Transfer as a reciprocal process: How to foster receptivity to results of transdisciplinary research

Transdisciplinary research (TDR) seeks to address real-world problems and aims to be socially transformative. This normative objective extends beyond particular TDR projects, as real-world problems are embedded in concrete contexts but, at the same time, are also related to wider societal challenges that are not restricted to one context. Therefore, TDR generally entails transfer of knowledge and results to other contexts. However, the TDR discourse has mainly treated transfer efforts from the perspective of scientific generalization, translation and packaging of knowledge. Within this understanding of transfer, little attention has been paid to interplay between contexts and the role of new contexts themselves. This article is based on qualitative explorative research on four TDR projects. Its results were iteratively derived through project analysis, reflection on insights from the literature and discussions with TDR experts. We propose that transfer is a complex reciprocal process in which different types of knowledge are provided and transferred to other contexts, where knowledge is adapted, enriched and modified. In addition to project researchers, actors in other (pick-up) contexts also play an important role for successful transfer and appropriation of TDR results. Generating transfer potential within the duration of a project depends on being aware of potential pick-up contexts. To address the interdependent aspects of transfer (results, mediation, and appropriation in other contexts), we present a comprehensive model outlining TDR transfer processes. To support projects seeking to raise their transfer potential in a more conscious manner, we also formulate three overarching recommendations: 1) process results for transfer adequately, 2) identify and support intermediaries and, 3) increase awareness of and address other contexts. Considering these recommendations while also being aware of their interdependence may increase potential for transfer of knowledge and results to other contexts. Our conceptual understanding acknowledges the complexity and non-linearity of endeavors to take advantage of case-specifically gained knowledge and results in other contexts or at other scales

Societal effects of transdisciplinary sustainability research—How can they be strengthened during the research process?

Transdisciplinary sustainability research aims to mitigate or to solve complex societal problems and advance the production of scientific knowledge. Reflexive approaches to transdisciplinary research processes are outlined to systematically strengthen the potential for societal effectiveness. So far, it is rare to find empirically based analyses of the links between the quality of the research process and the methods applied on the one hand and the effects achieved on the other. This paper thus addresses the issue of heightening the societal effects of transdisciplinary sustainability research. The objective is to explore ways of consciously promoting societal effectiveness in transdisciplinary research. We argue that these possibilities evolve at the intersection between the general project framework and an adaptive shaping of transdisciplinary research processes. A reflexive approach of this kind proactively considers the dynamics of interests and concerns, roles and responsibilities, the collaboration culture within a project, and the connectivity to the context of action addressed. Its deployment presupposes an appreciation of the basic conditions, i.e. the historical development of the respective problem, the heterogeneity of actors involved, the general environment and, finally, the funding conditions

A HunOr magyar-orosz párhuzamos korpusz

A jelen dolgozatban a HunOr, egy eleddig hiányzó digitalizált magyar–orosz párhuzamos korpusz létrehozásáról számolunk be. A dolgozat a korpuszépítési munka céljáról, jelenlegi állásáról, az eddigi munka során szerzett tapasztalatokról, a munka folyamatáról és eszközeirl, valamint a HunOr korpusz adatairól igyekszik átfogó képet adni. Az ismertetés során részletesen szólunk azokról az elméleti és gyakorlati jelleg problémákról, amelyek az eddig elvégzett és a jelenleg folyó feldolgozási munkák (mondatra bontás, mondatszint párhuzamosítás, NE-annotálás) során elméleti vagy gyakorlati szempontból megoldásra váró feladatként léptek fel

