British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Working Together Across Disciplines
Convened by the British Academy and organised as part of the
British Association for the Advancement of Science's 2007 Festival of Science,
hosted by the University of York
Chair: Wyn Grant, University of Warwick
Speakers: Henry Buller, University of Exeter, David Chandler, University of Warwick, Robert Fish, University of Exeter, Stuart Lane, University of Durham, Liz O’Brien, Forest Research, Neil Ward, University of Newcastle and Sarah Whatmore, Oxford University Centre for the Environment.
Vanbrugh College, Room 123, University of York
11.30 – 13.30, Thursday, 13 September 2007
SEE A REPORT OF THIS MEETING WITH PRESENTATIONS
The idea of interdisciplinary research attracts much interest and support, not least from government, but actually undertaking it is much more difficult. Interdisciplinary research faces many challenges in a university environment including a lack of institutional support structures and incentives for researchers, lack of development of philosophical foundations for interdisciplinary research, and difficulties in assessing the quality of interdisciplinary research.
This discussion draws on the practical experience of interdisciplinary research as natural and social scientists working together in the Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) programme funded by the Research Councils and will discuss some of the methodological problems that arise in such cooperation.
Wyn Grant and David Chandler tackle the general methodological problems that arise in collaboration between natural and social scientists. Robert Fish examines intra-disciplinary controversies within inter-disciplinary research. Stuart Lane and Neil Ward and Sarah Whatmore examine competency groups as an experimental methodology. Henry Buller reports on interdisciplinary approaches to the notion of ‘quality’ in the food chain. Liz O’Brien looks at interdisciplinary work in the RELU project she was involved in.
- Registration details and further information are available from the Festival website.
- A map of the University Campus can be downloaded here
- A programme is available from: http://www1.the-ba.net/download/Festivalprogramme2007.pdf