The nexus approach as a transdisciplinary approach has emerged as a response to sustainable challenges in various sectors such as water, energy, food, climate, etc. Due to the complex nature of transdisciplinary approaches involving multiple interactions between different actors, societal impacts need to be explored in transdisciplinary research in order to learn from their performance for future project design and to promote impact implementation. In this context, the process of achieving societal impact was examined through the outputs and outcomes of two Nexus projects by analysing productive interactions (i.e., exchanges between researchers and stakeholders in which the knowledge generated can be considered scientifically sound and societally relevant (Spaapen and Van Drooge, 2011)).

Research has shown that productive interactions can occur when there is broad stakeholder participation, the problem or goal is defined based on stakeholder needs, roles and expected results are clearly explained, and when facilities, researchers’ competencies, and boundary objects that facilitate mutual understanding are in place. In Nexus projects, when productive interactions occur, they lead to societal impacts through a sequence of changes (outputs and outcomes) that entail the exchange and utilization of the knowledge gained through these exchanges. Given the characteristics of the interactions and the knowledge generated by these interactions, this knowledge can be used to bring about the changes needed to fulfil societal goals and create societal impact. Based on the results and literature, some recommendations to improve research design and enhance the societal impact of future transdisciplinary research were suggested:

–Create a stakeholder analysis and mapping to involve all relevant stakeholders before starting the project.

-Involve civil society whenever relevant and prepare them for effective participation.

-Involving relevant stakeholders from the start of the project and ensuring that the project’s objectives meet their needs.

-Shared visions of the future among stakeholders and a common vision of how the proposed solutions can be implemented.

-A clear explanation of the roles of researchers and stakeholders and the purpose of the expected outcomes. It is important that stakeholders understand that what they are doing is not only for research purposes, but also to fulfill societal goals that meet their needs.

-Involve a stakeholder engagement expert to lead interactions with stakeholders.

-Consider convenient physical spaces for face-to-face meetings to promote trust in the interaction process and virtual spaces to facilitate the participation of those who cannot be present in person.

-Include boundary objects to facilitate information transfer and mutual understanding.

-Inclusion of resources for the afterlife.

#productive interactions, #outputs, #outcomes, #societal impacts #transdisciplinary research, #nexus projects

Nexus projects studied:

SIM4NEXUS à cases implemented in Latvia and Sweden

NextGen à cases implemented in Athens and Costa Brava

Source: Own elaboration made by ArcGIS with free vector map data from Natural Earth and DIVA-GIS.

More detailed information see master’s thesis “Analysing productive interactions to explain societal impacts in transdisciplinary research:Case study analysis of European Nexus projects”.

References

-Hoff, H. (2011). Understanding the Nexus. Background Paper for the Bonn2011 Nexus Conference: The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://mediamanager.sei.org/documents/Publications/SEI-Paper-Hoff-UnderstandingTheNexus-2011.pdf

-Munaretto, S., Mooren, C., & Hessels, L. K. (2022). Valorization of transdisciplinary research: An evaluation approach and empirical illustration. Research Evaluation, 31(3), 355–371. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvac019

-NWO. (2020). Societal Impact through Knowledge Utilisation. Dutch Research Council. NWO. https://www.nwo.nl/sites/nwo/files/documents/Leaflet%20Knowledge%20Utilisation%20-%20web.pdf

-Spaapen, J., & Van Drooge, L. (2011b). Introducing “productive interactions” in social impact assessment. Research Evaluation, 20(3), 211–218. https://doi.org/10.3152/095820211×12941371876742