Thread by @ShawnMcGuirk

Next panel @research_money #RM_Ott19 on interdisciplinarity w/ @MarieFranquin @DSP_SPE, Ted Hewitt @CRSH_SSHRC, RR Runte @InnovationCA, Chelsea Gabel @McMasterU, and Stefan Leslie @MEOPAR_NCE

#RM_Ott19
Q:What is interdisciplinary?
SL: not the same as multidisciplinary (which is many disciplines coming together), it is working at the interface of disciplines.
CG: engaged collaboration, working with multiple partners, political spheres, and multiple ways of knowing

#RM_Ott19
Q: What is interdisciplinary?
@MarieFranquin : agreed! It's also about making sure top expertise comes together to make something better. Reaching out to those who can elevate your research.

#RM_Ott19
Q: What is interdisciplinary?
TH @SSHRC_CRSH : it's not add-ons, not box-ticking. It is about combining expertise meaningfully, e.g. Engineers might not have the top expertise in human side of human-machine interface, could engage social scientists for more impact

CG adds at #RM_Ott19 that impact is not just publications, there are other impactful outputs. Grey literature, engagement, and knowledge translation take time and should be considered. Different disciplines / researchers work differently, interdisciplinarity must account for this

As an #ECR, @MarieFranquin @DSP_SPE says seeing successful projects across disciplines among those further in their careers can inspire more interdisciplinarity for the future of research #RM_Ott19

#RM_Ott19 she notes AI as a discipline that can gain from interdisc, and SL @MEOPAR_NCE notes this applies to climate change research as well ➡️ these will impact society greatly, and so social scientists should be meaningfully engaged to drive a *positive* impact for society

CG quotes the Indian Act #RM_Ott19, and that indigenous communities cannot use online voting. Interdisciplinary approach brough research project to government, to try affect policy by changing the Act and enable alternative voting 👏

From a funder's perspective, T Hewitt @SSHRC_CRSH adds that single disciplines are a default method of support, but that interdisc should nonetheless be supported and encouraged. SL agrees that interdisc expertise can be supported even in siloed system. #RM_Ott19

#RM_Ott19 @MarieFranquin adds that projects often naturally swerve towards interdisciplinarity due to needing new expertise, and that this should be encouraged and supported.

+ @DSP_SPE survey showed women were more concerned than men about lack of interdisc funding

#RM_Ott19 CG says interdisc research often takes longer to develop, and this is a long-standing challenge. SL @MEOPAR_NCE adds that funding and infrastructure for engaging the public and communities can speed things up, if researchers are willing to commit to it

#RM_Ott19 CG says partnership and interdisciplinary research is more and more accepted by universities like @McMasterU, but it needs to trickle down more effectively into individual disciplines, in tenure portfolios and other incentives

Paul Dufour asks #RM_Ott19, where are the colleges, CEGEPs? Where do they fit into interdisciplinarity? RR Runte @InnovationCA says the size of institutions matters for finding partners, there may be a need for infrastructure to match these researchers with expertise they need

Q about the future of research councils - what is the future of interdisciplinarity? Should all councils merge? TH @SSHRC_CRSH says CRCC and NFRF are a sign of better coordination across disciplines, the future may be in increasing flexibility.

... Engaging early is also critical. Bring social scientists in early, not after an AI has been created and has ethics issues - TH @SSHRC_CRSH #RM_Ott19

@threadreaderapp #unroll please!