April 9, 2018 | The New School, New York
The Observatory on Latin America (OLA) is pleased to present:
The Challenge of Transdisciplinary Co-Production: From Unilocal to Comparative Research
Professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg and the Director of Mistra Urban Futures
This presentation surveys the lessons learnt and challenges faced by the respective research platforms of Mistra Urban Futures (MUF) in Sweden, the UK, South Africa and Kenya in developing and deploying different forms of urban transdisciplinary co-production. Considerable experience with a distinctive portfolio of methods has been gained and reflective evaluation is now under way. While it is important to understand the local context within which each method has evolved, we seek to explain the potential for adaptation in diverse contexts so that such methods can be more widely utilized.
Furthermore, the current phase of MUF’s work is breaking new ground by undertaking comparative research across its research platforms. Since the specific local projects will still differ and be locally appropriate, systematic thematic comparison requires great care and methodological rigor. To the best of our knowledge, such comparative research has not previously been undertaken.
Transdisciplinary co-production is inherently complex, time consuming and often unpredictable in terms of outcomes and this paper also seeks to assess the belief that the benefits in terms of overcoming often entrenched antagonisms among different stakeholder groups or institutions through working jointly to promote urban sustainability are worthwhile.
David Simon joined Mistra Urban Futures as Director in September 2014 from Royal Holloway, University of London, where he is Professor of Development Geography. He has vast international experience including grant-funded research on sub-Saharan Africa (especially Namibia, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana), Asia (especially Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines), the UK and the USA. He has also served as specialist advisor to UN-HABITAT on cities and climate change, was one of only two academics on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s specialist Africa Advisory Group prior to its disbandment, and has consulted for various NGOs and national and international development agencies. Furthermore, he is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences.
Monday, April 9th, 2018 · 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Klein Conference Room | The New School
66 West 12th Street, Room 510
New York, NY
Map of the event
The event will be in English
Admission is free, but seating is limited.
Reservations are required RSVP by April 8th here.
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This program is supported by the JULIEN J. STUDLEY FOUNDATION
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