Should we discipline interdisciplinarity?

Abstract

Could we overcome the challenges of embedding interdisciplinarity in the academic mainstream if relevant expertise were defined and recognised as a new discipline? Such expertise includes the ability to combine knowledge from different disciplines, as well as to assess which disciplines and stakeholders have relevant perspectives, figure out how elements of problems are interconnected, decide how to deal with critical unknowns, and use research to support evidence-based change. A new discipline of integration and implementation sciences (I2S) would codify such knowledge and skills, especially for dealing with complex societal and environmental problems. It would operate in an analogous way to the discipline of statistics, as a: (1) collaborative hub within teams, (2) focus for dedicated methods journals and (3) lobby group for effective application. Key initial tasks are to develop a repository of currently hard-to-access methods, and an identifiable academic community; both guided by a unifying and motivating vision of where disciplining interdisciplinarity will lead.

Crossing the chasm: a ‘tube-map’ for agent-based social simulation of policy scenarios in spatially-distributed systems

“…ABM is an excellent integrator in collaborative interdisciplinary projects, providing a platform for the explicit modelling of concepts from the social, physical, economic and ecological sciences. Increasing recognition that integration is itself a specialist area [7], along with growing demand for inter-and trans-disciplinary teams to tackle so-called 'wicked' problems [38,39], also means that skills in ABM are potentially sought after when putting together consortia.…”

“…The interchange lines are coloured according to themes that link with other areas of research. 'I2S' is short for the Implementation and Integration Sciences [7] approaches and entrenched epistemological positions will be dislodged without a struggle. However, in less combative terminology, the strategy comprises the following steps for ABM:…”

“…The strategy outlined by Moore implies, for ABM, that we need to demonstrate that it works in each of the niche areas of application to which it is to be applied, taking control of the agenda with the aid of key allies in various disciplines and application areas, and making ABM as accessible and easy to use as we can. At the same time, with growing interest in Integration and Implementation Sciences (I2S; [7]), and interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research more generally (especially in policy arenas), ABM is wellplaced to make a significant, practical contribution.…”

Science policies: How should science funding be allocated? An evolutionary biologists’ perspective

“…Both large team and individual‐led projects offer advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, consortia and centres can yield benefits by integrating a variety of perspectives (Bammer, ; Ledford, ). These groups also typically consist of established scientists who are relatively likely to produce high‐quality science (Bloch & Sørensen, ).…”

“…Both large team and individual-led projects offer advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, consortia and centres can yield benefits by integrating a variety of perspectives (Bammer, 2017;Ledford, 2015).…”