Dealing with norms of participation in transdisciplinary marine governance research: A reflexive-communication perspective to understand methodological challenges in co-creating marine governance strategies

Abstract

Abstract Transdisciplinary research between academia and stakeholders facilitates open discussions about sustainability and marine governance (research) challenges. However, co-creating knowledge and actionable governance solutions can result in methodological challenges during the execution of transdisciplinary research. By drawing on reflexivity in marine governance and strategic narratives in collaboration dynamics, we probe how transdisciplinary research consortia respond to methodological challenges resulting from diverging scientific and participation norms. Empirically, we reflect on experiences in the Horizon Europe project PERMAGOV, where researchers together with stakeholders and end-users co-create knowledge and strategies to improve the performance of marine governance in the European Union. Challenges emerged around the adoption of a complex conceptual and methodological approach to studying marine governance change versus the development of concrete and feasible governance strategies to improve marine governance. Based on scientific literature around reflexivity and strategic narratives, we reflect on how the consortium responded to methodological challenges by further strengthening the project’s strategic narrative about co-creation. We conclude that during the consortium’s reflexive processes, internalized co-creation norms were questioned. Yet, through reflexivity, theoretical and methodological strategies were developed which strengthened the project’s strategic narratives on co-creation. Based on these positive experiences, we identify three enabling conditions, namely the expertise and experience with similar types of transdisciplinary research projects available within the consortium, the availability of time within the project workflow to be reflexive and adaptive, and the regular dialogue taking place within the transdisciplinary consortium.