How does transdisciplinary research differ from standard models of research when it comes to generating actionable knowledge? This session will review the theory and practice of transdisciplinary research, including how incorporating people with practical knowledge, cultural knowledge, and lived experience into our research helps to improve our understanding of problems and ability to generate workable solutions.

What are effective models of community engagement in TD research? In this session we will review characteristics of effective community engagement approaches including authentic partnership, iterative co-design, capacity building, and shared decision-making. These approaches ensure that community knowledge and priorities are integrated into every stage of the research process, from problem identification and project design to implementation and dissemination. We will explore practical tools for integrating diverse perspectives and working collaboratively with community partners to address complex challenges across disciplines.

Transdisciplinary research changes the relationship between researchers and societal partners. No longer are community members the subject of research – they are collaborators in the process. We need to consider how to reach beyond our standard research ethics principles to recognize these partnerships. In this session, we’ll focus on understanding the basics of human subjects research (HSR) and how to adjust our approaches to ensure equitable and meaningful participation of societal partners in transdisciplinary research.

Transdisciplinary research is likely to include a range of formal and informal data collection approaches including quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews and focus groups, and informal discussions and meetings where participants share insights and knowledge. In this session, we will introduce key data collection approaches, discuss their benefits and challenges, and review how to analyze both formal and informal data in ways that retain its integrity and ensure that participants are represented accurately and ethically throughout the process.

Like all research, transdisciplinary work requires careful and thoughtful planning to achieve its goals. In the case of TD research, we often have more “moving pieces” because we must incorporate the goals, timelines, and expectations of our external partners along with standard research goals. In this session, we will cover how to determine who needs to be involved in your project to generate the impact you are seeking, how to plan for effective engagement, how to build a team with the appropriate skills to undertake both the research and engagement activities, and how to budget your resources (time and financial) to ensure that research and engagement are both prioritized throughout.

Successful teams lead to successful projects. Learn about collaborative project management (CoPM) tools and practices that put the people of the project at the center. These practices enhance team cohesion, sharpen shared understanding of goals and deliverables, and incorporate organizational cultures in order to coordinate project participant timelines, talent, and preferences. Explore CoPM in this workshop to cultivate your team’s collective progress and project success.

The goals of transdisciplinary research – to generate actionable solutions to complex problems – are different from the goals of standard academic research. So, we need different tools to evaluate the process and success of transdisciplinary research. In this session, we’ll explore innovative tools for evaluating the societal impacts of research and how these tools can be used to improve transdisciplinary practice and demonstrate the impact of your research.