HQP Zone
 

Can you briefly explain your current research project, including its main focus and objectives?

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My current research is focused on trying to understand interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration. In particular, Jackie and I are trying to figure out what factors lead to the success or failure of these kinds of collaborations, and what kinds of benefits emerge from them (i.e., why are they so important in science).

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What is the most exciting aspect of your research so far, and why? 

I think getting to understand the diverse backgrounds, interests, and perspectives of the various HQPs who I’ve interviewed has been the most exciting aspect so far.
 

What are the potential implications or real-world applications of your research findings? 

​This work has implications both for policy makers and funders (e.g., to better predict which collaborations will succeed and therefore which should be funded) and to participants in collaborations (e.g., how they might approach potential and ongoing collaborations in a manner that will help produce the best results).

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What challenges have you faced during your research, and how did you overcome them? 

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One interesting challenge concerns the existing literature on collaboration. Many existing case studies both tend to focus exclusively on cases of unmitigated success and present a somewhat idealized picture of the collaborative process. Our goal, however, is not just to understand what conditions lead to success, but also to understand potential pitfalls as well, and to do so in the case of a real, complex, and ongoing collaboration. This is a tricky methodological challenge for any work the uses both historical and contemporary cases. In this case, we’ve tried to both seek out less idealized historical case studies, and to be cognizant of the limitations of those more idealized examples, while still trying to take what we can from them where appropriate.

 

What significant discoveries or insights have you made during your research so far? 

Still early days, but I do think we’ve begun to develop an interesting and novel framework for thinking about what unique epistemic benefits might arise in a successful interdisciplinary collaboration, and what kinds of subtle challenges make this kind of work so challenging.

 

What is one key takeaway or message you want people to remember from your research? 
 

​Collaboration is difficult, and requires ongoing communication and mutual understanding; but the benefits are worth it!

​I hope it helps contribute to a richer, and more grounded, understanding of inter and transdisciplinary collaborations.

​How do you see your research contributing to the advancement of knowledge in your field? 
 

​I hope it helps contribute to a richer, and more grounded, understanding of inter and transdisciplinary collaborations.