Transdisciplinary Disaster Research: A Case Study from the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Abstract

Transdisciplinary approaches to research involve deliberate integration of theory, methods, and knowledge across disciplines. In disaster studies, transdisciplinarity can be valuable for research teams that span multiple disciplines, offering a framework for identifying problems and proposing solutions in a way that is inclusive of traditional and non-traditional actors. This paper distinguishes transdisciplinary approaches from multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to disaster research; presents a case study of transdisciplinary disaster research in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) after Hurricanes Irma and Maria; and summarizes key insights about the challenges and opportunities of applying transdisciplinarity in the field. Finally, the authors articulate the importance of transdisciplinary approaches to disaster research and argue for further development for transdisciplinary approaches in disaster research and practice.