories.Finally,building codes together with climate and risk-smart research,education,and awareness raising,are identified as priority entry points to materialize the blending of DRR and CCA approaches and effectively reduce risk while mitigating and adapting to climate change.展开更多
The‘‘dynamic knowledge loop’’explores processes of knowledge generation,knowledge exchange,and social learning in inter-and transdisciplinary cooperation and relates them to adaptive capacity.Adaptive capacity bui...The‘‘dynamic knowledge loop’’explores processes of knowledge generation,knowledge exchange,and social learning in inter-and transdisciplinary cooperation and relates them to adaptive capacity.Adaptive capacity building can reduce vulnerabilities and enhance the resilience of urban regions towards the impacts of climate change.We use a mix of empirical methods and apply the dynamic knowledge loop as an innovative analytical tool.The added value of inter-and transdisciplinary cooperation concerning knowledge generation and facilitation of social learning is discussed by applying the dynamic knowledge loop to research about a scenario-planning process and a participatory mapping exercise in the urban region of Rostock,Germany.The results demonstrate that the scenario planning process allowed for a consideration of complex interrelations that have the potential for an integration of different influences,perspectives,and knowledge forms.Scenario planning facilitated social learning by creating a platform for integration and exchange of different epistemologies and for considering alternative futures.The participatory mapping exercise demonstrated the scientific value of the integration of local knowledge as well.Building upon these results,we stress the importance of knowledge generation,knowledge exchange,and social learning to build up adaptive capacity through different forms of cooperation between science and practice.展开更多
Introduction:Ecosystem goods and services(EGS)studies have had little impact on policy processes and real-world decision-making due to limited understanding of the interactions and feedbacks among ecological,social an...Introduction:Ecosystem goods and services(EGS)studies have had little impact on policy processes and real-world decision-making due to limited understanding of the interactions and feedbacks among ecological,social and economic processes.Here we present an inter-and transdisciplinary analysis of global change impacts on EGS provision in a European mountain region.Our aim is to evaluate the projected influence of ecological,economic and social drivers on future EGS provision and to show possible ways to address the predominant limitations of EGS studies.Methods:The integrated findings from ecological experiments,mechanistic models of landscape dynamics,socio-economic land-use models,policy analysis and transdisciplinary stakeholder interactions are presented consecutively.Four regionally downscaled global change scenarios,for a case study region near Visp,Switzerland(350 km2),were used to examine the impacts of climate and socio-economic changes on four ecosystem services,i.e.,food provision,timber production,net greenhouse gas emissions and protection from natural hazards.Results:Our simulation results reveal four key aspects that influence the future provision of mountain EGS.First,we show the high spatial and temporal heterogeneity of EGS provision even in a small case study region.Second,we find that climate change impacts are much more pronounced for forest EGS,while changes to agricultural EGS result primarily from shifts in economic conditions.Third,our modeling results reveal the complex trade-offs associated with the different scenarios.Fourth,simulations illustrate the importance of interactions between environmental shifts and economic decisions.We discuss our simulation results with respect to both existing policy networks and transdisciplinary stakeholder interactions.Conclusion:We describe a framework based on experiments and observations that effectively supports the integration of ecological processes into an integrative modeling chain of EGS provision in mountain regions,the political decision-making process and also transdisciplinary stakeholder interactions.展开更多
The fast-developing intelligent infrastructure landscape catalyzes transformative new relationships of human,technology,and environment and requires new socio-technical configurations of information practice and knowl...The fast-developing intelligent infrastructure landscape catalyzes transformative new relationships of human,technology,and environment and requires new socio-technical configurations of information practice and knowledge work.With a focus on data as the source of intelligence,this paper aims to explore the shifting scenarios and indicative features of data science solutions for intelligent system applications and identify the evolving knowledge spaces and integrative learning practices in the“smart”landscape.It projects and discusses the democratization of data science platforms,the distribution of data intelligence on the edge,and the transition from vertical to horizontal data solutions in solving intelligent system problems.Through mapping the changing data research landscape,this work further reveals essential new roles of knowledge architects and social engineers in enabling dynamic data linking,interaction,and exploration for transdisciplinary data convergence.展开更多
The discipline of geography encompasses both natural and social sciences and has the natural advantage of enabling the study of sustainability from a transdisciplinary perspective.There are great opportunities for geo...The discipline of geography encompasses both natural and social sciences and has the natural advantage of enabling the study of sustainability from a transdisciplinary perspective.There are great opportunities for geographers to participate in sustainability research.However,while geographers have set sustainability goals,they have rarely clarified the details for reaching those goals.Current knowledge on the relationship between humans and the environment and the methodologies for studying this relationship are inadequate to solve the transdisciplinary questions in sustainability science.Five research areas:geographical processes;ecosystem services and human wellbeing;human-environmental systems;sustainable development;and geo-data and modelling for sustainability are proposed as those needed to help geography achieve sustainability.The key objective of promoting geography for sustainability is to reveal the mechanisms of human-environmental system dynamics.This depends on understanding the processes in the natural and social systems and their mutual feedback as well as clarifying the relationships between the structures,functional characteristics and interactions in the human-environmental systems at multiple scales.The advancement of geography and its methodologies and technologies will provide a more profound understanding of the future.Geographers have the responsibility of promoting the discipline as the key pathway for carrying natural and social sciences towards sustainability.展开更多
