Transdisciplinary collaboration mediated by design: An initiative for rural adaptation to climate change

Tellez, F.A. & Beltran-Forero, L. (2019). Transdisciplinary collaboration mediated by design: An initiative for rural adaptation to climate change, in Arteaga, I., Burbano, A., Nadal, D.H., & Peña, C. (Eds.), Conference Proceedings Cumulus Bogota 2019 (472-483), 28 October - 1 November, Bogota, Colombia: Universidad de los Andes. http://cumulusbogota2019.org/cumulus-conference-proceedings-bogota-2019.pdf

Abstract

Tropical ecosystems and their associated human communities are considered the most vulnerable to current and future increases in temperature associated with climate change (IPCC, 2018). In the tropics, it is expected that warming will cause losses in diversity, rises in sea levels, increases in the incidence of vector-borne diseases, and a considerable reduction in the supply of potable water.

During the last 40 years, a transdisciplinary approach to address complex environmental-societal problems has been developed and applied by academic and non-academic communities. However, connecting these two heterogeneous groups has presented considerable challenges (Jahn et al., 2012). This paper reports how design’s integrative methods can be applied to address some of these challenges based on a series of research and educational interventions that researchers implemented to address problems related to climate change in rural communities in Colombia.

In the paper, we show how a transdisciplinary initiative has helped to articulate rural communities and researchers in design, biology, sociology, and law. Specifically, this paper explores and proposes design-based methods to bring academics and non-academics together by leveraging the expertise of each discipline and participant involved.

Our findings show how future and long-term research in climate change could use design-based methodologies to articulate various disciplines and non-academic actors. By following this transdisciplinary approach, it is possible to propose participatory adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change in rural communities inhabiting tropical ecosystems.

Keywords: Transdisciplinary, Climate change, Design methods, Rural communities, Tropical ecosystems

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