Page 56 - Sustainability Communication Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Theoritical Foundations

Chapter 4
Sustainable Communication

as an Inter- and Transdisciplinary Discipline

Jasmin Godemann

Abstract The goal of sustainability communication is to generate knowledge in
inter- or transdisciplinary research processes and then have it enter the public
discussion. The following chapter discusses the basic terms ‘interdisciplinarity’ and
‘transdisciplinarity’ and reflects upon the results of collaboration within heteroge-
neous groups. The challenge is that such communication processes must achieve
understanding between individuals who – in regards to the object of communication
– have systematically different scientific perspectives and everyday points of view.
Finally inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration is characterised as social learning
and an argument is made for the creation of frameworks that enable such a form of
collaboration.

Keywords Interdisciplinarity • Transdisciplinarity • Sustainable science • Group
factors • Collaboration • Knowledge integration

Sustainability Research and Communication

Sustainability communication moves in a special network of relationships among
the three spheres of science, the public and practice. It is concerned with questions
and problems that can be characterised as so-called ‘in-between’ phenomena, the
analysis of which involves intensive cooperation among scientists of different disci-
plines together with representatives of societal praxis. “And if these problems refuse
us the favour of posing themselves in terms of fields or disciplines, they will demand

J. Godemann (*)
International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (ICCSR), Nottingham University
Business School, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK
e-mail: jasmin.godemann@nottingham.ac.uk

J. Godemann and G. Michelsen (eds.), Sustainability Communication: Interdisciplinary 39
Perspectives and Theoretical Foundations, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-1697-1_4,
© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011