Interdisciplinary collaboration: diversity in the toolbox
«If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail», observed the American psychologist Abraham Maslow. We are inclined to tackle challenges using methods we are already familiar with.
But what if the problem is so vast that it defies categorisation? In that case, individual perspectives are no longer enough. When bright minds from different fields work together, the analysis of the initial situation is already better. Whilst individual disciplines see only the tip of the iceberg when faced with complex challenges, interdisciplinary teams bring the entire iceberg to light thanks to their different perspectives.
Whether this iceberg should be circumnavigated, melted or broken up is something that needs to be discussed together. Many researchers point out that the time required for discussions is something that is often underestimated in interdisciplinary projects. An investment that pays off, however. For where different perspectives are not merely politely coexisting but are actually allowed to clash, solutions emerge that stand up even under pressure. Not because everyone suddenly thinks the same, but because no one remains trapped in the blind spots of their own discipline. And sometimes something almost magical emerges from this: an idea that no one would have come up with on their own.
Sara Blaser, External Publications Lead
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