Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"

Training in transdisciplinary research for biodiversity conservation.

In 2010, the TsamaHUB launched its Transdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Sustainability Studies. The TsamaHUB is a Centre at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. It was established to facilitate and coordinate the Doctoral Programme with the clear objective to utilise transdisciplinarity as a vehicle to conduct applied, solution-oriented research. The expertise of ETH Zürich in transdisciplinary research, has had the Institute involved as an international institutional partner in the TsamaHUB's enterprise. This collaboration was established with the view to enhance the uptake of principles of transdisciplinary research amongst the doctoral students of the programme.

Capitalising on this partnership, Karine Payet, a doctoral student of Stellenbosch University and the TsamaHUB, has come to Switzerland for an eight-week research visit at ETH Zürich. Karine has started her research in integrated coastal biodiversity conservation for the South African littoral. Her doctoral research addresses current and significant challenges associated to the assessment of how to maintain functional linkages between the terrestrial and marine realms that are socially and ecologically relevant. She is supervised locally by two South African researchers in conservation planning, and co-supervised at ETH Zürich by Dr Christian Pohl, whose role is to provide her guidance in the application of methods of transdisciplinary research.

The objective of the research visit was to make Karine familiar with the general concepts of transdisciplinary research; and critically review her research proposal and incorporate transdisciplinary research methods. The objective was met by adding a new initial phase to the PhD and by developing and submitting application for a short-term research project. It is planned as a 6-month inquiry whereby new findings on the practice of conservation planning in South Africa will allow the PhD research proposal and project to be better suited to the transdisciplinary challenge in the South African conservation planning context.

During her stay, Karine discussed transdisciplinary principles and her research with Dr Christian Pohl, Miss Gabriela Wülser and Prof. Dr. Gertrude Hirsch Hadorn of the Environmental Philosophy group of ETH Zürich; and attend two seminars of Prof Scholz’ group of the Natural and Social Science Interface, ETH Zürich. She also attended the td-conference on “Implementation in inter- and transdisciplinary research, practice and teaching” in Geneva, on the 15th to the 17th of September 2010. These interactions and events effectively contributed to plan a way forward for the PhD research into adopting a transdisciplinary approach. In addition, it created an opportunity for a new collaboration with South Africa.

Contacts:
Miss Karine Payet
TsamaHUB - Transdisciplinary PhD programme
Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology
Stellenbosch University
Private Bag X1
Matieland 7602, Stellenbosch
South Africa
karine.kp@gmail.com

Mr John van Breda
Programme Manager: TsamaHub
Stellenbosch University
Private Bag X1
Matieland 7602, Stellenbosch
South Africa
jrvb@sun.ac.za

Dr. Christian Pohl
ETH Zürich
D-UWIS
CHN H 70.1
Universitaetsstrasse 22
CH-8092 Zürich
christian.pohl@env.ethz.ch