SUNRISE has been selected as a case study for an OECD report on ‘Addressing societal challenges using transdisciplinary research.’
In May 2019, Dan Sparks, Policy Manager (Global Challenges Research Fund) at UKRI, recommended SUNRISE as a potential ‘good practice’ case study for an OECD Global Science Forum project focused on analysing the theory, methods, and practices for transdisciplinary research.
SUNRISE was one of 28 global case studies used in the final report, only two of which were from the UK. These cases studies were chosen to help identify key obstacles to effectively implementing transdisciplinary research, and SUNRISE in particular was highlighted for involving a broad range of academic and non-academic groups, including physicists and chemists as well as social scientists and user communities.
The report was compiled as part of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, which develops evidence-based policy advice on the contribution of science, technology and industry to well-being and economic growth.
The transdisciplinary research method is characterised by the collaboration between natural and social scientists, as well as the involvement of non-academic stakeholders, such as public officials, citizens and commercial or not-for-profit organisations. Transdisciplinarity is a valued and essential part of the SUNRISE project, to enable us to translate cutting-edge technology from the laboratory to real-world solutions for developing communities.
Read the report here.