A Fall Outing to Reflect on Transdisciplinary Research

This week the team of the Center for Transdisciplinary Historical and Cultural Studies (FakZenTHKS) at the University of Vienna gathered for its fall outing at the Weinbau Göbel winery in Stammersdorf. Beyond enjoying coffee, snacks, and a wine tasting, the afternoon offered an opportunity to reflect together on the Center’s identity, the meaning of transdisciplinary research, and the values that will shape its future.

The programme combined informal conversations with collective reflection. After sharing current research questions and a few personal highlights from the summer, the team visited the vineyard before coming together for a discussion about what transdisciplinarity means in practice and which keywords best express the Center’s identity.

Two ideas emerged as particularly important: ethics and engagement. The discussion highlighted a shared interest in strengthening the Center’s commitment to ethically informed research and meaningful engagement – both within academia and beyond it. These values offer a starting point for thinking about the Center’s role, its collaborative practices, and the questions it wants to address in the future.

The outing also marked a new chapter for the Center, as Noémie Étienne took on the role of Vorständin at the beginning of the semester. She warmly thanks her predecessor, Marko Demantowsky, for his excellent work and dedication.

Combining exchange, reflection, and time spent together outside the usual working environment, the fall outing provided an opportunity to reconnect as a team and consider what holds the Center together – and what it hopes to strengthen in the years ahead.

The afternoon also included a guided walk through the vineyard with our host, Fridolin Göbel, who introduced us to the trees growing among the vines. With our upcoming conference on trees in mind, it was a lovely opportunity to connect our discussions to the surrounding landscape. We rounded off the visit with a wine tasting and snacks. Many thanks to Fridolin and Weinbau Göbel for their warm hospitality!