Wirkung und gesellschaftliche Wirksamkeit

Wie kann die gesellschaftliche Wirkung von transdisziplinären Forschungsprojekten erfasst und bewertet werden? Diese Frage steht im Fokus des vorliegenden Textes. Es wird deutlich, dass es bisher keine einheitlichen Begrifflichkeiten und Indikatoren gibt, um die gesellschaftliche Wirksamkeit von transdisziplinären Projekten zu messen. Qualitative Ansätze wie Fallstudien und Wirkungsnarrative werden häufig eingesetzt, um der gesellschaftlichen Wirksamkeit auf die Spur zu kommen. Auch quantitative Kenngrößen werden gesucht, die dem transdisziplinären Forschungsmodus gerecht werden. Eine systematische Erfassung und Darstellung von Wirkungen transdisziplinärer Projekte ist bisher forschungspolitisch nicht mit entsprechenden Programmen und Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten unterlegt. Es besteht Handlungsbedarf in der Anpassung der universitären Lehre, um die Realisierung wirkungsvoller transdisziplinärer Forschung zu ermöglichen. (Herausgeber)How can the social impact of transdisciplinary research projects be recorded and evaluated? This question is the focus of the present text. It becomes clear that so far there are no standardized terminologies and indicators to measure the societal effectiveness of transdisciplinary projects. Qualitative approaches such as case studies and impact narratives are often used to track social effectiveness. Quantitative indicators are also sought that do justice to the transdisciplinary research mode. Systematic recording and presentation of the effects of transdisciplinary projects has not yet been backed up by appropriate programs and funding opportunities in terms of research policy. There is a need for action in the adaptation of university teaching to enable the realization of effective transdisciplinary research. (Editor

Elimination of the flavodiiron electron sink facilitates long-term H2 photoproduction in green algae

The development of renewable and sustainable biofuels to cover the future energy demand is one of the most challenging issues of our time. Biohydrogen, produced by photosynthetic microorganisms, has the potential to become a green biofuel and energy carrier for the future sustainable world, since it provides energy without CO2 emission. The recent development of two alternative protocols to induce hydrogen photoproduction in green algae enables the function of the O2-sensitive [FeFe]-hydrogenases, located at the acceptor side of photosystem I, to produce H2 for several days. These protocols prevent carbon fixation and redirect electrons toward H2 production. In the present work, we employed these protocols to a knockout Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant lacking flavodiiron proteins (FDPs), thus removing another possible electron competitor with H2 production.The deletion of the FDP electron sink resulted in the enhancement of H2 photoproduction relative to wild-type C. reinhardtii. Additionally, the lack of FDPs leads to a more effective obstruction of carbon fixation even under elongated light pulses.We demonstrated that the rather simple adjustment of cultivation conditions together with genetic manipulation of alternative electron pathways of photosynthesis results in efficient re-routing of electrons toward H2 photoproduction. Furthermore, the introduction of a short recovery phase by regular switching from H2 photoproduction to biomass accumulation phase allows to maintain cell fitness and use photosynthetic cells as long-term H2-producing biocatalysts

the impact of roosting ecology on a bat's mating strategy

With their extraordinary species richness and diversity in ecological traits and social systems, bats are a promising taxon for testing socio-ecological hypotheses in order to get new insights into the evolution of animal social systems. Regarding its roosting habits, proboscis bats form an extreme by occupying sites which are usually completely exposed to daylight (e.g. tree trunks, vines or rocks). This is accompanied by morphological and behavioural adaptations to remain cryptic in exposed day roosts. With long-term behavioural observations and genetic parentage analyses of individually marked proboscis bats, we assessed its social dispersion and male mating strategy during day and night. Our results reveal nocturnal male territoriality—a strategy which most closely resembles a resource-defence polygyny that is frequent also in other tropical bats. Its contrasting clumped social dispersion during the day is likely to be the result of strong selection for crypsis in exposed roosts and is accompanied by direct female defence in addition to male territoriality. To the best of our knowledge, such contrasting male mating strategies within a single day–night cycle have not been described in a vertebrate species so far and illustrate a possible evolutionary trajectory from resource-defence to female-defence strategy by small ecologically driven evolutionary steps

Territorial songs indicate male quality in the sac-winged bat Saccopteryx bilineata (Chiroptera, Emballonuridae)

Defense of territories in many animal species involves the advertisement of territory holder quality by acoustic signaling. In the sac-winged bat Saccopteryx bilineata, males engage in territorial countersinging when reoccupying their day-roost territories in the morning and in the evening before abandoning the roost for the night. Females roost mainly in male territories, and territory holders are reproductively more successful than nonterritorial males. In territorial songs of male S. bilineata, we distinguished 6 syllable types and parameterized their acoustic properties. The analysis of 11 microsatellite loci allowed assignments of juveniles to their parents. Males had a higher reproductive success both when they uttered more territorial songs per day and when their long buzz syllables had a lower end frequency of the fundamental harmonic. Long buzzes had a harsh quality due to a pulsation of the fundamental frequency at the syllable onset and also had the highest sound pressure level of all syllable types in most territorial songs. Territorial songs and especially long buzz syllables are thus likely to advertise territory holder quality and competitive abilit