Transdisciplinary research addresses problems that are complex, socially relevant, ill-defined, and rooted in real-world contexts—issues that often involve contested perceptions and values among scientists and practitioners.
At its core, transdisciplinarity integrates practical knowledge (such as experiential expertise) with scientific knowledge (such as theoretical frameworks and methodological rigor) on equal terms.
Sustainable phosphorus management presents many such challenges. Addressing these requires the integration of scientific and practical knowledge at every stage of the phosphorus supply chain—from mining rights and the management of heavy metals and radionuclides in ores (minor components, but deleterious), via converting phosphogypsum (a derivative of fertilizer production, in quantity comparable to phosphate ore) from waste into usable products, improving agricultural production, to tackling eutrophication caused by fertilizer runoff, and developing competing technologies for phosphorus recycling from sewage or animal bones.
We believe that discipline-based interdisciplinarity within transdisciplinary processes is essential for making humanities relationship with phosphorus use more sustainable.
