The integration of insights from various disciplines has always been an important component of knowledge growth. As a matter of fact, the famous French scientist, Louis Pasteur is often regarded as one of the earliest adopters of interdisciplinary research and his contributions to science, technology, and medicine are nearly without precedent. He is credited with bringing together microbiology and chemistry to make remarkable discoveries related to vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization. Since then, the growth of scientific and technical knowledge has led scientists, technologists, and social scientists to work together to tackle complex global problems that need to be addressed simultaneously with insights from different disciplines.
Some of the challenges that we are facing today are too new, and too big, to be addressed within traditional disciplinary boundaries. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic that continues unabated, with the virus mutating with time, emphasizes the need to improve our approach to solving complex problems through adaptation and innovation. Many other challenges being faced today, such as food and water shortages, climate change, energy crises, global poverty, and gender and economic inequalities, also call for a more collaborative effort. Clearly then, interdisciplinary research is becoming critical, and researchers need to step beyond the boundaries of their own disciplines to address these increasingly difficult issues.
Recognizing the importance of interdisciplinary research, countries are now funding interdisciplinary research programs. In Canada, for example, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council has allocated one-third of its budget to funding interdisciplinary research.1 Similarly, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Royal Society, with the support of the Leverhulme Trust and in partnership with the APEX award scheme, award funds to promote interdisciplinary collaboration in research that benefits society.2 Given this scenario, it is essential for collaborators to have a sound understanding about how to work effectively in an interdisciplinary setting.
Tips to foster collaboration and overcome obstacles in interdisciplinary research
Here are some practical tips for early career researchers, mentors and leaders on how to collaborate successfully and maximize productivity.
- Create a clear outline of the challenge to be addressed
Each participant must understand the research problem in detail and should be clear about their specific role in the group. Multidisciplinary team members need to spend time to develop a “shared mental model” of the research project and understand different perspectives within the team. This can help streamline communication, troubleshooting and decision-making and ensure that the research stays on track and does not drift from its original purpose.3
- Try to learn the scientific language and culture of collaborators
When researchers from different disciplines work together, they often come to realize that familiar words and phrases may mean something different to others. For example, words like “model” can mean different things to people from medical science, biology, or physical science backgrounds.4 Therefore, it becomes critical that team members are aware of the alternative meanings of terminologies while collaborating with each other.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
When colleagues from other disciplines make observations that you may not fully understand, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. Request them to guide you through their reasoning process. It is also important to invest time in independent reading and discussions with others in the team to develop interactional expertise. Simply put, interactional expertise allows you to have more productive conversations about a field that you may not have much practical experience in.
- Be patient and helpful
Learning to convey complicated ideas to someone from a different field is an important aspect of working in interdisciplinary teams. Observations that appear obvious to you may be perplexing for others given the differences in disciplinary training. Taking time to help team members understand your thought process could prove to be greatly productive.
- Expand your network outside your discipline
Individual success is often linked to one’s ability to acquire new knowledge and insights through networking. Establishing a diverse network can help develop a more holistic and unbiased view of the challenges being worked on. An exchange of information with people whose experiences differ from your own can prove fruitful and lead to a unique, exceptionally valuable learning experience. This, in turn, will help you participate more productively in collaborative research projects.
Gain valuable insights through an engaging R Upskill Masterclass with Brian Uzzi
Interdisciplinary research, while exciting, can sometimes be frustrating and challenging. However, the journey can be very rewarding with ample opportunity for growth. You can learn more about the strategies for success in interdisciplinary research by checking out the R Upskill Masterclass by guest speaker Brian Uzzi, a globally celebrated and award-winning scientist, author, and teacher.
The Richard L. Thomas Professor of Leadership at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Brian Uzzi also co-directs the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, and holds a professorship at the McCormick School of Engineering. He is known for his work on interdisciplinary research and team science and has received 15 teaching prizes and 13 scientific research prizes worldwide.
R Upskill Masterclasses offer an immersive online experience, which give researchers the opportunity to learn from the world’s best thinkers, visionaries, innovators and practitioners. In this special Masterclass, our guest speaker Brian Uzzi shared valuable insights on how to overcome challenges and succeed in interdisciplinary research. During the 60-minute live webinar, participants also got an opportunity to ask him questions, interact with other researchers, and take away learning resources. A complete recording of the Masterclass is available on R Upskill.
REFERENCES
- Conroy, G. – The push for interdisciplinary teams can lead to fake collaborations. Nature Index (January 2020)
- Interdisciplinary APEX Awards: 2020 recipients announced and 2021 round now open. Royal Academy of Engineering (September 2020)
- Hall, K.L, Vogel, A.L., et al. – A four-phase model of transdisciplinary team-based research: goals, team processes, and strategies. Translational Behavioural Medicine (December 2012; v2(4): 415–430)
- Gilligan, J. M. – Expertise Across Disciplines: Establishing Common Ground In Interdisciplinary Disaster Research Teams. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (September 2019)
