The changing landscapes towards my final destination

Picture: van Damme, C. (2016, October 10). Science, uncertainty and politics: An eternal struggle?

Standing at the crossroads of my journey, I wonder which path leads to my desired destination. Is it a singular yellow brick road like Dorothy’s and Toto in Oz, or are there countless choices? Will the journey transform me, and who will I encounter? In my transdisciplinary skills course, I’ve learned that the path may not be straightforward, and my decision on which path to choose is influenced and not just by me.

This dynamic relationship between both can involve science informing policy, shaping research priorities, or collaborative co-creation. Esther Turnhout (2018) underscores the interdependence of environmental science and policy, stressing their mutual value. This highlights the crucial need for co-creation, where scientists and policymakers collaborate for effective solutions, acknowledging the interconnectedness of these domains.

Co-creation is an important tool that can lead to significant and long-term change. This co-creation thought also comes into play in the design thinking process. This process includes 5-steps to creating innovative and meaningful solutions for problems regarding a specific group (Buhl et al., 2019; Sprouts, 2017). These steps are the five different landscapes I will cross during my journey; empathise, define the problem, ideate, prototype and test (Sprouts, 2017).  

Reflecting on transdisciplinary, co-creation, and the different landscapes during my journey, the concept of power emerges. Questions arise about who decides which problem to solve, who participates in co-creation, and who holds the power in steering these steps. The control of power shapes our paths, just like Dorothy’s intentional journey on the yellow brick road to the mighty Wizard of Oz, yet was that the right path?

Reference list:

Buhl, A., Schmidt-Keilich, M., Muster, V., Blazejewski, S., Schrader, U., Harrach, C., Schäfer, M., & Süßbauer, E. (2019). Design thinking for sustainability: Why and how design thinking can foster sustainability-oriented innovation development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 231, 1248–1257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.259

Sprouts (Director). (2017, October 23). The Design Thinking Process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r0VX-aU_T8

Turnhout, E. (2018). The Politics of Environmental Knowledge. Conservation and Society, 16(3), 363–371. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26500647

van Damme, C. (2016, October 10). Science, uncertainty and politics: An eternal struggle? https://crastina.se/science-uncertainty-and-politics-an-eternal-struggle/