A global network of scholars of interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity has strengthened in recent decades. The purpose of this plenary is to take stock of areas of emerging consensus around the nature of inter/transdisciplinarity and how best to perform inter/transdisciplinary research and teaching, and areas in which important differences in point of view can still be identified. Special attention will be paid to regional differences in these topics.

The panelists have each been longtime contributors to both the literature and global networking.

Rick Szostak joined the Department of Economics at the University of Alberta in 1985. He served as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts from 2002 to 2005, was President of the Association of Academic Staff at the University of Alberta from 1995 to 1996, and President of the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations from 1996 to 1998. His B.A. is from McGill and his PhD from Northwestern University. He was Chair of the Department from July 1, 2017 to 2022. Szostak’s research interests span the fields of economic history, world history, methodology, history of technology, ethics, study of science, knowledge organization, future studies, and especially the theory and practice of interdisciplinarity.

PD Dr. Bianca Vienni Baptista is Privatdozent at the Department of Environmental Systems Science of ETH Zürich. Her research is focused around Inter-​ and transdisciplinary methods, theories and knowledge cultures, Transdisciplinary research for energy transitions, participatory modelling, Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary institutionlising processes, Research policy and evaluation of inter-​ and transdisciplinary research, Qualitative research methodology, and Integrative teaching and learning.

Frédéric Darbellay is professor in Inter- and Transdisciplinary Studies at the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Head of the Inter- and Transdisciplinarity Unit at the Center for Children’s Rights Studies (CIDE) and the CIDE Deputy Director.

Iris van der Tuin is professor in Theory of Cultural Inquiry at Utrecht University (Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies). She is also Utrecht University Dean of Interdisciplinary Education and vice-dean for undergraduate education in the Faculty of Humanities.