ARUA-CD-sponsored students participate in transdisciplinary research for sustainability in Germany
Students conducting forest assessments: From left, Elena Kortmann (Leuphana University), Sylvester Yiadom Agyei-Boachie (University of Ghana), Lucas Ignacio Muñoz Petersen (Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development), Josie Ward (University of Saskatchewan), Purity Rima Mbaabu (University of Nairobi)
Between December 2022 and March 2023, ARUA-CD sponsored Sylvester Yiadom Agyei-Boachie (University of Ghana) and Purity Rima Mbaabu (University of Nairobi) to participate in the 2023 Transdisciplinary International Learning Laboratory (TILL). TILL is a Transdisciplinary Education Collaboration for Transformations in Sustainability's project designed to build international students’ skills in applying transdisciplinary approaches to address complex sustainability challenges.
Training activities
The first learning phase was carried out through online sessions in December 2022 and focused on the theoretical aspects of transdisciplinary research. During the second phase (onsite learning at the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve), the students participated in webinars, in-person lectures, and field excursions about transdisciplinary research related to forest ecosystem management.
The students were tasked with applying the knowledge they had gained to jointly conduct research to develop strategies that foster sustainable management of the biosphere reserve. They ethically conducted a contextual analysis, framed research questions, designed data collection tools, and collected data from relevant stakeholders. They also conducted forest assessments (trees, dead wood, microhabitat, and natural rejuvenation) and analysed the data.
The students then interpreted the findings, developed an academic report and disseminated the findings through posters and PowerPoint presentations to the management of TRANSECTS, the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, and the Eberswald University for Sustainable Development management, foresters, forest owners, and students.
Our accomplishments
We have learned to plan and conduct transdisciplinary research, forest assessments, communicate, and work with cross-disciplinary teams. We developed recommendations to sustainably enhance stakeholder collaboration in the biosphere reserve to promote nature conservation and socio-economic development.
Moreover, we designed recommendations to improve forest management and increase forests’ resilience to climate change. Additionally, we improved our presentation, report-writing, communication, networking, and interpersonal skills. The students were also presented with certificates of participation and honour.