In recent decades, research on mountains has become more inter- and transdisciplinary, but a greater effort is needed if such research is to contribute to a societal transformation toward sustainability. Mountain research centers are a crucial actor in this endeavor. Yet, the literature has not paid sufficient attention to how these centers should (re-)design inter- and transdisciplinary research. In this study, we explored this question with a self-reflexive approach. We analyzed the first 15 months of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Mountain Research (CIRM) of the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) through qualitative data collected via interviews and observation. We used a simple model of inter- and transdisciplinarity at the organizational level of a research center. Special attention was devoted to the individual and collective ability to exploit the unexpected (serendipity). Our results indicate an interdependency between the coconstruction of research objects and the creation of integrative partnerships. They also shed light on the types of institutional resources and integrative methodologies that enhance inter- and transdisciplinary research, as well as their challenges. Our experience shows that implementing inter- and transdisciplinarity requires deep changes in research evaluation procedures, research funding policies, and researchers themselves. Serendipity is in turn shown to play an important role in inter- and transdisciplinarity due to its potential to change the research process in creative ways. We speculate that serendipity offers unique opportunities to capitalize on hidden resources that can catalyze a radical transformation of mountain researchers, research organizations, and society in the face of unprecedented global change.

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设计山区跨学科研究：出乎意料的地方是什么？

在最近的几十年中，关于山区的研究变得越来越跨学科，但如果要为社会向可持续发展的转型做出贡献，则需要付出更大的努力。山区研究中心是这项工作中的关键角色。然而，文献尚未充分关注这些中心应如何（重新）设计跨学科和跨学科的研究。在这项研究中，我们用自反的方法探讨了这个问题。我们通过访谈和观察收集的定性数据，对洛桑大学（瑞士）山区研究跨学科中心（CIRM）的前15个月进行了分析。我们在研究中心的组织级别使用了一个跨学科和跨学科的简单模型。特别注意个人和集体利用意外（偶然性）的能力。我们的结果表明，研究对象的共建与整合伙伴关系的建立之间存在相互依存关系。他们还阐明了加强跨学科和跨学科研究的机构资源类型和综合方法论及其挑战。我们的经验表明，实施跨学科和跨学科需要对研究评估程序，研究经费政策和研究人员本身进行深刻的改变。反过来，偶然性在跨学科和跨学科中也起着重要作用，因为它有可能以创造性的方式改变研究过程。