Inter/Trans/Multidisciplinarity: Why all the buzz?

Presented by Professor Jacquelyn Burkell, Associate Vice-President (Research), Western University.

Attend in person: FNB 4130
Attend online: Zoom link TBA (Please register to attend via Zoom)

Everywhere you turn in the research environment, the talk is about working across disciplinary divisions. Some of the talk is ‘meta’: Debates rage about the difference between inter-trans-multidisciplinary approaches (sorry, not here!). Some highlights concerns raised by this new focus: Sole scholars and basic researchers worry that this new focus undermines the value of their endeavours (absolutely not!); early career researchers are concerned that a focus on teamwork will undermine their careers (proceed with some caution); those seeking funding for their research suspect that inter/trans/multidisciplinary projects are where the money is going (not wrong). Some celebrates scholarly work that embraces insights from multiple perspectives, particularly emphasizing the potential impact on ‘wicked’ and ‘thorny’ real-world problems. This discussion will explore the perils and promise of working in I/T/M teams and unpack the external pressures and values promoting and supporting this form of scholarship.

All are welcome.

Light refreshments will be served to those attending in person. Bring your lunch if you wish.