Crossing Disciplines in Planning: A Renewable Energy Case Study

Abstract

This chapter provides personal reflections on collaboration between academics from different disciplines in a project on public participation and knowledge construction during decision making on major renewable energy projects. Our shared perspectives and languages have made this collaboration less difficult than others can be. But even here, reflecting on our methods prompts interesting and occasionally challenging questions about our own and each other’s disciplines. We argue that the social side of collaboration is crucial. Working with people you like, and whose work you respect, is perhaps not a bad starting point for scholarship across disciplines. But a cohesive team does not just happen, and we would like to reflect a little on the factors beyond the personal that have contributed to that.

Keywords: environmental law, planning, STS, interdisiplinarity, methods, scholarship

JEL Classification: K00, K32