The “Bergrivier” project is an exploration of the UCT African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI), seeking to develop innovative means to foster and support inter- and transdisciplinary interactions among researchers, and between researchers and practitioners. A trans-disciplinary approach to ‘wicked’ or complex social-ecological problems such as climate change is particularly appropriate.
 
In mid  2012 a diverse group of ca. 20 participants from a cross section of UCT departments together with government officials, practitioners and citizens from the area embarked on a process to develop and create a trans-disciplinary action research process that links knowledge co-generation and practice in the pursuit of development that is responsive to climate variability and change in the Bergrivier municipal area.
 
This initiative is on-going and is being supported by the ACDI. Three UCT members of the group Mark New (ACDI), Jan Glazewski (Law) and Tania Katzschner (Built Environment) will present brief perspectives and reflections on how they have been touched by this process and how this has influenced their teaching and research. They will share what they have learnt, what might have changed for them, and how it has enhanced and enriched their work.  This will be followed by discussion on the implications of the group experiences for furthering broad interdisciplinary research endeavours at UCT.