Global Consortium for Systems Research (GCSR)

Short Course: Solving Grand Challenges with Transdisciplinary Research (TDR)

  • Designed for scholars, founders, and executives

  • 90-minute session weekly for 10 weeks starting on the 1st of October 2024, Noon NY time (5pm London time)

  • With an optional 1:1, 30-minute tutorial, additional office hours available on request

Featured by

Taught by

  • Marvin Cheung is a business executive and global governance scholar. He co-directs the Center for Global Agenda (CGA) and directs the Venture Strategy Group (VSG) at Unbuilt Labs, where he serves as a special advisor to individuals, boards, and research organizations. He is a Global Diplomacy Fellow at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), a UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab Expert on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and Strategic Planning, and a member of different groups, including the Planetary Health Alliance, Boards Impact Forum, and Chairman’s Network, where he regularly shares research and perspectives to private and public Boards of Directors. In 2022, he succeeded the advisor to four successive Directors General at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) as Chair of the Global Consortium for Systems Research (GCSR). In 2023, he began serving on the Advisory Board of the Lifeboat Foundation, dedicated to mitigating existential risks, alongside four Nobel Laureates. He was a featured speaker at the United Nations General Assembly Science Summit.

    Marvin holds a BFA from the Parsons School of Design, and an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He was also a Departmental Visiting Student at the University of Oxford.

Grand challenges are wicked problems characterized by their global scope, high significance, and potential to be solvable. Potential to be solvable is important to emphasize. As Churchman remarked in 1968: “In principle, we have the technological capability of adequately feeding, sheltering [… and] providing adequate medical care [… as well as] sufficient education for every inhabitant of the world.” Why are we stuck here and how do we move forward?

In 2001, Sholz and Marks observed: “universities have departments, the real world has problems”. Critics have faulted some approaches to sustainable development with reducing (and institutionalizing the neglect of) vital parts of a social problem, and failing to adequately include implementation knowledge. This seminar will help participants confidently navigate these demands through transdisciplinary research.

There are many definitions of transdisciplinary research, but this seminar adopts the following definition by Scholz in 2000 and Pohl in 2011: transdisciplinary research is when researchers work jointly with non-academic stakeholders across disciplinary boundaries towards a problem-solving, common-good oriented, mutual learning, and comprehensive approach to complex sustainable development problems. The value of transdisciplinary approaches have been recognized by the OECD, the United Nations, and many other organizations focused on sustainable development.

This seminar is designed to help global leaders of today and tomorrow: (1) identify creative pathways to solve grand challenges, (2) apply cutting-edge systems concepts to evaluate academic and industry publications, (3) understand the transdisciplinary research process including relevant philosophies, methods, ethical obligations, applications, and innovative outputs, (4) iterate between multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary approaches in conceptually and methodologically sound ways, (5) examine how transdisciplinary research may (or may not) contribute to your work, and (6) reflect on the future of social impact and leadership.

This seminar assumes no prior knowledge, though a background in social science research is helpful. Scholars in transdisciplinary research would also benefit from advanced discussions around the role of systems research in transdisciplinary research. This seminar prioritizes open access readings, and uses Cheung’s free, open access book as a core text, 5 Ideas from Global Diplomacy: System-wide Transformation Methods to Close the Compliance Gap and Advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (Ground Zero Books LLC 2024). Some sections have been included in the required readings list, but the book as a whole also serves as an accessible pre-reading for those who are looking to get a sense of what transdisciplinary research and systems research are about.

Acquire Practical Skills through Case Discussions and Assignments:

During a regular 90-minute seminar (Weeks 2-7), we will discuss the required readings for 50 minutes, break into smaller groups to read a case for 10 minutes, and then split the remaining time between case discussions and takeaways with reference to the week's reading. We will review both academic and industry publications from the perspective of a decision-maker. We will strategically develop a series of questions from a systems perspective, identify (transdisciplinary) methods to answer them, and hone in on a solution space. You are encouraged to offer publications of interest for the group to review. We will try to accommodate as many suggested publications as possible. That said, there will be many opportunities to explore your own interests through the assignments, which you will receive written feedback on. Seminars, tutorials, and feedback will be offered directly by the instructor.

