How we work 

SEVEN uses a distinctive methodology for interdisciplinary research on systemic climate change challenges. For each project, we go through 7 steps, naturally allowing for adaptations specific to a particular topic: 

1. Defining content and scope of the societal issue, identifying and involving key stakeholders, and determining a meaningful delineation of the system: what are we looking at and not looking at? 
2. Gathering existing scientific knowledge about the problem, with attention for non-dominant perspectives and scientific paradigms, as well as expertise, insights and problem perceptions of key stakeholders. 
3. Develop a conceptual model for the system, with visualisation, mapping the key variables and their interrelationships. In doing so, we identify the knowledge and gaps in that knowledge about the most relevant variables, causal relationships, and the potential impact of interventions. 
4. Formulate new, if necessary original, scientific questions based on the missing knowledge about variables, causal relationships and interventions, and conduct research focused on these questions; this includes all disciplines relevant to the issue. 
5. Formulating hypotheses and scenarios on the effects of possible interventions based on existing and new scientific knowledge (including non-dominant perspectives and scientific paradigms, also when these would require structural modifications of elements of a given system). 
6. Validating causal relationships and adjusting hypotheses and scenarios with qualitative and, where possible, quantitative methods, in collaboration with stakeholders. 
7. Formulating solution directions and supporting the development of practical interventions. By including the knowledge and needs of practice partners in this research, solutions can be designed that these societal stakeholders can implement. And by setting up mechanisms for monitoring and feedback, interventions can also be improved.