The great challenges of sustainable development highlight an urgent need to systematically understand the mech-anisms linking humans and nature.Resources and Environmental Sciences are a broad and practical discipline...The great challenges of sustainable development highlight an urgent need to systematically understand the mech-anisms linking humans and nature.Resources and Environmental Sciences are a broad and practical discipline focused on coupled human and natural systems.They aim to study the formation and evolution of resources in the earth system,the drivers of various environmental problems,processes and relationships between resources and the environment,particularly under the combined impacts of natural conditions and human activities.The major resources and environmental problems drive the discipline development;international science programmes guide the direction of the discipline;interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary integration promotes new branches of the discipline;and technological progress results in a research paradigm shift.Facing the critical research re-quirements of strengthening trans-and interdisciplinarity,breaking through the key technology,targeting major environmental and disaster issues,and supporting sustainable development,nine critical scientific issues should be focused on climate change impact and adaptation,petroleum and mineral resources,water cycle and water re-sources,soil and land resources,ecosystems,remote sensing and geographic information science,environmental science and technology,disaster risk,and global and regional sustainable development.Suggestions to enhancing funding systems,improve talent cultivation,develop scientific platforms,and strength international cooperation are provided in this study to support scientific policymaking.The promotion of Resources and Environmental Sci-ences enables a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of economic development and environmental changes relevant to assure a more sustainable global development.展开更多
Self-rated health (SRH)—a person’s subjective evaluation of his general health—is a more valid and powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality than any other combination of objective and self-reported measures. H...Self-rated health (SRH)—a person’s subjective evaluation of his general health—is a more valid and powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality than any other combination of objective and self-reported measures. However, current theoretical frameworks fail to explain this association. Here, we sought to investigate SRH in relation to health outcomes from a transdisciplinary perspective. Using a selective review of epidemiological, clinical and qualitative SRH literature, we analyzed the relationships between this global subjective self-perception of health (the whole) and its directly measurable constituents (the parts). Although SRH often predicts major health outcomes, its underpinnings vary from person to person. Factors influencing individual’s health interact in complex ways evade reductionist methods assessing the parts, and may be best captured by global self-perceptions of health. The study of SRH from a transdisciplinary perspective exemplifies the notion that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Insight into individual’s experience of “health”, their association with physiological processes, and impact on the health/disease continuum may contribute to the development of individualized strategies for health care and promotion with aging. In particular, this should be most valuable for addressing non-communicable health conditions where cross-talk between health domains (biological, psychological, social, behavioral, spiritual) may significantly contribute to pathophysiology.展开更多
Maps have long been a part of everyday life for the general public,and even more so in today’s knowledge society.No doubt,cartography as a profession of map design is assuming a more important role in the formation o...Maps have long been a part of everyday life for the general public,and even more so in today’s knowledge society.No doubt,cartography as a profession of map design is assuming a more important role in the formation of intellectual skills in terms of spatial reasoning.Since its emergence as an academic discipline about 100 years ago,cartography has undergone many paradigm shifts.Its interaction with other disciplines has also constantly unfolded.These changes have left traces in cartographic education programs.In the age of big data,however,we are facing four fundamental challenges:(1) cartographic courses are being marginalized or even disappearing from degree programs in geospatial sciences;(2) the role of cartographers is increasingly eclipsed as a side effect of participatory cartography;(3) cartographers are blamed whenever something goes wrong with map use;and(4) professional map publishers can hardly compete with online mapping platforms dominated by Internet giants.Based on a contextual analysis of this seemingly gloomy situation,the paper reveals a number of proliferation points for the design of future cartographic curricula.First,cartography,once dedicated to supporting geospatial sciences,is thriving in the soil of data science,mapping not only the earth or other celestial bodies,but literally any kind of virtual space.Second,cartography has benefited from theoretical and technological advances in cognitive sciences,especially non-intrusive user studies,so that spatial cognition is becoming an integral component of cartographic education.Third,the role of scapegoat for wrongdoing of maps has accentuated cartographer’s overarching responsibility for quality and ethical issues in the geodata value chain.Finally,the diversification of the labor market requires new approaches to prepare future talents for a coopetition-oriented ecosystem in the marketplace.展开更多
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a prospect for the future development of all countries in the world.Its core is to set up the Sustainable Development Goals for the year of 2030,and develop a series of i...The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a prospect for the future development of all countries in the world.Its core is to set up the Sustainable Development Goals for the year of 2030,and develop a series of institutional mechanisms around SDGs to promote its implementation.The SDGs include 17 goals,of which SDG 11 is to make cities and human settlements inclusive,safe,resilient and sustainable.Green building can play a positive role in the implementation of SDG 11.However,the entire process of green building development involves multiple stakeholders and various professional fields,which play different roles where may be positive synergies or negative trade-offs in the whole process.This paper uses the nexus approaches to clarify how multiple stakeholders and professions interact with each other in the green building development with the aim of promoting SDG 11.展开更多