Assignments and Timeline:

  1. Day before each seminar (including the first seminar): a few sentences (or a bullet point list) reading response. They serve as starting points to our discussions. There are, generally speaking, no more than 50 pages of required readings a week. I recommend completing the required readings in the order they are displayed. The supplementary readings are selected to offer a more in-depth read on a topic.

  2. Before Week 4 seminar: a one-page (~500 words) reading response on one of the required readings with reference to academic literature. This is a formative exercise as preparation for the final reflection. You will receive written feedback from the instructor for this assignment.

  3. Before Week 6 seminar: discuss and propose an article to prepare a presentation for Week 8 or 9. In no more than 10 minutes, your presentation will address each of the following four parts in equal weight: (a) identify one of the major knowledge claims and evaluate the strength of the evidence used to support the claim with reference to the properties of complex adaptive systems (CAS), (b) discuss background literature relating to the claim, (c) describe three transdisciplinary research methods that may provide additional evidence to support (or refute) the knowledge claim, and (d) discuss how you might implement one of the three transdisciplinary research methods. You will have ample practice during the case discussions to prepare a good presentation.

  4. Week 8 and 9 seminars: conduct presentation and gather feedback. You will receive written feedback from the instructor for this assignment.

  5. One week after Week 10 seminar: submit a 2-3 page (~1500 words) final reflection supported by academic literature and your own professional experiences, reflecting on the transdisciplinary research method you are considering to implement in part (d) of the presentation. You will clearly identify three of the weekly questions you have chosen to address and discuss them in relation to the method of your choice as well as the knowledge claim in the paper. The text can be one cohesive piece or divided into three separate sections. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts on some of the most difficult challenges associated with the method and how you might navigate them. You will receive written feedback from the instructor for this assignment.

Upon successful completion (70% and above), participants will be awarded:

  1. A non-credit Certificate of Completion

  2. Individual Membership to the Global Consortium for Systems Research (GCSR) including your own member profile

  3. Priority access to future events

Course Fees:

  • $1220 USD ($990 USD Early Bird Discount). This course is designed to offer actionable skills that you can use both immediately and long-term.

  • We offer a discounted rate for people in non-profits, international organizations, governments, academia, and organizations with fewer than 10 people $840 USD ($720 USD Early Bird Discount).

  • You will receive an Early Bird Discount automatically if you apply before the 10th of September 2024.

  • Once you receive an offer for a place, you will have 7 days to submit payment or before the 30th of September, whichever is sooner. If you do not do so, we may offer your place to another person. This is a small group seminar capped at 15 participants.

  • If your organization is sponsoring your participation, please let us know if you require any additional information. Organizations are also welcome to reach out directly to schedule a 5-day intensive version of the course for your staff, which will cover 2 modules a day.

 

Admissions:

  • Simply submit your application to the Google Form where you will be asked to share (1) your full name, (2) your email, (3) a link to your researcher profile or Linkedin profile, and (4) a few sentences (bullet point list will suffice, and no more than 100 words) on your motivations. We will begin extending offers after the 1st of September. If you apply after the 1st of September, you should expect to hear from us within 7-10 days. If you are interested in participating in future sessions of this seminar, you can register your interest here: https://forms.gle/HTnhLruCqyzGmJKXA

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Details and Policies

  • We study, forecast, and guide systems change to solve grand challenges

    GCSR was convened following the 2013 symposium at The Royal Society, "Global Integrated Assessment: Making Sense of Complexity in an Interdependent World". Ahead of its 10th Anniversary in 2022, GCSR announced its new chair at the United Nations General Assembly Science Summit.

    GCSR is chaired by Marvin Cheung, Co-Director at the Center for Global Agenda (CGA) at Unbuilt Labs. GCSR was previously chaired by Sebastian Cody, the advisor to four successive Directors General at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).

    GCSR is currently hosted at the Sustainable Innovation Think Tank (SITT) at Unbuilt Labs.

    • Week 1 — 1 October

    • Week 2 — 8 October

    • Week 3 — 15 October

    • Week 4 — 22 October

    • Week 5 — 29 October

    • Week 6 — 5 November

    • Week 7 — 12 November

    • Week 8 — 19 November

    • Thanksgiving break — 26 November

    • Week 9 — 3 December

    • Week 10 — 10 December

    Note: this course is based on the New York time zone. Because the clocks go back on different dates, the seminar on the 29th of October will be at noon New York time and 4pm London time. All other seminars will be at noon New York time and 5pm London time.

