1. Writing an Interdisciplinary Social-ecological Proposal (Lessons from doing it wrong) Terry Chapin

2. Choosing the problem Must be important Can’t be solved by one discipline Must be the “ideal study system” –Tractable –Uniquely suited--but generalizable Good fit for your team You are passionate about the issue –Don’t expect it to be easy or fast

3. Finding the team The right mix of expertise –The expertise fits the question (or question fits team) Demonstrated cross-disciplinary communication –You are on same wavelength about nature of problem and approach Fun people to work with –Enjoy working together –Not defensive about their discipline More interested in interdisciplinarity than in their own discipline

4. Laying the groundwork Develop the communication beforehand –Learn about the other disciplines Read papers, attend seminars/meetings Ask “stupid questions” –These are often the questions that a discipline doesn’t think to ask –Discuss the interdisciplinary linkage Joint courses, seminars, discussions –Try out your ideas Special topics courses with students Literature-based paper or meeting presentation Find the right community collaborators

5. Finding the right program Needs interdisciplinary proposals –RFP is interdisciplinary OR –Interdisc. research fills big gap in program needs Good fit for your interests and problem –Problem is appropriate to program –The funding odds are reasonable Talk to the program manager Follow program guidelines VERY CAREFULLY

6. Likely sources of failure “Integrated conceptual framework is lacking” –Select simple framework that builds on contributing disciplines “The research is nothing new” –MUST demonstrate importance and novelty “The research can’t be done” –Don’t have the right expertise –Inappropriate methods –“You are not considering X”

7. Improving your odds Design truly transformative research Talk with program director about fit to their program Suggest reviewers and explain why Letters of support from collaborators explaining why research is important to them **Develop fully the “broader impacts”