Conceptualizing Transdisciplinary Human Ecology

Abstract

Broadening theoretical and methodological underpinnings will help human ecology professionals remain effective in responding to complex crises facing humanity (e.g., climate change, environmental degradation, social inequality). Diversified theoretical offerings strengthen academic and professional work, because diversity drives innovation in practice. This paper explores transdisciplinary human ecology, a neologism proposed in the early 1990s by both ecological scientists and home economists. After describing home economics and ecological sciences’ approaches to human ecology theory, the Nicolescuian transdisciplinary methodology, and transdisciplinary human ecology as conceived by home economics and ecological sciences, the paper shifts to an inaugural discussion of how human ecology theory can be augmented with Nicolescuian transdisciplinary axioms and transdisciplinary human ecology. This paper served as a seed catalyzing the uptake of transdisciplinary human ecology.