    • Small group session (capped at 15 participants): a 90-minute session weekly for 10 weeks every Tuesday at noon (12pm) New York time / 5pm London time starting on the 1st of October. You are welcome to join us while you are grabbing a bite, having a coffee, or traveling, just be sure to turn your mic off.

    • To offer everyone the opportunity to participate meaningfully in seminar discussions, we have to start each seminar on time. The Zoom room will be open 10 minutes before the seminar start time. You are welcome to log in early and catch up with your peers.

    • An optional 1:1 tutorial: a 30-minute session for further discussions, with additional office hours available on request.

    • Note: there is no attendance requirement. However, in order to offer participants space for candid discussions, the sessions will not be recorded.

  • A regular 90-minute seminar (Weeks 2-7), will involve:

    • 50-minute discussion on required readings

    • 10-minute small group breakout room session to read a case

    • 15-minute discussion on the case with reference to the week’s readings

    • 15-minute discussion on takeaways from the case

    You are encouraged to offer publications of interest for the group to review. We will try to accommodate as many suggested publications as possible. That said, there will be many opportunities to explore your own interests through the assignments, which you will receive written feedback on.

    During Week 1, we will spend 10 minutes going through the syllabus, ample time for introductions to get acquainted, and the remaining time discussing readings.

    We will do half of the presentations on Week 8 and the other half on Week 9. Remaining time will be dedicated to discussing readings.

    Week 10 will begin with readings, followed by a 30-minute open discussion as the seminar concludes.

  • You are welcome to discuss anything during the tutorial! Whether that is your work or the assignments. How you use the time is up to you.

  • At this time, this course does not offer academic credit.

    • Weight: participation (10%), weekly reflections (10%), one-page reflection (10%), presentation (35%), final reflection (35%)

    • Grades: Check Plus (100%), Check (85%), Check Minus (70%), No Check (0%).

    • All successful participants (70% or above) receive similar recognition in the form of a Certificate of Completion. There is no need to worry about grades. They are only there to offer an indicator for your own benefit. You are highly encouraged to use this opportunity to experiment.

    • Everyone should be able to do well in this course. There is abundant support during the seminar, an optional 1:1 tutorial session, and an opportunity to resubmit assignments.

    • You are required to have stable internet connection for Zoom presentations and live video.

    • Throughout the seminar, you are welcome to cite open access scholarship exclusively if you do not have access to academic literature. However, please let us know on the first day of the course if that is the case. You will not be asked about this in your application, and this will not influence our admissions decisions.

    • Assignments will be accepted up to 7 days late.

    • Assignments can be resubmitted once, within 7 days of receiving feedback.

    • If the course is cancelled by GCSR, you will receive a full refund.

    • Cancellations on the part of the participant made less than 14 days before the start of the seminar are non-refundable.

  • Participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and to recognise that other participants also require support and assistance. Any behaviour which fails to meet GCSR’s stated expectations (below) in respect of participant behaviour, or which interferes with the proper functioning or activities of GCSR, or which otherwise damages the reputation of GCSR can be considered a breach of this code of conduct. We reserve the right to issue a verbal warning where appropriate, and if this does not resolve the situation, the participant may be asked to leave the course.

    ALL are asked:

    • To be considerate and respectful

    • Not to engage in intolerant behaviour or discrimination

    • Not to engage in any conduct which is intended or is likely to disrupt teaching, learning or any other activities undertaken by or within GCSR

    • Not to engage in any harassment or intimidating behaviour

    • Not to put the health and safety of yourself or others at significant risk

    In some cases, failure to meet the above stated expectations of behaviour may result in the immediate removal from the course and permanent exclusion from GCSR. Course fees will NOT be refunded if an individual has been asked to leave the course or excluded from GCSR due to breach of this code of conduct.

    • Changes could be made to course content, delivery and teaching provision because of developments in the relevant subject, enhancements in teaching or assessment practice, or other reasons. Such changes will take into account the reasonable expectations of prospective and current participants.

