2. Professor Emma Kowal, Alfred Deakin Institute, SSN Anthropology, Medicine, Indigenous studies, science and technology studies
Outline
Science and Society Network
Interdisciplinary research – is it for me?
Questions
Interdisciplinary Project Incubator
Questions and discussion
Drinks and canapes

3. Science and Society Network
The Deakin Science and Society Network supports science-literate social research and socially-engaged science that makes an impact. It aspires to be an engine for interdisciplinary Deakin
Five research themes
Environmental Challenges
Healthy Futures
Indigenous Knowledges
Data Cultures
Future Earth

4. Science and Society Network @SSNDeakin
Emma Kowal, Euan Ritchie, Tim Neale, Sarah McNaughton, Dominique Martin, Radhika Gorur, Brett Bryan, Josh Newton
Interdisciplinary Project Incubator
Interdisciplinary research exchange pilot program
Emerging Issues in Science and Society
Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) International conference @4sSydney, Anthropocene Campus Melbourne.

5. What is interdisciplinary research?
“Research approaches that do not fit within a traditional single disciplinary structure.” Australian Research Council
Researchers from different disciplines working together in a team to bring different perspectives to solve a problem
Using methods, concepts, theories, etc normally associated with one discipline to solve problems in another discipline 

6. Different kinds of interdisciplinary research
Interdisciplinary with cognate fields (near neighbours)
Genetics and biostatistics
Criminology and geography
Chemistry and mathematics
Literary studies and cultural studies
Interdisciplinarity across the Science-HASS divide (‘distant’)
Materials science and political science
Criminology, law and systems engineering
Individual interdisciplinarity (cognate or distant)

7. Why do it?
To do better research – answer your research questions better
To do better research – expand your research questions e.g. to include applied research, ethics, or policy.
To increase grant/publication success – can backfire
To position yourself in the field – What is special about me? What am I known for?
To gain higher visibility (greater effect for distant fields)
To increase your chances of employment (cognate or distant) – can backfire
Because you enjoy it

8. Why not do it?
It takes time – productivity penalty (greater effect for distant fields)
It can be risky professionally – publications, grants, jobs
It can be hard – managing different perspectives and disagreement, learning to communicate in a new field
It can end badly – potential to feel exploited or confused

9. Advice
Give new collaborations time to develop - socialize, share publications and discuss, present to each other’s colleagues
Start small - write something small together (e.g. conference presentation, Conversation article), apply for seed funding
Be realistic about potential benefits to each researcher/discipline
Collect the same or separate datasets? Analyse together and/or separately?
Coauthored plus separate publication outcomes aimed at different journals?
Grant application/s aimed primarily at which discipline?
E.g. HASS scholar included in team for science grant; Scientists listed as collaborators on HASS scholar fellowship application.

10. Interdisciplinary Project Incubator
AIM: To support Deakin EMCARs to conduct high quality and impactful interdisciplinary research
Seed funding of up to $10K for up to 5 interdisciplinary projects for:
Research Assistance
Travel (less than 50%) 
Acquiring project materials (surveys, lab materials, etc.)
Other approved uses

11. Interdisciplinary Project Incubator
Interdisciplinary projects led by a Deakin EMCAR aligned with at least 1 of the SSN research themes
We specifically seek collaborations between researchers in the sciences and the humanities and social sciences (HASS). Projects that involve collaboration between only scientific disciplines or between only HASS disciplines are unlikely to be successful. 
The project must address a significant problem.
The project’s aims, methods and/or design should demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach to the problem.
Track record relative to opportunity

12. Application process - short
Outline the significant problem addressed by project (500 words)
Briefly describe the significant problem your interdisciplinary team seeks to address.
Why is it important (including potential benefits and links to industry challenges where relevant)?
Why does it require an interdisciplinary approach?
Interdisciplinary project (500 words)
Briefly explain the project aims, methods and design.
What is new or innovative about this approach to the research problem?
Briefly outline any preliminary work, if any, that has been completed so far on this project (e.g. meetings with potential collaborators, lab work, etc.)

13. Application process Expected project outcomes (100 words)
Briefly outline the expected outcomes from the seed funding (publications, connections with external partners and industry, progress towards Category 1 or Category 2-4 grant applications, other funding schemes)
One page CV of each named Investigator
Applications open: 12 June 2018
Applications close: 12 August 2018
Presentations by shortlisted candidates: 25 October 2018, Deakin Downtown
Final decisions and notification of successful applications: mid-November

14. Some examples of what we looking for
Scientists and HASS scholars asking new questions of an existing issue
Ethical procurement of laboratory supplies for materials science
Scientists and HASS scholars collaborating to address an emerging issue
Technology-mediated family violence and the security services industry
Scientists who have a project with social implications who want to work with HASS researchers
Can remote communities use plant-based materials to remove heavy metals from water?
Social scientists who have expertise in an scientific issue
What are the policy implications of 3D Printable Designs?

15. Final words Other kinds of interdisciplinary work are important too!
Thanks to Thao Phan, Aaron Russell, Stacey Loukas, Euan Ritchie, Tim Neale, Radhika Gorur, Dominique Martin
Questions for discussion:
Interdisciplinary research: is it for me?
Could the interdisciplinary project incubator help my research?