Generating Impact Through Transdisciplinary Research: Co-Designing Solutions for Complex Marine and Coastal Challenges

For the first time, IPB University (Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, PKSPL, and CTSS) hosted an international Summer Course on trans disciplinarity in collaboration with the International Ocean Institute (IOI), the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) Bremen, and Bremen University, with funding support from IOI, ZMT, DKG7DPI (IPB University) and  DAAD Regional ASEAN. The course was organized in partnership with LFN Sustain and Future Earth Coast. The program took place from 28 July – 8 August 2025 in a hybrid format, combining lectures at IPB Campus with online sessions via ZMT Academy.

The Summer Course aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of transdisciplinary approaches to marine and coastal challenges, combining theory with practice through field visits to Pramuka Island and the Cilincing fishing community. Objectives included building practical skills in co-designing solutions, fostering international collaboration, and advancing impact-oriented sustainability research.

89 participants (24 onsite, 65 online) from diverse academic, policy, and community backgrounds joined the program. They represented countries including Indonesia, Germany, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Belgium, Guatemala, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.

Led by an international team of instructors, the program combined lectures, tutorials, and interactive exercises on sustainability science, impact pathways, theories of change, and stakeholder engagement. This strong participation and collaborative spirit mark a successful third course supported by IOI and ZMT and highlight the growing role of transdisciplinary research in addressing complex marine and coastal issues. The partners plan to offer this kind of training in the future again.