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Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship

Create impact through collaborative and community engaged research and scholarship

The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship are a connection point for the UCalgary community, from research institutes to individual scholars.

To address barriers to working between, across, and beyond traditional academic disciplines and in partnership with communities, the Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship (ITS) at UCalgary provides resources and a collective approach to impact societal challenges and opportunities by facilitating collaboration, co-learning, and knowledge transformation informed by multiple perspectives. 

Our Approach to Transdisciplinary Research and Scholarship

Explore

Identify the essential elements 

What is transdisciplinary scholarship, how was it developed and what are the areas of focus?

Engage

Engage and collaborate within the campus and beyond 

How do I get involved with transdisciplinary scholarship?

Enhance

Enhance opportunities for teams engaged in, or interested in, transdisciplinarity 

How does ITS expand capacity?

Transdisciplinary Scholarship: What Is It?

"Transdisciplinary scholarship is directed towards a complex issue or problem, most often one with a social dimension. Because of the complexity of the issue or problem, it is best addressed by teams of researchers from multiple disciplines. To address the social dimension of the question, transdisciplinary scholarship incorporates knowledges from outside the university, through theoretical or creative approaches to societal issues, and ideally by including societal actors who are implicated in the issue or problem in question."

  • Definition by the Calgary Institute for the Humanities through a deliberative process, 2024

Dr. Jim Ellis and  Dr. Petra Dolata, lead scholars at The Calgary Institute for Humanities (CIH), delved into this inquiry through research, workshops, and webinars as well as their expertise and scholarship. 

In July 2024, ITS published a report detailing their findings, titled "Transdisciplinary Scholarship: Breaking Boundaries for a Better Future". 

Schematic representation of transdisciplinary research. Adapted from Morton et al. (2015), originally from Tress et al. (2005)

Development of Transdisciplinarity at UCalgary

Led by the Office of the Vice-President (Research), UCalgary allocates resources and supports transdisciplinary collaboration across our campuses and communities.

The University of Calgary's Strategic Plan

An objective of Ahead of Tomorrow is to expand transdisciplinary research and scholarship. By increasing collaboration between faculties and departments, scholars can bring together new approaches to tackle today's urgent issues.

The President’s Strategic Initiatives Fund

Start Something invests $18.9M in transdisciplinary scholarship. The purpose is to define transdisciplinarity for UCalgary, amplify and expand on existing capacity, build new capacity, and facilitate engagement with scholars, staff, the community, and industry.

Areas of Focus

Our Areas of Focus are aimed at bringing together scholars from other faculties and non-academic partners with an eye toward surpassing our current boundaries. These areas do not map onto faculties or specialties but instead intersect to support the development of integrated knowledge.  

Cities and Societies

Cities and Societies

Ways to design, plan, and build sustainable, healthy communities to ensure all societal members thrive. Considers technology, innovations in smart cities, transportation, infrastructure, biodiversity, healthy cities and populations, and designing for equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Digital Worlds

Digital Worlds

How data can be used to expand and create connections to inform a world with no boundaries. Considers how we can harness new technologies and themes of extended reality, human connection and enrichment, intelligent tools, security, ethics, regulations and law, and socio-culture transformation.

Energy Futures

Energy Futures

The evolving energy system, how potential scenarios might develop over time, and the technological, economic, social, and political opportunities and challenges. Considers climate and environment, energy use and sources, politics and policy, economics, and the socio-cultural role of energy. ​ 

Health and Life

Health and Life

Child health and wellness, cancer, inflammatory and chronic diseases, brain and mental health, cardiovascular health, bone and joint health, public health, and others. Considers biomedical engineering, health informatics, nursing, and themes of biodiversity and health and wellbeing for people, animals, and the environment. Builds on UCalgary's network of health research institutes. 

Democracy, Justice, and Sustainability

Democracy, Justice, and Sustainability

Transforming institutions, governments, societies, and spaces to be equitable, inclusive, and diverse. Considers justice, democracy, freedom, autonomy, pluralism, anti-racism, and decolonization - through a lens of sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. *Intersects all focus areas. 


Expanding Transdisciplinarity and Creating Capacity

At UCalgary, the following programs have helped to develop new or existing transdisciplinary research and scholarship activities:

Transdisciplinary Academic Co-Leads

Academic Co-Leads in collaboration with the campus community and external partners/actors: amplify the mission of ITS, action high-priority transdisciplinary scholarship, support knowledge integration, and engage the campus community. Each area of focus includes a team of Academic Co-Leads and a Senior Specialist in transdisciplinary scholarship.

Transdisciplinary Connector Grants

Transdisciplinary Connector Grants enable UCalgary teams to explore societal questions, challenges, and opportunities that demand a transdisciplinary approach. The program fosters new connections among scholars, trainees, and external partners. Applications are taken in three times yearly. 

UCalgary Research Excellence Chairs

UCalgary Research Excellence Chairs (UCREC) is an internal chairs program that supports research excellence, nurtures talent, and promotes transdisciplinary collaborations that push knowledge boundaries. It recognizes scholars with highly distinguished accomplishments and research leadership.


Featured events


Transdisciplinarity in the News

Six UCalgary researchers receive renewals of Canada Research Chairs

Combined with eight new CRC appointments, UCalgary receives more than $10 million in funding

Eight UCalgary researchers appointed new Canada Research Chairs

Six previous appointments renewed; UCalgary receives more than $10 million in funding

Open scholarship at UCalgary is on track for big impact

Knowledge to Impact's first open science webinar on Dec. 2 examines inclusive approach to research

video

Now Innovating: Connecting the dots with transdisciplinary scholarship

A conversation with Dr. Greg Welch, professor, Faculty of Science and UCalgary Research Excellence Chair

Transdisciplinary scholarship gathering builds community, solidarity

Sept. 25 event was attended by about 200 UCalgary scholars

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