    • Once you have started your course, you will be consulted about any proposed material course change which would affect the part of the course which you have already started studying.

    • We reserve the right to update, amend, and replace policies from time to time.

Annotated Bibliography of Required Readings

Part 1: Thinking

    • Laszlo, Ervin. “The Atomistic View and the Systems View.” In The Systems View of the World: The Natural Philosophy of the New Developments in the Sciences, 3–16. New York: George Braziller, 1972. https://archive.org/details/systemsviewofw00lasz. note:  a vivid discussion on crossing disciplinary boundaries in knowledge production

    • Cheung, Marvin. “Transdisciplinary Research.” In 5 Ideas from Global Diplomacy: System-Wide Transformation Methods to Close the Compliance Gap and Advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, 36–51. New York: Ground Zero Books LLC, 2024. https://unbuiltlabs.com/5-ideas-from-global-diplomacy. note: differentiating between multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary research, discussion of the components in TDR’s definition, and the types of knowledge in TDR

    • Hadorn, Gertrude Hirsch, Susette Biber-Klemm, Walter Grossenbacher-Mansuy, Holger Hoffmann-Riem, Dominique Joye, Christian Pohl, Urs Wiesmann, and Elisabeth Zemp. “The Emergence of Transdisciplinarity as a Form of Research.” In Handbook of Transdisciplinary Research, edited by Gertrude Hirsch Hadorn, Holger Hoffmann-Riem, Susette Biber-Klemm, Walter Grossenbacher-Mansuy, Dominique Joye, Christian Pohl, Urs Wiesmann, and Elisabeth Zemp, 19–42. Springer, 2008. https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781402067006/. note: the development of transdisciplinary research

    • Cheung, Marvin. “Systems.” In 5 Ideas from Global Diplomacy: System-Wide Transformation Methods to Close the Compliance Gap and Advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, 8–35. New York: Ground Zero Books LLC, 2024. note: definition and properties of complex adaptive systems, definition and properties of grand challenges including wicked problems, common elements of systems thinking, different traditions of systems thinking (i.e. “soft”, “hard”, and “critical”), and recommendations on the applications of systems concepts

    • Gear, Claire, Elizabeth Eppel, and Jane Koziol-Mclain. “Advancing Complexity Theory as a Qualitative Research Methodology.” International Journal of Qualitative Methods 17, no. 1 (December 1, 2018): 1609406918782557. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406918782557. note: discussion on how ideas on complexity can shape TDR

    • Fam, Dena, and Zoe Sofoulis. “Trouble at the Disciplinary Divide: A Knowledge Ecologies Analysis of a Co-Design Project with Native Alaskan Communities.” In Transdisciplinary Research and Practice for Sustainability Outcomes, edited by Dena Fam, Jane Palmer, Chris Riedy, and Cynthia Mitchell, 236–52. Routledge Studies in Sustainability. London and New York: Routledge, 2017. https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/handle/10453/126931. note: discussion on positivist and interpretivist approaches in TDR

    • Jackson, Michael C. “An Argument for Complementarism.” In Systems Methodology for the Management Sciences, 253–70. Contemporary Systems Thinking. New York and London: Plenum Press, 1991. https://archive.org/details/systemsmethodolo0000jack/. note: discussion on complementarism and pluralism

    • Cheung, Marvin. “Sustainable Development and Participatory Action Research.” In 5 Ideas from Global Diplomacy: System-Wide Transformation Methods to Close the Compliance Gap and Advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, 8–35. New York: Ground Zero Books LLC, 2024. https://unbuiltlabs.com/5-ideas-from-global-diplomacy. note: table on types of participatory research and range of Sustainable Development and Participatory Action Research (SDPAR) methods

Part 2: Planning

    • Prasad, Monica. “Problem-Solving Sociology.” American Sociological Association 47, no. 4 (2018): 393–98. https://www.asanet.org/wp-content/uploads/attach/journals/jul18csfeatureprasad.pdf. note: discussion on conducting impactful research

    • Hedström, Peter, and Richard Swedberg. “Social Mechanisms: An Introductory Essay.” In Social Mechanisms: An Analytical Approach to Social Theory, edited by Peter Hedström and Richard Swedberg, 1–31. Studies in Rationality and Social Change. Cambridge : New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998. https://archive.org/details/socialmechanisms0000unse/. note: discussion on mechanisms