This framework is designed to encourage transdisciplinary research that will integrate social determinants in cancer research. This framework is designed to help conceptualize how the social determinants interact with...This framework is designed to encourage transdisciplinary research that will integrate social determinants in cancer research. This framework is designed to help conceptualize how the social determinants interact with other factors in the etiology of cancer. The factors influencing the populations of cancer in Morocco and other countries of the world can be classified into seven groups: 1) Political and institutional factors, 2) Socio-cultural factors, 3) Socio-economic factors, 4) Environmental factors, 5) Biological factors, 6) Factors related to lifestyle, and 7) Those related to the health system.展开更多
There are many pressures on urban water systems in today＇s highly dynamic world. These include the diverse impacts that are summarized under the term ＂Global Change＂. At the same time, high demands on water utiliti...There are many pressures on urban water systems in today＇s highly dynamic world. These include the diverse impacts that are summarized under the term ＂Global Change＂. At the same time, high demands on water utilities to act sustainably do exist. For this purpose, the collaborative project ＂Sustainability Controlling for Urban Water Systems＂ （NaCoSi） introduces an innovative approach with which sustainability risks can be identified and controlled. The sustainability controlling is based on common process-oriented management systems. The starting point is a system of sustainability objectives, which were developed together with practice partners from the German water sector. A method for multidimensional risk identification is introduced to identify sustainability risks. Complex networks of cause-effect relationships are disaggregated into unbranched linear causal chains, which are managed as records in a risk database. The subsequent analysis of the risk database allows the examination of cross-linked risks. Severe risk factors, vulnerable processes and sustainability objectives can thereby be identified and subsequently analyzed. The sustainability controlling was successfully tested and improved by an iterative process of case studies in cooperation with practice partners. The results of the case studies demonstrate the benefit of the project＇s interdisciplinary approach and the applicability of the sustainability controlling.展开更多
Urban metabolism, a process of material, energy and water flows, consumption or transformation in the cities and outflows of wastes, has impacts on the shallow groundwater. This study addressed the relationship betwee...Urban metabolism, a process of material, energy and water flows, consumption or transformation in the cities and outflows of wastes, has impacts on the shallow groundwater. This study addressed the relationship between the urban metabolic system and well water physicochemical and bacteriological quality in the coastal cities of Cotonou and Lomé. A participatory transdisciplinary approach, involving non-academics and academics stakeholders was used to analyse urban inflows and outflows related to groundwater quality. Standard methods were used to measure well water quality from 100 seasonal samples. Waste management revealed poor sanitation and hence a linear urban metabolism with no solid and liquid wastes and excreta recycling. This form of city metabolism reinforced by the seawater inflow is the main source of groundwater quality deterioration in Cotonou and Lomé. The principal water types Ca<sup>2+</sup>–Mg<sup>2+</sup>–Cl<sup>-</sup>– <span style="white-space:nowrap;">SO<sup>2-</sup><sub style="margin-left:-7px;">4</sub> </span>(48.21%), Na<sup>+</sup>–K<sup>+</sup>–Cl<sup>-</sup>–<span style="white-space:nowrap;">SO<sup>2-</sup><sub style="margin-left:-7px;">4</sub></span> (65.9%) and the Gibbs diagram suggested water-rock interactions and dominance of cations exchange on the hydrogeological compositions, also seasonally controlled by saltwater intrusion or anthropogenic salinization. The water quality index on the range of 35.90 to 169.60 in Cotonou and 82.94 to 364.68 in Lomé indicated well water very poor quality to unsuitable for drinking. Moreover, the bacteriological quality was bad due to total coliforms (112 - 1812;1 - 1000 UFC/100 mL respectively in Cotonou and Lomé), <em>Escherichia coli</em> (40 - 780;1 - 112 UFC/100 mL), faecal enterococci/streptococcus (18 - 736;1 - 118 UFC/100 mL). The findings could help to sustain groundwater quality by controlling the pollution sources linked to urban metabolism.展开更多
Mobile pastoralist communities in Sahel countries have serious problems of access to social services. Classic strategies for social services were always based on a single sector, focused on settled populations, and ha...Mobile pastoralist communities in Sahel countries have serious problems of access to social services. Classic strategies for social services were always based on a single sector, focused on settled populations, and hardly reached mobile communities. This paper aims to show a cross-sector approach as a part of solutions to provide social services for mobile pastoralist communities and describes the ongoing scaling-up process. The method used is based on a transdisciplinary approach which involves target communities and authorities in all processes through workshops and site visits. Interventions adopted the concept of ＂one health＂ benefiting of an added value of closer cooperation between human and animal health. This approach was tested with joint interventions between human and animal health, which provided access to health services for unreached communities and saved resource when compared with single sector intervention. Such approaches could be extended to other social services within cross-sector interventions such as the delivery of basic education in nomadic areas. Such a strategy was validated by the communities and authorities and was further transformed into a national programme after a series of six national stakeholders＇ seminars. The cross-sector intervention will provide a minimum package of services （MPS） without compromising the structural services.展开更多
