Advancing hydrology for societal impact: integrating transdisciplinary frameworks to bridge research and practice.

Hall, C; Melvold, J

Advancing hydrology for societal impact: integrating transdisciplinary frameworks to bridge research and practice.

Hall, C Melvold, J

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Publisher:: The Royal Society
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci, 2025, 383, (2302), pp. 20240283
Issue Date:: 2025-07-31

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hall, C
dc.contributor.author	Melvold, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4387-6523
dc.date.accessioned	2026-01-27T06:09:05Z
dc.date.available	2026-01-27T06:09:05Z
dc.date.issued	2025-07-31
dc.identifier.citation	Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci, 2025, 383, (2302), pp. 20240283
dc.identifier.issn	1364-503X
dc.identifier.issn	1471-2962
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/192422
dc.description.abstract	As hydrology faces the mounting pressures of climate change, researchers grapple with translating their technical advancements into societal impact. Traditional hydrology research often isolates technical solutions, such as optimizing water flows or predicting droughts, from the broader socio-economic, ecological and policy contexts in which water issues unfold. This compartmentalization limits the effectiveness of hydrological research in addressing complex, interconnected water challenges. Transdisciplinary (TD) approaches offer a path forward, emphasizing the integration of diverse knowledge sources, the co-production of solutions with community and policy stakeholders and a reflexive stance that acknowledges researchers' positionality and assumptions. This article advocates for adopting well-established frameworks from other fields to transcend disciplinary boundaries, fostering actionable solutions that resonate with societal needs. By leveraging structured frameworks to manage technical uncertainties, synthesize knowledge and prioritize contextual relevance, hydrologists can enhance the real-world impact of their research. We propose four guiding principles for incorporating TD practice into hydrology and offer five guiding questions to support hydrologists in guiding their shift towards societal impact. We aim to build a research practice that advances scientific understanding and addresses urgent water challenges through collaborative, socially engaged and context-sensitive approaches.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Hydrology in the 21st century: challenges in science, to policy and practice'.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	The Royal Society
dc.relation.ispartof	Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1098/rsta.2024.0283
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	General Science & Technology
dc.title	Advancing hydrology for societal impact: integrating transdisciplinary frameworks to bridge research and practice.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	383
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Provost
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Provost/TD School
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-01-27T06:09:04Z
pubs.issue	2302
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	383
utslib.citation.issue	2302

Abstract:

As hydrology faces the mounting pressures of climate change, researchers grapple with translating their technical advancements into societal impact. Traditional hydrology research often isolates technical solutions, such as optimizing water flows or predicting droughts, from the broader socio-economic, ecological and policy contexts in which water issues unfold. This compartmentalization limits the effectiveness of hydrological research in addressing complex, interconnected water challenges. Transdisciplinary (TD) approaches offer a path forward, emphasizing the integration of diverse knowledge sources, the co-production of solutions with community and policy stakeholders and a reflexive stance that acknowledges researchers' positionality and assumptions. This article advocates for adopting well-established frameworks from other fields to transcend disciplinary boundaries, fostering actionable solutions that resonate with societal needs. By leveraging structured frameworks to manage technical uncertainties, synthesize knowledge and prioritize contextual relevance, hydrologists can enhance the real-world impact of their research. We propose four guiding principles for incorporating TD practice into hydrology and offer five guiding questions to support hydrologists in guiding their shift towards societal impact. We aim to build a research practice that advances scientific understanding and addresses urgent water challenges through collaborative, socially engaged and context-sensitive approaches.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Hydrology in the 21st century: challenges in science, to policy and practice'.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/192422