Embracing transdisciplinary tensions on the road to 2030

Abstract

This chapter explores transdisciplinary (TD) research from the context of sustainability in social sciences, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a backdrop. The generative aspect of this paradox lies in the fact that it is precisely this tension that nurtures TD research. TD research is an apt approach to moving towards these goals through its ambitions to bring together various stakeholders in a participatory context which addresses complex issues in a reflexive manner. The role of tensions is an interesting topic for discussion in the TD field in general, as exemplified by Thomas Macintyre’s account earlier of how TD insights challenge the classical perception of societal actors, and especially the role of higher education. The SDGs and the Agenda 2030 framework address a broad array of societal issues, giving space for a large set of actors to converse, collaborate and disagree.