Global Science and Sensosphere: an Integration and Implementation Wisdomscape

Analysis

Sustaining sustainability science: The role of established inter-disciplines

Karen Kastenhofer^{a, ,} , Ulrike Bechtold^a and Harald Wilfing^b

^a Institute of Technology Assessment, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Strohg. 45/5, A-1030 Wien, Austria

^b Dept. of Anthropology, Universität Wien, Althanstrasse 14, A-1091 Wien, Austria

Received 27 July 2010;

revised 8 December 2010;

accepted 8 December 2010.

Available online 17 January 2011.

Abstract

The establishment of new interdisciplinary fields such as ecological economics, human ecology or technology assessment can be interpreted as a logical consequence of striving for new sustainability sciences that address current global, multi-dimensional and multi-scale challenges. These set out to bridge the gap between the natural and the social sphere, between scientific analysis and societal action. This paper aims at re-assessing the contribution of established inter-disciplines to sustainable development. Journal articles of ecological economics, technology assessment and science and technology studies are evaluated and compared along several proposed features of sustainability science. The results converge in two crucial aspects. (1) Concise societal or political recommendations are not part of present day ‘normal science’, be it a disciplinary or an explicitly interdisciplinary research context. (2) Participatory exercises are rarely applied as a socio-politically embedded practice, despite a high interest in such exercises as an object of study and discussion.

Research Highlights

►Established inter-disciplines contribute to current sustainability science. ►They include ecological economics, technology assessment and STS. ► We analyse papers in these fields along proposed features of sustainability science. ► Concise societal recommendations are not part of these inter-disciplines' practices.► Participatory exercises are rarely applied as a socio-politically embedded practice.

Keywords: Sustainability science; Technology assessment; Ecological economics; Science and technology studies; Inter-disciplines

Article Outline

1.

Introduction

2.

The Cases of Three Established Inter-Disciplines

2.1. Ecological Economics

2.2. Technology Assessment

2.3. Science and Technology Studies

3.

Materials and Methods

4.

Results

4.1. Cross-Dimensional Integration: Reference to the Social, the Cultural and the Ecological Sphere

4.2. Multi-Level Integration: Reference to the Local, the Regional/National and the Global Level

4.3. Addressing Change Over Time

4.4. Addressing the Future

4.5. Participatory Approaches

4.6. Orientation Towards Socio-Political Action/Decisions

4.7. Cross-Reference Between Inter-Disciplines

5.

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

References

Corresponding author. Tel.: + 43 1 51581 6580; fax: + 43 1 7109883.

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Ecological Economics Volume 70, Issue 4, 15 February 2011, Pages 835-843