Background:Globally,the threat of infectious diseases,particularly emerging infectious diseases,originating at the human-animal-environment interface,has caught health systems off guard.With forecasts that future path...Background:Globally,the threat of infectious diseases,particularly emerging infectious diseases,originating at the human-animal-environment interface,has caught health systems off guard.With forecasts that future pathogen emergence will be centred in hotspots in Asia,Africa,and Latin America,the need to prepare policy frameworks that can combat this threat is urgent.Discussion:Emergence of diseases such as avian influenza and Ebola virus disease,which threatened social disruption,have established the need for intersectoral coordination/collaboration.These events led to the initiation of establishing institutionalised collaborative frameworks in India to adopt a One Health approach to disease prevention and control.However,the gains made in influenza control could not be adapted to other infectious diseases.Intersectoral coordination was briefly carried out,more as a reactive response to threats.The systemic failure to sustain such efforts have therefore,only undermined a coordinated response.The recent draft National Health Policy,2015,has also failed to establish the need for intersectoral coordination in disease control approaches.Neglecting the need to endorse linkages between human health,animal health and husbandry,agriculture,and environmental sectors,has led to duplicative and weak response systems.The absence of health impact assessment with respect to the development agenda in policies,has cast negative effects on the health and wellbeing of man,animal,and the environment.Lack of attention to building core capacity in these critical sectors has further raised challenges in designing and deploying mitigation strategies.With developing countries like India being home to a major portion of the world’s poorest livestock farmers,the absence of a policy discourse that endorses the One Health approach in development and health policies is a major hurdle in eliminating poverty and poverty-related diseases.Conclusions:The adoption of One Health approaches in health and related sectoral policies is a critical policy requirement for India and other developing countries.The goal should be to not just establish preparedness plans,but also to encourage a policy environment where assessment and mitigation of downstream impacts of different agenda are incorporated.展开更多
文摘Transdisciplinary collaboration has achieved remarkable results in many fields,and many global challenges also require transdisciplinary collaboration.Therefore,transdisciplinary education and research is one of the inevitable trends in the future development of universities.In this context,HKUST has made innovative changes in transdisciplinary education and research.First,we set three missions for the development of HKUST in transdisciplinary education and research.Second,we established the HKUST Guangzhou Campus to carry out a new revolution in transdisciplinary education and research.In addition,Big Data,AI,and computer science play a vital role in transdisciplinary research and collaboration,and we also need to rethink the role of computer science and how to better refer to supporting interdisciplinary collaboration.
文摘Fractures of femur proximal extremity(FFPE)are the most common fragility fractures requiring hospitalization,with a high risk of mortality,low independence in the activities of daily living and severe consequences on healthrelated quality of life.Timing for surgery has a key role in the management of elderly patients with FFPE as recommended by the Australian and New Zealand guidelines and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.Early surgery(within 48 h from hospital admission)allows significant benefits in terms of lower rates of postoperative complications and risk of death and can provide better functional outcomes.Therefore,time for surgery could be considered as a comorbidity marker.The choice between conservative or surgical approach surprisingly seems to be still not strongly supported by available literature,but it seems that both 30 d and 1 year risk of mortality is higher with the conservative treatment rather than with surgery.In light of these considerations,the optimization of FFPE management care is mandatory to improve functional outcomes and to reduce sanitary costs.Albeit it is widely accepted that transdisciplinary approach to patients suffering from FFPE is mandatory to optimize both short-term and long-term outcomes,the feasibility of a comprehensive approach in clinical practice is still a challenge.In particular,the large variability of figures involved could be considered both a resource and an additional disadvantage taking into account the difficulty to coordinate multidisciplinary approach covering care in all settings.Therefore,the aim of the present article was to summarize current evidence supporting transdisciplinary management of patients with FFPE,highlighting the benefits,feasibility and limitations of this approach.
基金funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF)
文摘There is a growing need for both science and practice domains to collaboratively and systematically seek knowledge-based strategies for sustainable development. In recent years, transdisciplinary research has emerged as a new approach that enables joint problem solving among scientists and stakeholders in various fields. In this paper, we aim to introduce transdisciplinary research for supporting the integration of the concept of eco- system services into land and water management in the Tarim River Basin, Xinjiang, Northwest China. While a large number of ecosystem service studies have helped to raise the awareness for the value of nature in China, a number of challenges remain, including an improved understanding of the relationships between ecosystem structure, functions and services, and the interaction of the various ecosystem services. A meaningful valuation of ecosystem services also requires the consideration of their strong spatial heterogeneity. In addition, ways to introduce the con- cept of ecosystem services into decision-making in China need to be explored. Thus, successful integration of the concept of ecosystem services into actual land and water management requires a broad knowledge base that only a number of scientific disciplines and stakeholders can provide jointly, via a transdisciplinary research process. We regard transdisciplinary research as a recursive process to support adaptive management that includes joint knowledge generation and integration among scientists and stakeholders. System, target, and transformation knowledge are generated and integrated during the process of （1） problem （re）definition, （2） problem analysis and strategy development, and （3） evaluation of the impact of the derived strategy. Methods to support transdisciplinary research comprise participatory modelling （actor-based modelling and Bayesian Networks modelling） and partici- patory scenario development. Actor-based modelling is a semi-quantitative method that is based on the analysis of problem perspectives of individual stakeholders as depicted in perception graphs. With Bayesian Networks, com- plex problem fields are modelled probabilistically in a simplified manner, using both quantitative data and qualitative expert judgments. These participatory methods serve to integrate diverse scientific and stakeholder knowledge and to support the generation of actually implementable management strategies for sustainable development. For the purpose of integrating ecosystem services in land and water management in the Tarim River Basin through trans- disciplinary research, collaboration among scientists and institutional stakeholders from different sectors including water, agriculture, forestry, and nature conservation is required. The challenge is to adapt methods of transdisci- plinary research to socio-cultural conditions in China, particularly regarding ways of communication and deci- sion-making.
