Enhancing Conservation Science Through Transdisciplinary Practices: A Literature Review

The field of conservation science has seen increasing calls for research transcending traditional academic boundaries, but concerns remain as to whether such work can translate into practical guidance and toolsets for conservationists. This literature review seeks to provide emerging scholars and practitioners of transdisciplinary research with a contemporary assessment of transdisciplinary practices to enhance their conservation science research agenda. Current understandings of transdisciplinarity have largely been shaped by the theory-centric “Nicolescuian” tradition and the phenomenology-centric “Zurich” tradition. Challenges at individual, disciplinary, and institutional levels – such as communication, power, and time – can present barriers but may also be reframed to instead facilitate the transdisciplinary research process. Such dynamic research processes are of particular use for conservation scientists in revitalizing crucial relationships with project partners. Future steps to make transdisciplinary research work for conservation science include consolidating knowledge, addressing power imbalances, and promoting institutional-level change.