Holger Schwechheimer

Expert knowledge, Mode-2 and scientific disciplines: Two contrasting views

In the recent debate in the sociology of the sciences about transdisciplinarity, Mode-2 science is heralded as inducing a new disciplinary structure of science and scientific research. We argue that this debate can be interpreted as a continuation of an older discussion about two conflicting conceptions of interdisciplinarity that we call ‘early integration’ and ‘late integration’, the latter pleading for a strong disciplinary basis of interdisciplinary projects, whereas the former advocates dismissing disciplinary approaches right from the start. As a prominent representative of transdisciplinary science, climate research is considered as a case study. It is at least questionable whether a weakening or erosion of disciplinary approaches can be diagnosed in this field. We argue that the demand for ‘socially robust knowledge’ that makes transdisciplinary science inevitable, as is claimed by Nowotny, does not imply a weakening of the disciplinary structure of science. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Highly Dynamic Specialities in Climate Research

In this paper the identification and analysis of highly dynamic, rapidly developing research fronts of climate research are demonstrated. The underlying method based on co-citation analysis is described, and two selected highly dynamic specialities (HDS) are analysed using journal profiles, co-citation maps, and actor profiles as information elements. The two examples demonstrate how co-citation analysis can be used to identify and analyse highly dynamic specialities.