Tentative Theses on Transformative Research in Real-World Laboratories First Insights from the Accompanying

Real-world laboratories are growing in popularity promising a contribution to both: the understanding and facilitation of societal transformation towards sustainability. Baden-Wurttemberg substantially funds real-world labs as part of the initiative "science for sustainability". To facilitate learning with and from these so-called BaWu-Labs, they are supported by accompanying research conducted by two teams. This article presents first insights and theses on real-world labs as a research format, based in particular on the work of the accompanying research team ForReal. The team supports the labs in their realization and in providing general insights, e.g. by learning from related international research approaches and dialog with international experts, and analyzes suitable quality features and methods (the latter together with the University of Basel team). The theses presented here put up for discussion first insights on real-world labs as a transformative research approach and reflect on them from a theoretical perspective. They illustrate the relevance of a goal-oriented use of methods and present learning processes as core characteristics of real-world labs. The theses were formulated based on discussions with the BaWu-Labs, exchange in international contexts as well as a thematic literature review.

Real-world laboratories are growing in popularity promising a contribution to both: the understanding and facilitation of societal transformation towards sustainability.Baden-Württemberg substantially funds real-world labs as part of the initiative "science for sustainability".To facilitate learning with and from these so-called BaWü-Labs, they are supported by accompanying research conducted by two teams.This article presents first insights and theses on real-world labs as a research format, based in particular on the work of the accompanying research team ForReal.The team supports the labs in their realization and in providing general insights, e.g. by learning from related international research approaches and dialog with international experts, and analyzes suitable quality features and methods (the latter together with the University of Basel team).The theses presented here put up for discussion first insights on real-world labs as a transformative research approach and reflect on them from a theoretical perspective.They illustrate the relevance of a goal-oriented use of methods and present learning processes as core characteristics of real-world labs.The theses were formulated based on discussions with the BaWü-Labs, exchange in international contexts as well as a thematic literature review.As a new research setting, real-world laboratories ("Reallabore") are attracting increasing academic and political interest (Wagner et al. 2016).They are spaces where transdisciplinary research is conducted, often in order to promote sustainability.The goal of this research is to experiment with potential solutions to sustainability challenges, aimed at contributing to societal transformation and providing scientific insights.

Reallabore sind ein zunehmend populäres Forschungsformat, welches dazu beitragen soll, eine gesellschaftliche
The Federal State of Baden-Württemberg is currently funding 14 real-world labs (Wagner/ Ertner 2016).As this research initiative produces insights of potential relevance for researchers and practitioners beyond Baden-Württemberg ForReal -Accompanying, systematizing, and transferring research in real-world laboratories 3 Common goals 1. Supporting and interconnecting the real-world laboratories in order to facilitate the implementation process and mutual learning, developing transferable insights, and embedding the labs into national and international networks.2. Gaining insights into real-world laboratory processes, in particular with regard to applied methods, quality features, and transdisciplinary knowledge integration (Schäpke et al. 2015).

Complementary roles and focuses
• Facilitating dialog and mutual learning amongst the different labs (e.g. in the form of discussion forums).• Supporting inter-and transdisciplinary processes in different labs, e.g.via on-demand consultation.• Developing integrated insights from the labs on topics of mutual interest (e.g.methods or epistemology).
• Providing structured and practice-oriented inputs, e.g., on international good practice and research methods related to real-world labs.• Providing space for national and international exchange beyond the BaWü-Labs in the form of workshops and conference series as well as publications and blog-entries.
• Common goals: Developing integrated insights into methods and quality features of the BaWü-Labs, formulating recommendations for research policy.

Conducted by
Leuphana University of Lüneburg Source: Own compilation and Germany, this text will present some early lessons learnt from this program in English.
In support of the BaWü-Labs, an accompanying research group was established consisting of two complementary teams (Schäpke et al. 2015, cf.The specific methods used by the BaWü-Labs primarily support the mutual learning processes and the integration of knowledge from different epistemologies (scientific and societal).Additionally, there are a number of other methods that could be supportive especially in experimental settings, such as methods that allow the common description of and orientation along boundary objects (throughout the whole project) (Bergmann et al. 2012, 64f.).This includes the collaborative development and use of conceptual or functional models within the experiments or the combination of a number of experiments, respectively.(9) Quality features of real-world labs should relate to both the transdisciplinary process (e.g.co-design and co-production) and the design and testing of solutions.Quality features of real-world labs should address the sensible and reasonable development and/or use of integrative and communicative methods.Also, they have to focus on the complex character of societal transformations and impacts.Moreover, criteria should include scientific quality aspects such as the transferability of results gained in a specific setting and new insights into the problem(s) dealt with.(10) Real-world labs provide space for reflection and learning.Labs can be understood as (potentially transformative) learning environments that can be designed to offer experiential and transformative learning opportunities for all actors engaged in the project, including the stakeholders and, if applied in educational settings, the students (Schneidewind/Singer-Brodowski 2015; Caniglia et al. 2016;König 2015).This requires an appropriate design of labs, allowing for learning and teaching.Breaking down complexity and tackling challenges in specific real-world settings enables learning and competency development, which, in turn, constitutes an empowerment of participants (Loorbach 2007).( 11) Research and particularly experimentation in real-world labs raise ethical questions.
Ethical questions regarding research and particularly experimentation in real-world labs concern, e.g. the intended and unintended real-world impacts on the lives of engaged participants and beyond, the selection of sustainability challenges to be addressed as well as of the participants themselves.Ethical questions can -at least to a certain extent -be addressed via codes of conduct, transparency about aims and processes of real-world labs as well as joint ownership between the societal and scientific actors involved (Wittmayer et al. 2013) (14) From a theoretical perspective, real-world labs are based on an underlying contradiction: they provide laboratory space for experimentation while being based in the real world and constituted by participatory processes (Schäpke et al. 2015).Real-world labs can be considered a contribution to the integration of societal demands and knowledge into research processes (similar to the contribution of "Realexperimente" described by Groß et al. 2005) as well as a thought-provoking starter for debates revolving around the role of science in society (Schneidewind 2014).However, this may also overburden real-world labs with expectations and provoke resentments.

Discussion and Outlook
Real-world labs constitute a promising setting for transformational sustainability research (Wiek/Lang 2016;Schneidewind et al. 2016).However, an explicit research agenda would help for their further development.This might comprise a clear conceptual or theoretical framing of how real-world labs and their experiments are defined (Wagner et al. 2016), including the underlying methods and quality criteria commonly agreed upon in the respective community.A further research need concerns the embedding of real-world labs in an in-depth understanding of societal transitions in order to capture their specific role in facilitating the transformation process towards sustainability.Finally, the implications of pursuing the double aim of understanding and facilitating change (see thesis 1) -two goals that are traditionally kept rather separate in science -as well as respective possibilities, limitations and trade-offs need to be investigated.These questions call for systematic research and innovative approaches to turn the high claims of the research setting of real-world labs into reality.Furthermore, the relation between real-world labs and general characteristics of transdisciplinary research has to be clarified, asking for the specific added value and process qualities realized in the labs.Reflection and discussion will continue in and around the 14 BaWü-Labs, the accompanying research teams, and associated events and workshops (Wagner et al. 2016).

3 Reflection: Real-world Labs as a Challenging and Fruitful Contradiction in Terms:
2.