文摘A couple of decades ago natural phenomena began to be approached from a comprehensive and transdisciplinary point of view, as it was understood that living beings and their environments are not linear but complex. There is no doubt that this perspective of visualizing complexity and working inter- and trans-disciplinarily has to be applied. The reflection on the theoretical observation （i.e., meta-observation） involved in the concept of poly-contexturality is the framework in which a theory of complex systems is possible, which in turn enables an observation that oscillates （a concept of chaos theory） between models structured in a hierarchical order （normally linked to a logical-deductive formalization） and models structured in hetero-hierarchy. And this would allow this reflection to be done in a formalized language that does not follow either the principles of the Aristotelian logic or the postulates of the Kantian transcendental reflection. It is precisely this liberation from the dictates of mono-contextural logic what paves the way to an observation of complexity, in which one or the other language is used to model the states of things, such as the epistemological problems of molecular biology or the social systems. And-what is gaining relevance-it also paves the way to a true transdisciplinary meta-observation, since each discipline chooses its own contexture and only the use of poly-contexturality makes it possible to formulate transdisciplinary relationships within the framework of such meta-logic.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFC2300800,2021YFC2300804)the International Joint Laboratory on Tropical Diseases Control in Greater Mekong Subregion(No.21410750200).
文摘One Health has been recognized as a cost-effectiveness approach that intricate connections between human health,animal health,and ecosystem health.This holistic perspective is crucial for addressing complex health challenges that arise at the intersection of these domains,such as emerging infectious diseases,antimicrobial resistance,food safety&food security,and environmental degradation.The beneficiaries of the One Health ap-proach have been demonstrated by many case studies worldwide,and summarized by The World Bank that not only support poverty alleviation in developing countries,but also can reduce pandemic risk globally.It is essential for us to understand the means of promoting the initiatives in building the transdisciplinary science of One Health that requires a global vision with integration of various disciplines,stakeholders,and resources.Therefore,we introduce the role of the transdisciplinary science of One Health,and the key steps and strategies necessary to implement One Health approach in the real world.We also propose three research priorities,including empha-sizing climate change and health,enhancing global health security,and promoting equity and inclusivity which is crucial for the success of One Health initiatives.Hence,building a transdisciplinary science of One Health will not only improve holistic health between human,animal,and environmental domains,but also contribute to the global health security and sustainable development.
文摘Computer science continues to grow at a rapid pace,raising the issue of how universities can best adapt to this trend.At the third Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science(GFDCS),five heads of departments of computer science from Asia,Europe,and North America came together to exchange ideas under the theme Challenges and Opportunities of Computer Science in the New Era.Through the discussions,a number of new challenges were explored,including how to meet the growing demand for computer science education,how to manage increased teaching loads,how to foster collaboration between computer science and other disciplines,how to raise ethical awareness,and how to support new“transdisciplinary”modes of education and research.At the same time,there was a consensus on the need to strengthen the role of computer science in other departments,the importance of industrial collaboration,and the need for more scalable approaches to teaching.The evolving role of computer science within the context of broader science was also discussed.
基金Funding to Edmundo Barrios to contribute to this article was partly provided by the CGIAR research programs on Forests,Trees and Agroforestry(FTA)
文摘Three recent global agreements have been established to facilitate the implementation of global-level responsibilities to deal with disaster risk reduction(DRR),human development,and climate change adaptation(CCA)respectively.While these agreements have a common goal of reducing social,economic,and environmental vulnerability,they have been developed by largely independent communities of practice.This has limited cross-fertilization despite the inherent multidimensional nature of global challenges and the considerable thematic overlap.We argue that developing a transdisciplinary strategy that effectively integrates disciplines,approaches,and knowledge systems will lead to greater and more sustainable impacts,together with a more efficient use of financial resources.Hybrid approaches should be encouraged during planning of future development efforts so that risk reduction is conducted simultaneously with CCA.Transdisciplinary processes are central to generating contextsensitive knowledge to support decisions on CCA and DRR options that minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies and complementarities required to guide sustainable development trajectories.Finally,building codes together with climate and risk-smart research,education,and awareness raising,are identified as priority entry points to materialize the blending of DRR and CCA approaches and effectively reduce risk while mitigating and adapting to climate change.
基金The research is funded by the HafenCity University and the German Federak Ministry of Research and Education through the Social–Ecological Research Programme(FKZ 01UU0909).
