Overview

"Beyond Interdisciplinarity examines the broadening meaning of core concept across academic disciplines and other forms of knowledge. In this book, Associate Editor of The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity and internationally recognized scholar Julie Thompson Klein depicts the heterogeneity and boundary work of inter- and trans-disciplinarity in a conceptual framework based on an ecology of spatializing practices in transaction spaces, including trading zones and communities of practice. The book includes both ""crossdisciplinary"" work (encompassing multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary forms) as well as ""cross-sector"" work (spanning disciplines, fields, professions, government and industry, and communities). The first section of the book defines and explains boundary work, discourses of interdisciplinarity, and the nature of interdisciplinary fields. In the second section, Klein examines dynamics of working across disciplines, including communication, collaboration, and learning with concrete examples and lessons from research projects and programs that transcend traditional fields. The closing chapter examines reasons for failure and success then presents gateways to literature and other resources. Throughout the book, Klein emphasizes the roles of contextualization and historical change while factoring in the shifting relationship of disciplinarity and interdisciplinarity, ascendancy of transdisciplinarity, and intersections with other constructs including Mode 2 knowledge production, convergence, team science, and postdisciplinarity. The conceptual framework she provides also includes the role of boundary objects, agents, and organizations in brokering differences and creating for platforms for change. Klein further explains why translation, interlanguage, and a communication boundary space are vital to achieving intersubjectivity and collective identity. They foster not only pragmatics of negotiation and integration but also reflexivity, transactivity, and co-production of knowledge with stakeholders beyond the academy. Rhetorics of holism and synthesis compete with instrumentalities of problem solving and transgressive critiques. However, typical warrants today include complexity, contextualization, collaboration, and socially-robust knowledge. Crossing boundaries remains complex, but this book guides readers through the density of pertinent literature while expanding understandings of crossdisciplinary and cross-sector work."

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9780197571156

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Reviews

The inability to look at problems beyond the confines and boundaries of a single disciplines is a weakness in any area: something which the planetary crises confronting us today has certainly exposed as a major blind spot. How to tackle this is not a straightforward matter, but it certainly needs some careful inter- and trans-disciplinary thinking and strategizing. Julie Thompson Klein has been at the forefront of developing such approaches. This new book of hers is testimony of the invaluable knowledge she has gained over the years into the theory and practice of working across and beyond disciplinary boundaries. The book, therefore, not only comes as highly recommended, but as something which needs to be seriously engaged with by both theorists and practitioners interested in tackling the complex planetary challenges facing us today. * John van Breda, Program Manager for Transdisciplinary Research, Center for Complex Systems in Transition * Interdisciplinarity (ID) occupies an important place in the debate regarding the future of education and research - yet the concept is still misunderstood. This fantastic book examines the genealogy of ID, its evolution and current role as a bridge connecting different scientific practices. Integration, communication, collaboration, and boundaries are some of the key issues studied in this deep, yet accessible book. Julie Thompson-Klein provides an exciting contribution to the debate on the future landscape of academia. * Marcel Bursztyn, Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Brasilia * Renowned for her support of young scholars, Julie's characteristic generosity and inclusivity shine through in her acknowledgment of the contributions of others as she shares her encyclopedic understanding of interdisciplinarity and what it means to go 'beyond.' * Frederic Darbellay, Head of Inter- and Transdisciplinarity Unit, University of Geneva and Catherine Lyall, Professor of Science and Public Policy, University of Edinburgh *

The inability to look at problems beyond the confines and boundaries of a single disciplines is a weakness in any area: something which the planetary crises confronting us today has certainly exposed as a major blind spot. How to tackle this is not a straightforward matter, but it certainly needs some careful inter- and trans-disciplinary thinking and strategizing. Julie Thompson Klein has been at the forefront of developing such approaches. This new book of hers is testimony of the invaluable knowledge she has gained over the years into the theory and practice of working across and beyond disciplinary boundaries. The book, therefore, not only comes as highly recommended, but as something which needs to be seriously engaged with by both theorists and practitioners interested in tackling the complex planetary challenges facing us today. -- John van Breda, Program Manager for Transdisciplinary Research, Center for Complex Systems in Transition Interdisciplinarity (ID) occupies an important place in the debate regarding the future of education and research DS yet the concept is still misunderstood. This fantastic book examines the genealogy of ID, its evolution and current role as a bridge connecting different scientific practices. Integration, communication, collaboration, and boundaries are some of the key issues studied in this deep, yet accessible book. Julie Thompson-Klein provides an exciting contribution to the debate on the future landscape of academia. -- Marcel Bursztyn, Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Brasilia Renowned for her support of young scholars, Julie's characteristic generosity and inclusivity shine through in her acknowledgment of the contributions of others as she shares her encyclopedic understanding of interdisciplinarity and what it means to go 'beyond.' -- Frederic Darbellay, Head of Inter- and Transdisciplinarity Unit, University of Geneva and Catherine Lyall, Professor of Science and Public Policy, University of Edinburgh

Author Information

Julie Thompson Klein is Professor of Humanities Emerita at Wayne State University and International Research Affiliate in the Transdisciplinarity Lab at ETH-Zurich. She was Visiting Foreign Professor at Shimane University in Japan, Fulbright Professor at Tribhuvan University in Nepal, Foundation Visitor at the University of Auckland, and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the University of Victoria. Klein is the author and editor of numerous books, articles and chapters on inter- and trans-disciplinary research, education, and problem solving. Associate Editor of The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity, she is past president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies and a recipient of the Kenneth Boulding Award for outstanding scholarship on interdisciplinarity.

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