Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration

The first time I was introduced to the notion of bringing academics together from different disciplines to develop research ideas was when I worked on a programme for NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts).

By the time I joined this event, the academics already knew each other, having worked together on two residential workshops. I was curious to see how it all started, so I worked with NESTA to develop the materials on their programme — Crucible.

The programme consists of a series of 3 intensive 2-day residential sessions with facilitated sessions, speakers, and designated time to collaborate. The programme aims to shift attitudes towards openness, breadth and vision in collaboration.

The following observations are based on a personal perspective of having run these programmes across the UK for the last 10 years. It’s my understanding of how successful interdisciplinary collaborations can be developed.

Time and space

I believe that there are certain conditions that support academics to break down silos and create novelty.

Time and space are the number one requirement. In an already overcrowded timetable of requirements, the time and space to think about research and how it might interact with another’s, is at a premium. If researchers can be supported to ‘stop the clock’, it can reap rich rewards.

Residential programmes where possible, allow for these early conversations to continue beyond the end of the schedule in a more relaxed atmosphere. Participants also find areas that build relationships, such as interests outside work.

I have seen book clubs started, walking trips planned and recipes shared. It is the informal elements that help to build trust, before even embarking on research projects together.

Reciprocity

Conversely when external funding is the driver of interdisciplinarity projects, my experience is that colleagues rarely spend time at the start to really explore each other’s disciplines and approaches to research. Working with disciplines outside of your own, should lead to reciprocity.

Reciprocity should lead to respect for different disciplinary approaches and outcomes. People are encouraged to talk about their research methods or perhaps the tools and equipment they use, which is a really effective way to unlock new ideas.

I was working with two colleagues recently who were studying very different things — one was examining galaxies, another aerosols. When put together, they realised that they were both looking at certain particles moving in certain atmospheres.

That short conversation was enough to spark a further meeting to explore each other’s data. These approaches illustrate, to researchers, the real benefit for all voices to be in the room at the earliest design stage of a project.

It is an outdated and inappropriate view to regard certain research areas as a ‘service’ for other disciplines. Too often we have seen colleagues brought into projects to fulfil some knowledge exchange requirement, some outreach idea or a technique applied. That is not interdisciplinary research.

Curiosity

And finally, it is the researcher who is relentlessly curious who enjoys the most benefits from being brought together with people from different disciplines.

People who can’t sit next to someone without asking “what do you do?”, “why do you do that?”, “how do you do it?”

These programmes are of course self-selecting, (interdisciplinary research is not for everyone) so they do attract the naturally curious. They also attract risk takers, people who are prepared to take a risk with their very precious time, without knowing what could possibly emerge.

That’s where the excitement lies and that is why, 10 years on, it is still a huge privilege to work with brilliant people and experience their eureka moments.

Samantha Aspinall is Head of Interdisciplinary Research at the University of Leeds. In the Horizons Institute, she leads on the Global Academy, which is an opportunity for colleagues from the University of Leeds and international colleagues to come together and develop their interdisciplinary skills and ideas.