DISENTANGLE

• What research approaches can contribute to the success of sustainable transformation processes?
• How can future sustainability issues be addressed in an interdisciplinary manner?
• What conflicts of interest are likely to arise in this context?
• How can a scientifically informed approach to shaping transformation help to mitigate these conflicts?
• How can such a research process receive institutional support?

We are unravelling these questions within the interdisciplinary DISENTANGLE project team from three specialist perspectives: social sciences, material sciences and environmental sciences.

Our objectives for strengthening cross-departmental collaboration across the university to facilitate sustainable transformation processes are

• to identify specific interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research priorities,
• to investigate these through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration,
• and to act in a way that is sensitive to the dilemmas involved, in order to address the complex challenges of sustainable transformation appropriately.

To achieve these goals,

• we continue to develop our academic expertise in inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration through regular methodological and experimental exchange.
• we conduct targeted literature reviews on the current state of research and good practice.
• we pursue a stakeholder- and network-centred approach in Lusatia.
• we discuss the interrelationships between technical-technological, material-substance-related, and stakeholder- and structure-relevant dimensions.
• we identify the relevance and usefulness of multi-paradigmatic perspectives in research processes on sustainability.
• we conduct structured workshops with regional stakeholders from academia and industry.
• we develop recommendations for interdisciplinary knowledge management between the ZIRKON and TRAWOS research institutes in particular, and for Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in general.

Specifically, our team proceeds as follows:

1. We explore the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary process through our own practical experience. In doing so, we examine various forms of collaboration and test promising methods. We also identify which insights are relevant to which disciplines. We develop tools and generate proposals to improve processes and establish support structures.
2. Drawing on existing research and development projects at the HSZG and following the value chains of the circular (bio)economy, we discuss the added value of interdisciplinary research and familiarise ourselves with disciplinary structures. Particular importance is attached to region-wide stakeholder management and region- and sector-specific monitoring of raw materials and costs relating to existing secondary and biomass raw materials.
3. Over the course of the project, we will also identify and evaluate transaction flows that have received little attention to date, such as knowledge transfer to regional partners.

We will use the resulting insights into inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration to establish or improve necessary structures and to design relevant research projects more efficiently and effectively.

Our key areas of expertise include

• Sustainability
• Circular economy
• Bioeconomy
• Renewable economy
• Gaps in sustainability research
• Impact assessment of research projects
• Regional structures and structural change in Lusatia

We are convinced that DISENTANGLE will make an important contribution to promoting dynamic and sustainable research at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and to regional cooperation.

• Prof. Maja Dshemuchadse
• Dr. Julia Gabler
• Bernadette Rohlf
• Anja Mutschler