Transdisciplinarity and Expertise

The course offers an introduction to the growing literature on expertise and transdisciplinary research and innovation strategies. Topics include the ‘public understanding of science’, the ‘fractal model of expertise’, as well social and cognitive biases, 21st-century skills, and all the tools you need to survive in a post-truth world. The problem-spaces covered in the course will be illustrated with case studies, ranging from ‘wicked problems’ for sustainable development, through crisis-response in pandemic to pseudoscience, and more. The lectures trigger the reflection of the students on their worldviews and epistemologies, on their understanding of the nature of science, the difficulties one faces when making decisions in considerable uncertainty. By the end of the course, students will have improved their ability to interpret information relevant for (business) decision making by a deeper understanding of media-mechanisms, the nature of science in society, and the challenges of picking reliable expertise to solve complex problems.