    • Beach, Derek. “Process Tracing Methods in the Social Sciences.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford University Press, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.176. note: discussion on how to conduct process tracing research

    • Cheung, Marvin. “Research Philosophy: Transdisciplinary Systems Research (TSR)” and “Mechanisms for Institutional Change with the Contemporary Global Governance Network” In 5 Ideas from Global Diplomacy: System-Wide Transformation Methods to Close the Compliance Gap and Advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, 69-98 and 145-50. New York: Ground Zero Books LLC, 2024. https://unbuiltlabs.com/5-ideas-from-global-diplomacy. note: discussion on ontology (boundaries), epistemology (procedures for examining evidence), axiology (valuation lenses), and causal mechanisms

    • Pohl, Christian, Julie Thompson Klein, Sabine Hoffmann, Cynthia Mitchell, and Dena Fam. “Conceptualising Transdisciplinary Integration as a Multidimensional Interactive Process.” Environmental Science & Policy 118 (April 2021): 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.12.005. note: discussion on integration and implementation sciences (i2S)

    • Kluger, Max Oke, and Gerhard Bartzke. “A Practical Guideline How to Tackle Interdisciplinarity—A Synthesis from a Post-Graduate Group Project.” Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 7, no. 1 (August 3, 2020): 47. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-020-00540-9. note: discussion on methods to iterate between multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary research

    • Cheung, Marvin. “Transdisciplinary Systems Research (TSR): Managing Complexity, Collaborative Peer Review Process” In 5 Ideas from Global Diplomacy: System-Wide Transformation Methods to Close the Compliance Gap and Advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, 117-22. New York: Ground Zero Books LLC, 2024. https://unbuiltlabs.com/5-ideas-from-global-diplomacy note: discussion on structuring line of inquiry, problem space and solution space

Part 3: Implementing

    • First half of presentations

    • Arnold, Marlen Gabriele. “The Challenging Role of Researchers Coping with Tensions, Dilemmas and Paradoxes in Transdisciplinary Settings.” Sustainable Development 30, no. 2 (April 2022): 326–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2277. note: discussion on dilemmas and paradoxes in TDR

    • Schikowitz, Andrea. “Creating Relevant Knowledge in Transdisciplinary Research Projects - Coping with Inherent Tensions.” Journal of Responsible Innovation 7, no. 2 (May 3, 2020): 217–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2019.1653154. note: discussion on relevance in TDR

    • Second half of presentations

    • Lawrence, Mark G., Stephen Williams, Patrizia Nanz, and Ortwin Renn. “Characteristics, Potentials, and Challenges of Transdisciplinary Research.” One Earth 5, no. 1 (January 2022): 44–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.12.010. note: discussion on addressing challenges in TDR

    • Cheung, Marvin. “Implementation” In 5 Ideas from Global Diplomacy: System-Wide Transformation Methods to Close the Compliance Gap and Advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, 125-32. New York: Ground Zero Books LLC, 2024. https://unbuiltlabs.com/5-ideas-from-global-diplomacy. note: discussion on addressing challenges in TDR

    • End with 30-minute open discussion

    • Sassen, Saskia. “A Public Sociology for a Global Age: Recovering the Political.” In Handbook of Public Sociology, edited by Vincent Jeffries, 391–408. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2009. https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780742566460/. note: discussion on shaping narratives

    • Hansson, Stina, and Merritt Polk. “Assessing the Impact of Transdisciplinary Research: The Usefulness of Relevance, Credibility, and Legitimacy for Understanding the Link between Process and Impact.” Research Evaluation 27, no. 2 (April 1, 2018): 132–44. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvy004. note: discussion on the link between participatory processes and societal outcomes

    • “System-wide Transformation Guidance” In 5 Ideas from Global Diplomacy: System-Wide Transformation Methods to Close the Compliance Gap and Advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, 229-58. New York: Ground Zero Books LLC, 2024. https://unbuiltlabs.com/5-ideas-from-global-diplomacy. note: discussion on offering actionable recommendations

Please feel free to email Marvin@UnbuiltLabs.com if you have any questions or concerns