ABSTRACT
Historically within academia, there have been distinct boundaries between subject areas and sometimes even between specialities within those subject areas. Conversely, the need for research between and across disciplines has been acknowledged as necessary in order to address complex problems and this has been reflected in recent funding calls. However, working across disciplines encounters a number of difficulties. Some of these difficulties are more practical, such as identifying an appropriate place to publish research outcomes, whilst others are more ingrained, such as a difference in the theoretical approach of team members or where the use of complex discipline-specific terminology alienates other members of the team. Regardless of the challenges, this type of working is important and can provide very rewarding outcomes. This workshop aims to address some of the challenges encountered, encouraging discussion and sharing between participants, before finding ways to address these challenges and identifying key skills to do so.
The workshop organisers have substantial combined experience of working within cross-disciplinary research teams, particularly across social and engineering disciplines and through these experiences have developed a bridge building concept for the role of the user centred specialist within these teams. In addition they have developed a set of principles which aim to aid the process of cross-disciplinary research (Mallaband, 2013; Mallaband & Haines, 2014). The workshop will build on the work already carried out and will explore participants’ experiences of crossdisciplinary work, aiming to further conceptualise the process and review, expand on and evaluate the principles of cross-disciplinary working. The workshop will be interactive and creative, seeking to encourage participants to conceptualise their own cross-disciplinary teams and experience in order to better understand the process dynamics and to improve future practice.
