Panel 6.1. Transdisciplinary research and the commons: addressing communication and worldviews gaps between academia and local communities in Latin America

In human groups, there is a wide range of approaches to decision-making regarding nature. In territories of life, these decisions are made collectively. Territories of life are communities defined by: 1) a deep connection between the community and the territory; 2) effective governance; and 3) positive conditions for both nature and the community resulting from this connection and collective decision-making. However, this collective vision, as a paradigm for action concerning nature, has been eroded and is constantly threatened by neocolonialist approaches.
For this panel we would like to share an experience that is starting with different communities in Mexico, in which we are using the community of practice approach to foster collective learning and action. The community of practice of Territories of life, in Mexico, embraces a collective learning approach centered on action, with learning topics chosen based on the urgent needs of the communities. Each topic aims to facilitate joint reflection on the threats to collective action and strategies for its enhancement. Throughout this process, we are navigating the inherent challenges of transdisciplinary research, including epistemological issues (such as relational versus separate forms of knowledge building), practical concerns (like time constraints and differing priorities), and challenges related to collaborative work (balancing activism with knowledge co-production), among others.
We believe that this methdology offers a valuable foundation for building networks that generate practical and applicable knowledge. We have learned that understanding among members and building trust are essential processes that takes time and require ongoing dialogue. We also found that the practice is enriched by the diversity of perspectives and experiences, and that addressing the threats and urgent needs of the communities is essential for legitimate transdisciplinary work.

Addressing socioecological conflicts requires that those that inhabit territories under dispute channel various forms of collective action. Generating spaces for academics to accompany these processes though schemes of knowledge co-generation, requires challenging the paradigms of science with a vision that aims at weaving new collaborative practices. This requires, as a starting point, recognizing and addressing differences in power and privileges between actors. Likewise, it requires developing interpersonal skills, to forge relationships of trust and reciprocity that include the need to integrate issues related to affection and emotions. Herein, we present, more than a methodological strategy, a set of elements that we consider essential to develop and build assertive communication that supports collective action. These elements are discussed within the framework of the research and advocacy project “Building bridges towards the search for solutions to socioecological problems in the Yucatan Peninsula” developed by Tejedores de Territorios, a collective whose participants are from indigenous community organizations, civil associations, non-governmental organizations, and members of the academia, including students. This work had the general objective of strengthening territorial defense strategies through knowledge co-creation. From our reflection based on this transdisciplinary endeavor, we consider that many risks are taken when seeking collaboration that are of varied nature. These risks have to do with issues of commitment, co-responsibility, trust or distrust, and time.

Artisanal fisheries in Uruguay face multiple and interdependent challenges, including those related to resource conditions, socioeconomic, cultural, and governance dimensions. Climate change is one of the drivers that can intensify the so-called fisheries crisis. In this dynamic and uncertain context, fishers’ adaptation becomes crucial. In 2023, the Latin American Network of Participatory Research (RIPAL), joined efforts with Uruguayan academic institutions and other actors (e.g. the National Union of Seaworkers) to lead a transdisciplinary project on this topic involving artisanal fishers. The objectives were (1) to collaboratively analyze challenges imposed by climate change on artisanal fisheries in Uruguay’s coastal and inland areas, and (2) to generate a co-creation and learning environment between researchers and fishers from multiple locations of the country to explore ongoing and potential adaptation strategies. Fifty-five fishers and fishworkers (39 men and 16 women) participated in the project (August - December 2023), belonging to 4 regions of the country with different fishing and environmental characteristics: rivers, Río de la Plata estuary, lagoons, and Atlantic Ocean. The main methods used were photo-voice, semi-structured interviews, and workshops. In this presentation we focus on the communication components of the project, considering both the process and its outcomes/outputs. The combination of in-person, virtual and hybrid activities allowed for the involvement of fishers from multiple locations and promoted learning and relationship-building among them, as well as between academic and non-academic participants. Two important outputs of the project were a web map showing fishers’ perspectives about the changes in the social-ecological systems they inhabit, and a photo-exhibit with pictures shared by fishers (through photo-voice), available online and printed. Communication and participation challenges in this national-level participatory research project are also discussed.

For researchers in transdisciplinary projects, communication with and between different stakeholders is crucial for the success of the project. They have to discuss critical topics, motivate stakeholders to participation and create inclusive working environments for different stakeholder groups. Net-Map is a tool to conduct participatory social network analysis using a combination of in-depth interviews and participatory network mapping. During the interviews, the interviewee draws the network of relevant actors, notes down their motivations and evaluates and displays the actors’ influence and benefits by building towers using any kind of stacks. The tool not only allows to gather data to conduct social network analysis but also to communicate different perceptions and enhance learning.
The tool has been used in different fields of application such as studies to analyse the institutional design of governance networks for environmental management. In these studies, the method has proven its suitability as a very flexible, low-cost, low-tech, and participatory method where interviewees are engaged to visualize their individual perception of the governance network in which they are involved themselves. The results of such studies are deemed useful to improve the understanding of how the governance networks work and how they can be strengthened to improve environmental management.
In this research I reflect on experiences of the application of the tool for ecosystem management in Latin America, more concrete in case studies in Costa Rica and Colombia. I will demonstrate how the tool helps to create transparency and a common understanding through visualizing the network structure, as well a comfortable atmosphere that keeps the participants involved. Learning effects through the reflection of the mapping results and often lead to a motivation to take action because it enhances the understanding of the network and roles of individuals/groups that must be improved in order to achieve a better performance.

