International Conference 

Transdisciplinarity: Joint Problem-Solving among Science, Technology and Society

New forms of mutual learning involving science, technology and society to efficiently meet the 
complex challenges of the 21st century

February 27, 28, 29 and March 1, 2000
Zurich, Switzerland

Organizers:

Swiss National Science Foundation, Berne - Swiss Priority Programme Environment 
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich - Natural and Social Science Interface (ETH-UNS) 
Asea Brown Boveri - ABB Corporate Research Ltd, Baden-Dättwil 

In cooperation with the Swiss Foundation 'Science et Cité'

The Goals of the Conference

To develop transdisciplinary practice. Current experience of transdisciplinary research at both 
the national and the international level will be documented and evaluated. The conference 
intends to consider how to identify and diffuse the most suitable practice in transdisciplinary 
research. 

To promote transdisciplinary research. The conference will explore the conditions required to 
establish research directed by societal problems and will examine what changes should be 
made to encourage the willingness of participants to conduct research and teach in the context 
of transdisciplinary projects. 

To create favourable institutional structures and powerful incentives. The conference will 
explore key issues related to the institutional framework and address questions of 
implementation, management and evaluation (by funding agencies, the academic 
establishment, scientific policy-makers, business and industry). It will also address such 
questions as the social status and career development of academic researchers and of 
partners from other sectors of society.

Call for Interactive Contributions

Who Should Contribute?

Contributions are invited from:

Scientists from universities and colleges of higher education. 
Researchers and experts from industry, business, consultancy and other private and public 
organizations. 
Politicians and public administrators, university managers and managers of universities of 
applied sciences. 
Opinion-formers in industry, trade and commerce, and members of non-governmental 
organizations. 
Media representatives and interested members of the general public. 

On What Topics?

Contributions are invited in any of the following areas:

Problems requiring transdisciplinary research. 
Success stories and examples of transdisciplinary research. 
Tools for successful transdisciplinary research (methodology, knowledge exchange, 
problem-solving mechanisms, assessment, stimulation and motivation in the professional 
environment). 
Ideas for creative methods of problem identification, research and problem-solving. 

Organization

Dates and Venue. The conference will be held at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 
Zurich (Switzerland) on February 27, 28, 29 and March 1, 2000. The majority of the sessions 
on February 29 will be held at locations provided by partner institutions.

Language and communication. The official language of the conference will be English. 
Presentations and activities at the conference will be largely interactive, i.e. twin- and 
triple-speaker lectures, dialogues and open sessions with audience participation.

Reviews and publication. Prospective contributions will be reviewed by members of the 
Conference Board and, if accepted, published in a reader which will be available to all 
participants one month before the conference (Transdisciplinarity I). A second volume of the 
conference reader, containing selected oral presentations, major outcomes, strategies, 
synthesis studies and follow-up agendas, will be published after the conference 
(Transdisciplinarity II).

Swiss Transdisciplinarity Award. In recognition of special achievements in transdisciplinary 
research, there will be the first-ever presentation of the ´Swiss Transdisciplinarity Awardª. The 
prize will be awarded by a special committee selected from the Conference Board.

Bulletin board and electronic conference. A Transdisciplinarity bulletin board will soon be 
launched at the site: http://www.snf.ch/transdisciplinarity/home.html.

An electronic conference may be held in October 1999 and November 1999.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Registration has now commenced. Prospective contributors and participants should register 
as soon as possible.

Final date for submission of prospective contributions (abstracts): July 1, 1999.

Final date for submission of print-ready manuscripts: December 1, 1999.

Final date for registration of participants: December 15, 1999.

Late submissions and registration will be considered by the organizers wherever possible.

Conference Fees

Senior participants: The fee for full registration is CHF 580.-/ EUR 360.- per participant. The 
cost of the two conference publications, the informal meeting on February 27, the reception on 
February 28, three lunches, coffee facilities and the closing party on March 1 are included in 
the full registration fee.

Junior participants: The reduced full registration fee for junior participants (born on or after 
March 1, 1970) is CHF 290.-/ EUR 180.-.

Late registration (after December 15, 1999): The fee for late registration is CHF 780.-/ EUR 
490.- for senior participants and CHF 390.-/ EUR 245.- for junior participants.

For further details and a registration form contact:

Transdisciplinarity Conference Secretariat
Swiss Priority Programme Environment
Länggassstrasse 23
CH - 3012 Berne
Switzerland
Fax +41 31 302 55 20 Phone +41 31 302 55 77
E-mail: [log in to unmask]




%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%