RealTransform: Real-World labs as transformation Spaces for sustainable development in universities and society
RealTransform
Real-world Labs and Experiments as Spaces of Transformation for Sustainable Development in Higher Education and Society
The RealTransform project supports the advancement of a university culture geared towards sustainable development. The aim is to create transdisciplinary and participatory spaces where students, researchers, staff, and external actors from society collaborate in shared learning and knowledge co-creation.
📍 A cooperation between the Universities of Zurich and Bern, PHBern, and OST – accompanied by the td-net (Network for Transdisciplinary Research).
🕒 Project duration: April 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026
🎓 Leading House: University of Zurich
📨 Contact: Dr. Lilian Trechsel (lilian.trechsel@unibe.ch)
What Are Real-world Experiments?
Real-world experiments are time-limited and revisable interventions conducted within real-world labs. They make use of existing infrastructures to test and develop sustainable transformations in practice, together with societal actors.
As part of the “Engaged UniBE: Transdisciplinary Projects for Sustainable Development” call, we support projects that apply such methods, align with the Roadmap Climate 2030, and build new platforms for collaboration.
🧪 What Are Real-world Labs?
Real-world labs are long-term, research-based projects set in real-life contexts. They aim to develop and test sustainability solutions with tangible societal impact. These labs work in a transdisciplinary and participatory way, involving civil society, politics, and the private sector.
RealTransform particularly supports capacity-building in transdisciplinary methods, including Living Labs, Real-world Labs, and Real-world Experiments – as effective tools for fostering sustainability in higher education.