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
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."
- Working definition from 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)
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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.
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
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
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
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
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
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:
Featured events
Transdisciplinarity in the News
Dr. Carolyn Emery named new scientific director for UCalgary's Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship
Faculty of Kinesiology professor begins new role effective July 1, 2025
UCalgary researchers have access to European-based funding opportunities
Horizon Europe opens doors to Canadians to elevate research through global connections
UCalgary continues to expand transdisciplinary capacity on campus
New roles drive teaching, learning and research excellence in areas of focus
podcast
Now Innovating: ‘Nursifying’ social innovation and enterprise
A conversation with Sue Crawford from the Faculty of Nursing
UCalgary grant funds project exploring transition to sustainable agriculture
Experts from across the university will develop solutions to foster growth in the food and agriculture sectors
Three minutes, endless impact: UCalgary’s Postdoc Research Slam celebrates innovation and storytelling
Annual postdoc competition highlights groundbreaking research – from sustainable innovation to medical breakthroughs – while fostering community among postdoc scholars.
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