Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) Great Plains Network/MIDnet A Report on the National Academies of Science Convocation on Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research Greg Monaco, Ph.D., Director for Research Great Plains Network

“research, teaching, or problem solving that integrates several disciplines to create a unified outcome” James Collins Interdisciplinary

Multi- and Interdisciplinary Research A B common problem Work on A B C A B Multidisciplinary Interdisciplinary Interaction forges new discipline Lawrence Tabak, NIH

AVHRR AVHRR-SST TOPEX-SSA SeaWiFS-Chl-a Ames Research Center Life Sciences Division Monitoring the Temporal Patterns of Cholera Transmission Risk

Research Focus: Visualization Design, implementation and evaluation of novel methods for more accurately, intuitively, and effectively conveying information through images An inherently interdisciplinary effort, involving the integration of insights from vision and perception with inspiration from art and illustration, and algorithms from computer graphics, computer vision, and mathematics, along with human subjects experiments Victoria Interrante, Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota

Human Language Technology Including machine translation (speech to text, text to speech, text to text)… Linguists Computer Scientists Psychologists

genomics/ proteomics biophysics regenerative medicine Bio-X Program Themes chemical biology imaging biodesign biocomputation brain and behavior Harvey Cohen, Professor, Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, and Chair, The Interdisciplinary Initiatives Committee, Bio-X, Stanford University

Source: NSF/SBR

NSF CLEANER – Collaborative Large-Scale Engineering Analysis Network for Environmental Research: An Engineering Cyberinfrastructure "Test Bed" IGERT: Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Human and Social Dynamics Biocomplexity in the Environment Workforce Training Engineering Sensor Research Information Technology Research

NIH Roadmap Activity (1/24/2004) RFAs Dynamic Assessment of Patient-Reported Chronic Disease Outcomes Interdisciplinary Health Research Training: Behavior, Environment and BiologyInterdisciplinary Health Research Training: Behavior, Environment and Biology Short Programs for Interdisciplinary Research Training Curriculum Development Award in Interdisciplinary Research Centers for Innovation in Membrane Protein ProductionCenters for Innovation in Membrane Protein Production Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Career Development Programs Development of High Resolution Probes for Cellular ImagingProgramsDevelopment of High Resolution Probes for Cellular Imaging Meetings and Networks for Methodological Development in Interdisciplinary Research Metabolomics Technology Development Exploratory Centers (P20) for Interdisciplinary Research National Technology Centers for Networks and Pathways National Centers for Biomedical Computing Training For A New Interdisciplinary Research Workforce RFPs RFP Announcement: Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository Broad Agency Announcements (BAA’s) Re-Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise: Feasibility of Integrating and Expanding Clinical Research NetworksRe-Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise: Feasibility of Integrating and Expanding Clinical Research Networks

MULTIDISCIPLINARY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE (MURI)  Supports teams of researchers investigating topics that: – Are key to DoD Science and Technology Strategy – Interest more than one Service. – Intersect more than one traditional discipline.  Takes multidisciplinary approach that, for many problems: – Accelerates research progress. – Expedites transition of results to application. – Prepares students to works across disciplines.  Complements Service Defense Research Sciences programs that predominantly support single ‑ investigator approach.  183 Active projects Dr. Bill Berry Director, Basic Research ODUSD(LABS)

Characteristics of successful interdisciplinary grants Faculty already talking/collaborating Funds move seamlessly as needed Students/Postdocs move seamlessly as needed Maria Pellegrini, W. M. Keck Foundation

Challenges to Interdisciplinary Research The current system of academic advancement favors the independent investigator Most institutions house scientists in discrete departments Interdisciplinary science requires interdisciplinary peer-review Project management and oversight is currently performed by discrete ICs Interdisciplinary research teams take time to assemble and require unique resources Lawrence Tabak, NIH

How to Facilitate Inter-disciplinary Research Inter-disciplinary research by definition requires the researchers to learn the other discipline’s vocabulary, methodology and techniques. This requires effort and investment of time. The researchers involved must trust each other - have a mutual respect for each other. It will not work if one discipline is perceived as superior to the other. There must be a reward system in place which will acknowledge the overhead in time and effort that interdisciplinary research takes. Ruzena Bajcsy, UC Berkeley

What Motivates Inter-disciplinary Research? New scientific and technological problems, examples are: Biotechnology, BioInformatics, or BIO + any scientific combination. Nano science and Nano technology Space science Networking: sensor webs, computer webs, social webs.. Complex systems and their interaction over time, environment, machines, people/society/cultures Ruzena Bajcsy, UC Berkeley

Thoughts on Interdisciplinary Research Reward System Cluster hiring including senior staff Reward Deans/Chairs who foster interdisciplinary research Set up special tenure/salary reward processes Seed funds Maria Pellegrini, W. M. Keck Foundation

Interdisciplinary We should always be looking for leaders who can foster interdisciplinary connections and thus advance the scientific enterprise –Rita Colwell, NSF We should always be looking for leaders who can foster interdisciplinary connections and thus advance the scientific enterprise Rita Colwell, NSF