文摘The‘‘dynamic knowledge loop’’explores processes of knowledge generation,knowledge exchange,and social learning in inter-and transdisciplinary cooperation and relates them to adaptive capacity.Adaptive capacity building can reduce vulnerabilities and enhance the resilience of urban regions towards the impacts of climate change.We use a mix of empirical methods and apply the dynamic knowledge loop as an innovative analytical tool.The added value of inter-and transdisciplinary cooperation concerning knowledge generation and facilitation of social learning is discussed by applying the dynamic knowledge loop to research about a scenario-planning process and a participatory mapping exercise in the urban region of Rostock,Germany.The results demonstrate that the scenario planning process allowed for a consideration of complex interrelations that have the potential for an integration of different influences,perspectives,and knowledge forms.Scenario planning facilitated social learning by creating a platform for integration and exchange of different epistemologies and for considering alternative futures.The participatory mapping exercise demonstrated the scientific value of the integration of local knowledge as well.Building upon these results,we stress the importance of knowledge generation,knowledge exchange,and social learning to build up adaptive capacity through different forms of cooperation between science and practice.
基金This work was supported by the CCES(Competence Centre Environment and Sustainability of the ETH Domain,Switzerland)as part of the Mountland project.
文摘Introduction:Ecosystem goods and services(EGS)studies have had little impact on policy processes and real-world decision-making due to limited understanding of the interactions and feedbacks among ecological,social and economic processes.Here we present an inter-and transdisciplinary analysis of global change impacts on EGS provision in a European mountain region.Our aim is to evaluate the projected influence of ecological,economic and social drivers on future EGS provision and to show possible ways to address the predominant limitations of EGS studies.Methods:The integrated findings from ecological experiments,mechanistic models of landscape dynamics,socio-economic land-use models,policy analysis and transdisciplinary stakeholder interactions are presented consecutively.Four regionally downscaled global change scenarios,for a case study region near Visp,Switzerland(350 km2),were used to examine the impacts of climate and socio-economic changes on four ecosystem services,i.e.,food provision,timber production,net greenhouse gas emissions and protection from natural hazards.Results:Our simulation results reveal four key aspects that influence the future provision of mountain EGS.First,we show the high spatial and temporal heterogeneity of EGS provision even in a small case study region.Second,we find that climate change impacts are much more pronounced for forest EGS,while changes to agricultural EGS result primarily from shifts in economic conditions.Third,our modeling results reveal the complex trade-offs associated with the different scenarios.Fourth,simulations illustrate the importance of interactions between environmental shifts and economic decisions.We discuss our simulation results with respect to both existing policy networks and transdisciplinary stakeholder interactions.Conclusion:We describe a framework based on experiments and observations that effectively supports the integration of ecological processes into an integrative modeling chain of EGS provision in mountain regions,the political decision-making process and also transdisciplinary stakeholder interactions.
文摘The fast-developing intelligent infrastructure landscape catalyzes transformative new relationships of human,technology,and environment and requires new socio-technical configurations of information practice and knowledge work.With a focus on data as the source of intelligence,this paper aims to explore the shifting scenarios and indicative features of data science solutions for intelligent system applications and identify the evolving knowledge spaces and integrative learning practices in the“smart”landscape.It projects and discusses the democratization of data science platforms,the distribution of data intelligence on the edge,and the transition from vertical to horizontal data solutions in solving intelligent system problems.Through mapping the changing data research landscape,this work further reveals essential new roles of knowledge architects and social engineers in enabling dynamic data linking,interaction,and exploration for transdisciplinary data convergence.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Programme of China(No.2017YFA0604700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41991230)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China.
文摘The discipline of geography encompasses both natural and social sciences and has the natural advantage of enabling the study of sustainability from a transdisciplinary perspective.There are great opportunities for geographers to participate in sustainability research.However,while geographers have set sustainability goals,they have rarely clarified the details for reaching those goals.Current knowledge on the relationship between humans and the environment and the methodologies for studying this relationship are inadequate to solve the transdisciplinary questions in sustainability science.Five research areas:geographical processes;ecosystem services and human wellbeing;human-environmental systems;sustainable development;and geo-data and modelling for sustainability are proposed as those needed to help geography achieve sustainability.The key objective of promoting geography for sustainability is to reveal the mechanisms of human-environmental system dynamics.This depends on understanding the processes in the natural and social systems and their mutual feedback as well as clarifying the relationships between the structures,functional characteristics and interactions in the human-environmental systems at multiple scales.The advancement of geography and its methodologies and technologies will provide a more profound understanding of the future.Geographers have the responsibility of promoting the discipline as the key pathway for carrying natural and social sciences towards sustainability.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.L1924041)Research Project on the Discipline De-velopment Strategy of Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XK2019DXC006),and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China.
