Integrating the unusual

Don Peden

Invited presentation to

The first CPWF International Forum on Water and Food

Vientiane, Laos

[8-15 November, 2006]

INTEGRATING THE UNUSUAL: (Livestock and ???)

Session 10: Thinking out of the pool, a trans-disciplinary approach

Perception differ:

What do you see?

Artist unknown

Purpose

• Explore new perspectives and ways of working.• Capture novel ideas based on CPWF and

related experiences.• Identify practical applications of these ideas to

advance the CPWF process.• Consider important development opportunities

(policies, technologies, behaviours, etc.) and research gaps.

• But first, some examples…..

Did you know?

Pastoralists in Sudan practice water harvesting by growing water melons for

livestock feed and drink.

Photos: Ahmed El-Wakeel

Did you know?

• Source: livestock with access to domestic water.• Vegetative buffer zone & drinking troughs decrease

risk to people.

• Cryptosporidium in domestic water may hasten the onset of AIDS in HIV infected people?

Did you know?

Pastoralists in Sudan use Baobab trees to store water for use in the dry season.

Do you know…

… if water lilies enhance or reduce evaporation from ponds?

A question from livestock keepers in Uganda

The Blind Men and the Elephant

It was six men of IndostanTo learning much inclined,Who went to see the Elephant(Though all of them were blind),That each by observationMight satisfy his mind.

Transdisciplinarity

A Hindu fable by John Godfrey Saxe from Elephants ancient and modern by FC Sillar and RM Meyler.

Note: ``The Blind Men and the Elephant'' occurs in the Udana, a Canonical Hindu Scripture.

The First approached the Elephant,And happening to fallAgainst his broad and sturdy side,At once began to bawl:`God bless me! but the ElephantIs very like a wall!'

The Second, feeling of the tusk,Cried, `Ho! what have we hereSo very round and smooth and sharp?To me 'tis mighty clearThis wonder of an ElephantIs very like a spear!'

The Blind Men and the Elephant (cont’d)

The Third approached the animal,And happening to takeThe squirming trunk within his hands,Thus boldly up and spake:`I see,' quoth he, `the ElephantIs very like a snake.‘

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,And felt about the knee.`What most this wondrous beast is likeIs mighty plain,' quoth he;`'Tis clear enough the ElephantIs very like a tree!'

The Blind Men and the Elephant (cont’d)

The Fifth who chanced to touch the ear,Said: `E'en the blindest manCan tell what this resembles most:Deny the fact who can,This marvel of an ElephantIs very like a fan!'

The Sixth no sooner had begunAbout the beast to grope,Than, seizing on the swinging tailThat fell within his scope,`I see,' quoth he, `the ElephantIs very like a rope!'

The Blind Men and the Elephant (cont’d)

And so these men of IndostanDisputed loud and long,Each in his own opinionExceeding stiff and strong,Though each was partly in the right,And all were in the wrong! So, oft in theologic wars,The disputants, I ween,Rail on in utter ignoranceOf what each other mean,And prate about an ElephantNot one of them has seen!

The Blind Men and the Elephant (cont’d)

The Blind Men and the Elephant (cont’d)

O how they cling and wrangle, some who claim For preacher and cleric the honored name!For quarreling, each to his view they cling.Such folk see only one side of a thing.

Toward Transdisciplinarity

We have moved beyond mono-disciplinarity: • One research discipline working in isolation.

We have almost moved beyond multi-disciplinarity: • Several disciplines collaborate in 1 research program.• Concepts, methods & synthesis not integrated.

We now need to reach beyond inter-disciplinarity:• Several disciplines collaborate in 1 research program.• Concepts, methods & synthesis explicitly integrated.• Mutual enrichment.

Transdisciplinarity: A new way of thinking

• Evolved from inter-disciplinarity.• Responds to increasing societal demand for

relevance and applicability of academic research.• Transcends component disciplines.• Integrates bio-physical & socio-economic sciences

AND non-scientific sources of knowledge.• Partners identify both problems and find solutions.• Mutual participatory learning.• Expect counter-intuitive and non-linear systems

behaviour.• This forum is an experiment in transdisciplinarity.

Nakasongola, Uganda:An agro-ecosystem trapped in degradation

Termites:• Destroy vegetation.• More run-off, flooding &

evaporation.• Less transpiration.

Without vegetation:• Bare clay soils expand with onset of rains.• Sealing soil surface & preventing infiltration.• Causing down-slope flooding & sedimentation.• Reducing water productivity.• Preventing ecosystem

recovery.• Needs transdisciplinary &/or

systems solution.

Nakasongola, Uganda:An agro-ecosystem trapped in degradation

A key CA message:[An example of the unusual]

Integrating livestock into investments in agricultural water management can increase sustainability and returns on that investment.

Your turn! From diversity to trans-disciplinarity

You are the key to identifying problems & solutions to them!Let’s explore novel options and issues!