Inter- and transdisciplinary research – now more than ever

The need for inter- and transdisciplinary research (IDR/TDR) is increasingly bringing new challenges to academic life and presenting new demands for research policy and funding. Here we reflect on some highlights from our survey with inter- and transdisciplinary researchers.

Environmental Humanities perspectives on integrating the Arts and Humanities into inter- and transdisciplinary research: Insights from the second SHAPE-ID workshop

The second SHAPE-ID Learning Case Workshop gathered experienced researchers from the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) together with funders, policy makers and representatives from other international bodies. By bringing an environmental humanities lens to bear on interdisciplinary collaborations, we hoped to learn more about potential enablers to facilitate AHSS integration in inter- and transdisciplinary research.

How can the Arts and Humanities position themselves as leaders in societal challenges research? Insights from the first SHAPE-ID workshop

Between December 2019 and May 2020, we are organising six learning case workshops in cities around Europe to learn directly from stakeholders’ experience in doing inter- and transdisciplinary research on a wide range of challenges. Our first workshop was designed to explore how the Arts and Humanities in particular could position themselves as leaders in research addressing societal challenges.

Disentangling inter- and transdisciplinarity: some insights and first results from SHAPE-ID

One of SHAPE-ID’s first objectives is to identify, through an evidence-scanning exercise drawing on existing work, the different understandings and factors that help or hinder interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research (IDR and TDR) within and between Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) and STEMM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine). This blog post summarises the preliminary findings of the SHAPE-ID literature review to date, which is also available as a report.

Multiple Perspectives are Needed to Address the World’s Most Complex Problems

Dr Angela Butler from Trinity College Dublin discusses the interdisciplinary challenges addressed by the Global Humanities Institute on the Crises of Democracy at a Summer Institute in Dubrovnik in July 2019.

International Transdisciplinarity Conference 2019

Prof Julie Thompson Klein of Wayne State University and Td-Lab ETH Zurich reflects on the 2019 International Transdisciplinarity Conference, which took place September 10th through 13th in Gothenburg, Sweden.

European Union Research & Innovation Days, Brussels, 24-26 September 2019: “Me and My Society – Integration of Social Sciences and Humanities”

Jane Ohlmeyer summarises her presentation on a panel entitled "Me and My Society – Integration of Social Sciences and Humanities” (SSH) at the European Union Research & Innovation Days event held in Brussels on 24-26 September 2019.

Supporting Inter- and Transdisciplinary Academic Careers

We still have a long way to go before inter- and trans-disciplinary (ITD) careers become “normalised” within our institutions and early career ITD researchers still face significant career disadvantages. Catherine Lyall reflects on the ITD 2019 conference and her new book Being an Interdisciplinary Academic.

The Crises of Democracy: a Case for Interdisciplinarity

What do cultural trauma, climate change and technology have to do with democracy? And why is interdisciplinarity important? Dr Elspeth Payne discusses these questions in the context of her research on the contemporary media and the headlines that shape today’s world.

Finding a Home Between Disciplines: Perspective of a Doctoral Student

Where and how does an early career interdisciplinary researcher 'fit'? Emer Emily Neenan reflects on the 2019 LERU doctoral summer school and the challenge of finding - or making - a place between disciplines.

Reflections on an Interdisciplinary Funding Scheme: Perspective of a Research Officer

While there are opportunities in large funding programmes like Horizon 2020, within its Societal Challenges pillar and other collaborative aspects of the programme, the barriers to entry for initiating collaborations under these kinds of programmes can be quite high, especially for researchers at an earlier stage in their careers. Research Officer Maureen Burgess reflects on efforts by the Irish Research Council to enable Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences leadership in interdisciplinary research.

SHAPE-ID Project Launch and Early Progress

We're launching our SHAPE-ID blog! This post reflects on our early progress in getting the project up and running.