文摘The great challenges of sustainable development highlight an urgent need to systematically understand the mech-anisms linking humans and nature.Resources and Environmental Sciences are a broad and practical discipline focused on coupled human and natural systems.They aim to study the formation and evolution of resources in the earth system,the drivers of various environmental problems,processes and relationships between resources and the environment,particularly under the combined impacts of natural conditions and human activities.The major resources and environmental problems drive the discipline development;international science programmes guide the direction of the discipline;interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary integration promotes new branches of the discipline;and technological progress results in a research paradigm shift.Facing the critical research re-quirements of strengthening trans-and interdisciplinarity,breaking through the key technology,targeting major environmental and disaster issues,and supporting sustainable development,nine critical scientific issues should be focused on climate change impact and adaptation,petroleum and mineral resources,water cycle and water re-sources,soil and land resources,ecosystems,remote sensing and geographic information science,environmental science and technology,disaster risk,and global and regional sustainable development.Suggestions to enhancing funding systems,improve talent cultivation,develop scientific platforms,and strength international cooperation are provided in this study to support scientific policymaking.The promotion of Resources and Environmental Sci-ences enables a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of economic development and environmental changes relevant to assure a more sustainable global development.
文摘Self-rated health (SRH)—a person’s subjective evaluation of his general health—is a more valid and powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality than any other combination of objective and self-reported measures. However, current theoretical frameworks fail to explain this association. Here, we sought to investigate SRH in relation to health outcomes from a transdisciplinary perspective. Using a selective review of epidemiological, clinical and qualitative SRH literature, we analyzed the relationships between this global subjective self-perception of health (the whole) and its directly measurable constituents (the parts). Although SRH often predicts major health outcomes, its underpinnings vary from person to person. Factors influencing individual’s health interact in complex ways evade reductionist methods assessing the parts, and may be best captured by global self-perceptions of health. The study of SRH from a transdisciplinary perspective exemplifies the notion that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Insight into individual’s experience of “health”, their association with physiological processes, and impact on the health/disease continuum may contribute to the development of individualized strategies for health care and promotion with aging. In particular, this should be most valuable for addressing non-communicable health conditions where cross-talk between health domains (biological, psychological, social, behavioral, spiritual) may significantly contribute to pathophysiology.
文摘Maps have long been a part of everyday life for the general public,and even more so in today’s knowledge society.No doubt,cartography as a profession of map design is assuming a more important role in the formation of intellectual skills in terms of spatial reasoning.Since its emergence as an academic discipline about 100 years ago,cartography has undergone many paradigm shifts.Its interaction with other disciplines has also constantly unfolded.These changes have left traces in cartographic education programs.In the age of big data,however,we are facing four fundamental challenges:(1) cartographic courses are being marginalized or even disappearing from degree programs in geospatial sciences;(2) the role of cartographers is increasingly eclipsed as a side effect of participatory cartography;(3) cartographers are blamed whenever something goes wrong with map use;and(4) professional map publishers can hardly compete with online mapping platforms dominated by Internet giants.Based on a contextual analysis of this seemingly gloomy situation,the paper reveals a number of proliferation points for the design of future cartographic curricula.First,cartography,once dedicated to supporting geospatial sciences,is thriving in the soil of data science,mapping not only the earth or other celestial bodies,but literally any kind of virtual space.Second,cartography has benefited from theoretical and technological advances in cognitive sciences,especially non-intrusive user studies,so that spatial cognition is becoming an integral component of cartographic education.Third,the role of scapegoat for wrongdoing of maps has accentuated cartographer’s overarching responsibility for quality and ethical issues in the geodata value chain.Finally,the diversification of the labor market requires new approaches to prepare future talents for a coopetition-oriented ecosystem in the marketplace.
基金supported by the project of New Design Methods and Demonstration of Green Public Buildings Adapted to Regional Climate[grant number 2017YFC0702300]National Key R&D Program of China(Research on synergy mode and flow of green public building design)[grant number.2017YFC0702305-01].
文摘The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a prospect for the future development of all countries in the world.Its core is to set up the Sustainable Development Goals for the year of 2030,and develop a series of institutional mechanisms around SDGs to promote its implementation.The SDGs include 17 goals,of which SDG 11 is to make cities and human settlements inclusive,safe,resilient and sustainable.Green building can play a positive role in the implementation of SDG 11.However,the entire process of green building development involves multiple stakeholders and various professional fields,which play different roles where may be positive synergies or negative trade-offs in the whole process.This paper uses the nexus approaches to clarify how multiple stakeholders and professions interact with each other in the green building development with the aim of promoting SDG 11.
文摘This framework is designed to encourage transdisciplinary research that will integrate social determinants in cancer research. This framework is designed to help conceptualize how the social determinants interact with other factors in the etiology of cancer. The factors influencing the populations of cancer in Morocco and other countries of the world can be classified into seven groups: 1) Political and institutional factors, 2) Socio-cultural factors, 3) Socio-economic factors, 4) Environmental factors, 5) Biological factors, 6) Factors related to lifestyle, and 7) Those related to the health system.
