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Fig. 14.1 Framework for trans-disciplinary research showing the stages of interaction between the
research community and stakeholders. (Mauser et al. 2013 ; open access)
scientists, social scientists, humanities and stakeholders to the real world challenges
envisaged in FE.
Challenges since 2011 have also provided the Graduate School of Environmental
Studies at Tohoku University experience of a 'trans-disciplinary' approach in its
response to the regional recovery to the earthquake and tsunami. As one example,
in order to define the future research agenda to promote a sustainable local com-
munity, the Graduate School consulted key stakeholders in the areas affected (in-
cluding the local administrations and Mayors) in order to define the components of
the new energy and smart community project (NET 2012 ). Each project has been
designed to respond to different local stakeholder priorities and thus conforms to
the initial FE co-design phase envisaged in the trans-disciplinary research model
described by Mauser et al. ( 2013 ) as shown in Fig. 14.1 . The GSES also has strong
inter-disciplinary research teams where engineering, physical and biological sci-
ences, economics, social sciences and humanities research and teaching programs
interact. Aspects and issues in sustainable development and research targets are
related to many of the targets of Future Earth itemized in Mauser et al. ( 2013 ) and
listed in Table 14.1 . Trencher et al. ( 2013 ) see the co-creation of knowledge for
sustainability envisaged under Future Earth as involving “ collaborating with gov-
ernment, industry and civil society to advance the sustainable transformation of a
specific geographical area ” which is an appropriate way of describing the response
of Tohoku university to the urgency of adapting and responding to the catastrophic
local impacts of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
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