In the context of transdisciplinary research in Latin America, community members often expect to be recognized as citizens with valuable capabilities and knowledge, co-creating a common understanding of social-ecological systems and strategies to safeguard resources. Communication has played a major role in recovering historical memory and driving social changes in Latin America, particularly within social mobilization, such as decolonization and environmental justice movements. For many Latin American actors, such as local communities, grassroots organizations, and leaders from non-profit organizations, the term ‘communication’ is understood as something shaped and transformed by lived experiences, cultural narratives, traditions, and power dynamics. The Network for Participatory Research in Latin America (Red de Investigación Participativa en América Latina - RIPAL) is developing a repository of transdisciplinary research tools and cases for the region that are publicly accessible online. The objective of this work is to compare and analyze these tools and cases, to answer questions about the factors affecting the communication between researchers and non-researchers, the forms and channels of communication (e.g., oral, visual, written, or performative), and how inclusive different worldviews are in these communications. These tools are applicable in pedagogical, practical, and research contexts. They facilitate the use of qualitative and quantitative data and promote consensus. They are collaborative, useful for stakeholder mapping, applicable in in-person or virtual workshops, foster trust, and are suitable for all ages and diverse contexts. Within this work we aim to offer a common ground to facilitate discussions on the challenges and opportunities in advancing communication within transdisciplinary research on Latin American common-pool resources.

In the Ecuadorian Andes, community-based irrigation systems managed by peasant and indigenous communities are under threat due to the increasing migration of young people to cities and abroad and the lack of economic opportunities in rural areas for young professionals. This research aims to examine how young people contribute to transforming community water management for agroecological production in hydrosocial territories of the Ecuadorian Andes. It first analyzes the inclusion of young people in community irrigation organizations. Then, it evaluates the role of international cooperation in supporting the implementation of agroecological practices as socioeconomic opportunities for young people. Finally, it explores avenues for strengthening youth leadership in community management of irrigation water and agroecological innovations. More broadly, we aim to break with the stereotypes often associated with young people as being lazy or apolitical. Another common imaginary is to portrait a massive return of young entrepreneurs to rural areas and place all the responsibility for a sustainable future on their shoulders. On the contrary, this research aims to show the more complex realities and challenges faced by the actual rural youth. This research analyzes these transformations in three hydrosocial territories of the Ecuadorian Andes: the indigenous communities of Cangahua (province of Pichincha) and Quisapincha (province of Tungurahua), and the peasant community of Yunguilla (Metropolitan District of Quito, DMQ). This project offers a transdisciplinary approach by enhancing collaborative research between academia and the community, by involving young people from rural areas into the production of research results through creative products such as multilingual videos in Kichwa and Spanish. The main result of this project is expected to be the strengthening of youth leadership in community organizations that manage irrigation water systems and agroecological practices in community territories.

The International Summer of Science (ISS) is an interdisciplinary research program that, over the past three years, has supported more than 60 women students from 12 Indigenous communities across Mexico (https://www.eaamo.org/projects/rednacecyt-2024-summer-of-science-program). A collaboration between the ACM Conference on Equity and Access in Algorithms, Mechanisms, and Optimization (EAAMO) and various state research councils in Mexico, the ISS is designed to empower Indigenous women scholars to address critical issues in their communities by bridging traditional knowledge systems with techniques from computer science, algorithms, A.I and STEM more broadly.

In alignment with the 2025 IASC theme of “Regenerating the Commons,” this paper explores the ISS as a transformative initiative that equips Indigenous women to become advocates for the sustainable management of shared resources. The program’s projects span natural, cultural, and digital commons, addressing challenges such as water resource management, biodiversity conservation, and the preservation of indigenous culture and language. Participants receive mentorship, access to academic networks, and opportunities to present their work at international conferences, positioning them to influence both local and global policy.

This paper presents case studies from the ISS, showcasing the tangible impact of its projects on revitalizing the commons. It examines how the program fosters collaboration between researchers and Indigenous participants, demonstrating the value of integrating diverse knowledge systems to tackle pressing environmental, social, and technological issues.

By supporting Indigenous students and amplifying their voices, the ISS exemplifies how grassroots initiatives can regenerate the commons through equitable and inclusive approaches. This paper argues that empowering underrepresented groups is essential to developing sustainable solutions for shared resources, addressing the ongoing challenges of enclosure, and advancing the principles of commons worldwide.

The comunas initiative at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador has spent two years training and working with young people from rural communes to expand research opportunities, as well as spaces at urban universities, to explore issues of interest in national politics from the experiences and perceptions of rural communes. In 2023-2024, we began by examining the socio-economic and political forces that facilitate the reproduction of the commune institution today. In 2024-2025, we have studied the shifting dynamics of indebtedness and its impacts on natural resource management within rural communes. This research has informed and drawn from exchanges with similar transdisciplinary initiatives at the Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo and the agroecology NGO Aliados. In this paper, we examine these experiences reflexively, highlighting the particular knowledge-producing relationships that transdisciplinary research enables in the communes and of the commons.