Closing transdisciplinary collaboration gaps of food-energy-water nexus research

Zhuang, Jie; Löffler, Frank; Sayler, Gary

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.004

Closing transdisciplinary collaboration gaps of food-energy-water nexus research

Journal Article · Tue Oct 12 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Environmental Science and Policy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.004· OSTI ID:1876279

Zhuang, Jie ^[1]; ^[2]; Sayler, Gary ^[1]

Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

The nexus of food, energy, and water (FEW) systems is key to ensuring global sustainability in the face of climate change, population growth, and urbanization. To address FEW resources inequity among different regions and countries, transdisciplinary research networking becomes increasingly important for tackling this intractable, complex grand challenge. In contrast to interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary research, transdisciplinary research emphasizes the interactions of scientific, cognitive, and social factors from a top-down view. Intellectual and strategic integrations entail weaving scientific, socioeconomic, and political perspectives together into a new convergence model and fostering a shared vision and comparable assessment, though these goals might not be realistically achievable in the short term. This article summarizes major barriers to transdisciplinary research on FEW nexus grand challenges and possible solutions to be implemented at multiple levels of distinct social systems. Implementation of the solutions relies on not only top-down incentives of governments but also bottom-up initiatives of academic communities and individual researchers. The relevance of shared interests and visions between the research communities and the public is emphasized.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1876279

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 23202624

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Policy, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Policy Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 126; ISSN 1462-9011

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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