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Trans-Domain Proposals

Do you work in a research area which is interdisciplinary, yet does not find an outlet for development? Is your research agenda constrained by grant and funding opportunities that are too narrowly defined for your scientific networking purposes? Is an international network a potential solution?

TDP icon

Trans-Domain Proposals (TDP) offer scientists fertile ground for future networks across many scientific disciplines, by allowing unusually broad, interdisciplinary proposals to cover several scientific Domains.

Definition and examples

TDPs give researchers the possibility to create interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary research networks that do not lie only within one Domain of COST.

Inter-disciplinarity is ‘a mode of research that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts and/or theories from two or more disciplines or bodies of specialized knowledge to advance fundamental understanding or to solve problems whose solutions are beyond the scope of a single discipline area or area of research practice’.

Transdisciplinary research can be considered as an extension of interdisciplinary research; transdisciplinary research can lead to the evolution of disciplines and have outcomes that are greater than the sum of the parts, i.e. it is a transcend process of knowledge production.

Examples include synthetic biology, nanorobotics, cognitive sciences, systems biology, radiopharmaceuticals, food security, sustainability, energy, economic development, global environmental change.

Assessment process

A Standing Assessment Body (SAB) reviews submitted TDPs and, once approved, assigns the Trans-Domain COST Action to one of the nine scientific Domains.

The SAB is composed of the Chairs of the nine COST Domain Committees, as well as two additional scientific experts per Domain, and is led by a neutral coordinator, Georges Wanet, who is directly appointed by the CSO President. The COST Office's own Science Officers may also serve as experts with the SAB.

In layman’s terms

Trans-domain Proposals cover one or more COST domains and are assessed by the Standing Assessment Body. The application process is the same as for any COST Action proposal. Visit the Open Call page for more information.

Once a Trans-domain Action is approved, it is assigned to one of the nine COST domains for further management and implementation.


Information

Domain Committee Members

Contact details of TD Domain Committee Members

Visit the Who's Who section to find your contact person(s)

COST Office Contact Persons

Georges Wanet:

The decision on the TDP-SAB is a good example of how, like society, COST fluctuates and thinks outside the box by providing a platform to develop further obvious links between domains.

Trans-Domain COST Actions


Last updated: 22 August 2011 top of page