Coordinación transdisciplinaria: tender puentes para el futuro de la coproducción de conocimientos

The report argues that transdisciplinary research—which integrates academic and non-academic knowledge to solve real-world problems—often fails due to a lack of dedicated coordination. It proposes a three-pillar framework to improve this: changing scientific culture to value social impact over academic metrics, transforming funding mechanisms to be more flexible and inclusive of non-academic partners, and developing specialized capacities in facilitation, communication, and conflict resolution. The document emphasizes the need for these changes to support the Global South and ensure equitable partnerships in addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

• Transdisciplinary research is defined by three criteria: the goal of providing practical solutions to concrete problems (especially global environmental change), the inclusion of multiple scientific disciplines (natural and social), and the involvement of relevant social actors—such as affected communities, NGOs, and government institutions—from the beginning.
• Coordination in transdisciplinary research is often neglected in project planning, leaving young researchers without training in complex political contexts and resulting in funding calls that lack inclusive initiatives due to a shortage of resources or qualified personnel.
• To change scientific culture, the report recommends strengthening transdisciplinary communities, applying diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI) policies, and reducing the dependency on English to include non-Anglophone scientists and local actors.
• Current funding structures create imbalances, such as unequal budget distribution where non-academic partners are often expected to donate their time while academics are compensated, and a lack of flexibility to adapt budgets to evolving social and political circumstances.
• Traditional academic evaluation metrics, based on the quantity and ranking of publications, fail to capture the value of transdisciplinary outputs such as policy briefs, public communication, and social impact.
• There is a critical need to develop non-technical capacities for researchers and funders, specifically in facilitation, cognitive and emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution, to manage the divergent priorities inherent in transdisciplinary teams.
• The report advocates for the adoption of open science and FAIR data processes while emphasizing the ethical implications of sharing co-produced data with local communities and indigenous peoples who hold traditional communal knowledge.

APA

Sandroni, L., Mamnoon, I., & Ibarra, A. S. (n.d.). Coordinación transdisciplinaria: tender puentes para el futuro de la coproducción de conocimientos. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_CoordinacionTransdisciplinaria_2025%20(1).pdf

Chicago

Sandroni, Laila, Ismet Mamnoon, and Anna Stewart Ibarra. Coordinación transdisciplinaria: tender puentes para el futuro de la coproducción de conocimientos. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, n.d. https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_CoordinacionTransdisciplinaria_2025%20(1).pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sandroni |first1=Laila |last2=Mamnoon |first2=Ismet |last3=Ibarra |first3=Anna Stewart |title=Coordinación transdisciplinaria: tender puentes para el futuro de la coproducción de conocimientos |publisher=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |url=https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_CoordinacionTransdisciplinaria_2025%20(1).pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sandronindcoordinacin, author = {Sandroni, Laila and Mamnoon, Ismet and Ibarra, Anna Stewart}, title = {{Coordinación transdisciplinaria: tender puentes para el futuro de la coproducción de conocimientos}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, url = {https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_CoordinacionTransdisciplinaria_2025%20(1).pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }