Interdisciplinarity

By sara.custer, 8 February, 2024

Solving the world’s complex problems will be so much harder if higher education is confined to disciplinary silos. Universities must encourage work across departments to develop creative and innovative answers to global challenges.

By Laura.Duckett, 10 September, 2024

Developing interdisciplinary courses for tomorrow’s scholars

Female lab technicians carrying out experiments
Many universities are developing new interdisciplinary degree programmes to prepare students for working across sectors on complex issues. But how can we engage faculty in this whole-institution approach?
Reading time
5minutes
By ashton.wenborn, 30 July, 2024

Joint efforts propel transformative scientific discoveries

Caitlin Maikawa, Senior Schmidt Science Fellow and assistant professor at the University of Toronto
It takes many scientific perspectives to deliver new technologies that could revolutionise how we treat diabetes and monitor disease. At the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, research teams are applying their expertise to real-life clinical problems in search of innovations in bioengineering
By Eliza.Compton, 30 July, 2024

A framework to develop communities of practice

Community of practice concept illustration
Supporting communities of practice across an organisation can provide extraordinary benefits. Drawn from the author’s experience, these tips aim to build connection and engagement through a formalised framework and senior leader sponsorship
Reading time
4minutes
By ashton.wenborn, 10 July, 2024

Targeted strategies for interdisciplinary innovation

Image caption: Researchers in the Device Foundry, one of three facilities comprising the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), an ISI at the University of Toronto (Image credit: Dahlia Katz)
The University of Toronto’s Institutional Strategic Initiatives offer a compelling case study in what large, complex institutions can do to break down disciplinary silos and drive innovation
By Sreethu.Sajeev, 27 March, 2024

Shooting for the Moon with interdisciplinary approaches to lunar development

Schmidt Science Fellows
Large-scale projects, such as creating a sustained presence on the Moon, are complex, interdisciplinary endeavours that test researchers to the limit. But with support from the research community – united by common purpose and values – lunar development efforts can take a giant leap towards establishing an outpost on the Moon
By ashton.wenborn, 6 March, 2024

Where the boldest research ideas find a home

CIFAR-Azrieli Global Scholars and Schmidt Science Fellows explore opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration
Getting multidisciplinary projects off the ground can be a heavy lift for even the most motivated scientists, but forward-thinking organisations like CIFAR are willing to lend a hand, convening international research groups and offering the much-needed support to develop their ideas
By ashton.wenborn, 8 February, 2024

Inside the data-driven search for migraine relief

Sandya Subramanian, a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University
At the frontiers of computational research and medical hardware, interdisciplinary approaches offer hope to chronic migraine patients through ground-breaking physiological sensors and analytical tools that analyse the autonomic nervous system for clues about the debilitating condition
By ashton.wenborn, 9 January, 2024

Breaking down disciplinary silos in pursuit of innovation

Stu Feldman, co-CEO and chief scientist at Schmidt Futures
Interdisciplinary approaches allow researchers of different scholarly backgrounds to pool their expertise and enhance the impact of their discoveries. But for these projects to flourish, we need to rethink the research ecosystem to support scientists as they cross disciplinary lines
By ashton.wenborn, 5 December, 2023

Coaching the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists

Sir Keith Burnett, chair emeritus and academic council member at Schmidt Science Fellows
It takes courage, ability and talent to transcend disciplinary boundaries. But it also takes support. At Schmidt Science Fellows, early career scientists are given the training and mentorship they need to develop their careers in interdisciplinary science and pursue projects that tackle society’s biggest problems
By Eliza.Compton, 10 June, 2023

How can we measure interdisciplinary learning?

Illustration of two men in shirt and ties shaking hands over jigsaw speech bubble
A benchmark of success for interdisciplinary learning is graduates who have the flexibility to examine their areas of interest and develop attributes that deliver practical value to future employers
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Interdisciplinarity
Sponsor
Schmidt Science Fellows
Sponsored
Yes
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