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Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship

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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. 

Explore Transdisciplinary Resources

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."

  • 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)

Read the CIH full report
Cover image of transdisciplinary scholarship defining work executive summary

ITS Initiatives

ITS Team

In place since June 2023, the ITS team forms the engine of ITS. The team sets the course for ITS strategy implementation and operations in close relationship with the Vice-President Research Office (VPRO), the Provost’s Office, and UCalgary faculties and institutes. They build and strengthen new and existing relationships across our campus and beyond, providing support for building expert guidance on the concepts of transdisciplinary scholarship.

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 (UREC) 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.

Transdisciplinary Faculty Members

The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship has co-funded academic faculty members to teach and engage in transdisciplinary work. These new hires will work within the five ITS Areas of Focus – Cities and Societies, Digital Worlds, Energy Futures, Health and Life, and Democracy, Justice, and Sustainability – for a five-year term.

ITS Postdoctoral Scholar Committee

ITS is excited to be joined by 20 scholars from 10 faculties across campus to create the inaugural ITS Postdoctoral Scholar Committee! This group will support the ITS team and initiatives, bringing an important lens to the team.

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