Nurturing communities of practice for transdisciplinary research

This paper introduces the concept of “transdisciplinary communities of practice” and identifies three key lessons for people working in, managing, or funding such groups.

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Cundill et al use insights gained from the literature on situated learning and three case-studies, to introduce the concept of “transdisciplinary communities of practice. They identify three key lessons for people working in, managing, or funding such groups. Firstly, opportunities need to be purposefully created for outsiders to observe activities in the core group. Secondly, communities of practice cannot be artificially created, but they can be nurtured. Finally, the authors conclude that power matters in transdisciplinary communities of practice.