文摘There are many pressures on urban water systems in today＇s highly dynamic world. These include the diverse impacts that are summarized under the term ＂Global Change＂. At the same time, high demands on water utilities to act sustainably do exist. For this purpose, the collaborative project ＂Sustainability Controlling for Urban Water Systems＂ （NaCoSi） introduces an innovative approach with which sustainability risks can be identified and controlled. The sustainability controlling is based on common process-oriented management systems. The starting point is a system of sustainability objectives, which were developed together with practice partners from the German water sector. A method for multidimensional risk identification is introduced to identify sustainability risks. Complex networks of cause-effect relationships are disaggregated into unbranched linear causal chains, which are managed as records in a risk database. The subsequent analysis of the risk database allows the examination of cross-linked risks. Severe risk factors, vulnerable processes and sustainability objectives can thereby be identified and subsequently analyzed. The sustainability controlling was successfully tested and improved by an iterative process of case studies in cooperation with practice partners. The results of the case studies demonstrate the benefit of the project＇s interdisciplinary approach and the applicability of the sustainability controlling.
文摘Urban metabolism, a process of material, energy and water flows, consumption or transformation in the cities and outflows of wastes, has impacts on the shallow groundwater. This study addressed the relationship between the urban metabolic system and well water physicochemical and bacteriological quality in the coastal cities of Cotonou and Lomé. A participatory transdisciplinary approach, involving non-academics and academics stakeholders was used to analyse urban inflows and outflows related to groundwater quality. Standard methods were used to measure well water quality from 100 seasonal samples. Waste management revealed poor sanitation and hence a linear urban metabolism with no solid and liquid wastes and excreta recycling. This form of city metabolism reinforced by the seawater inflow is the main source of groundwater quality deterioration in Cotonou and Lomé. The principal water types Ca<sup>2+</sup>–Mg<sup>2+</sup>–Cl<sup>-</sup>– <span style="white-space:nowrap;">SO<sup>2-</sup><sub style="margin-left:-7px;">4</sub> </span>(48.21%), Na<sup>+</sup>–K<sup>+</sup>–Cl<sup>-</sup>–<span style="white-space:nowrap;">SO<sup>2-</sup><sub style="margin-left:-7px;">4</sub></span> (65.9%) and the Gibbs diagram suggested water-rock interactions and dominance of cations exchange on the hydrogeological compositions, also seasonally controlled by saltwater intrusion or anthropogenic salinization. The water quality index on the range of 35.90 to 169.60 in Cotonou and 82.94 to 364.68 in Lomé indicated well water very poor quality to unsuitable for drinking. Moreover, the bacteriological quality was bad due to total coliforms (112 - 1812;1 - 1000 UFC/100 mL respectively in Cotonou and Lomé), <em>Escherichia coli</em> (40 - 780;1 - 112 UFC/100 mL), faecal enterococci/streptococcus (18 - 736;1 - 118 UFC/100 mL). The findings could help to sustain groundwater quality by controlling the pollution sources linked to urban metabolism.
文摘Mobile pastoralist communities in Sahel countries have serious problems of access to social services. Classic strategies for social services were always based on a single sector, focused on settled populations, and hardly reached mobile communities. This paper aims to show a cross-sector approach as a part of solutions to provide social services for mobile pastoralist communities and describes the ongoing scaling-up process. The method used is based on a transdisciplinary approach which involves target communities and authorities in all processes through workshops and site visits. Interventions adopted the concept of ＂one health＂ benefiting of an added value of closer cooperation between human and animal health. This approach was tested with joint interventions between human and animal health, which provided access to health services for unreached communities and saved resource when compared with single sector intervention. Such approaches could be extended to other social services within cross-sector interventions such as the delivery of basic education in nomadic areas. Such a strategy was validated by the communities and authorities and was further transformed into a national programme after a series of six national stakeholders＇ seminars. The cross-sector intervention will provide a minimum package of services （MPS） without compromising the structural services.
文摘Background:Globally,the threat of infectious diseases,particularly emerging infectious diseases,originating at the human-animal-environment interface,has caught health systems off guard.With forecasts that future pathogen emergence will be centred in hotspots in Asia,Africa,and Latin America,the need to prepare policy frameworks that can combat this threat is urgent.Discussion:Emergence of diseases such as avian influenza and Ebola virus disease,which threatened social disruption,have established the need for intersectoral coordination/collaboration.These events led to the initiation of establishing institutionalised collaborative frameworks in India to adopt a One Health approach to disease prevention and control.However,the gains made in influenza control could not be adapted to other infectious diseases.Intersectoral coordination was briefly carried out,more as a reactive response to threats.The systemic failure to sustain such efforts have therefore,only undermined a coordinated response.The recent draft National Health Policy,2015,has also failed to establish the need for intersectoral coordination in disease control approaches.Neglecting the need to endorse linkages between human health,animal health and husbandry,agriculture,and environmental sectors,has led to duplicative and weak response systems.The absence of health impact assessment with respect to the development agenda in policies,has cast negative effects on the health and wellbeing of man,animal,and the environment.Lack of attention to building core capacity in these critical sectors has further raised challenges in designing and deploying mitigation strategies.With developing countries like India being home to a major portion of the world’s poorest livestock farmers,the absence of a policy discourse that endorses the One Health approach in development and health policies is a major hurdle in eliminating poverty and poverty-related diseases.Conclusions:The adoption of One Health approaches in health and related sectoral policies is a critical policy requirement for India and other developing countries.The goal should be to not just establish preparedness plans,but also to encourage a policy environment where assessment and mitigation of downstream impacts of different agenda are incorporated.
