Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Learning
Complex environmental problem solving depends on cross-disciplinary collaboration among scientists. Collaborative research must be preceded by an exploratory phase of collective thinking that creates shared conceptual frameworks. Collective thinking, in a cross-disciplinary setting, depends on the f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Resilience Alliance
2008-12-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol13/iss2/art8/ |
| _version_ | 1829496640213352448 |
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| author | Deana D. Pennington |
| author_facet | Deana D. Pennington |
| author_sort | Deana D. Pennington |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Complex environmental problem solving depends on cross-disciplinary collaboration among scientists. Collaborative research must be preceded by an exploratory phase of collective thinking that creates shared conceptual frameworks. Collective thinking, in a cross-disciplinary setting, depends on the facility with which collaborators are able to learn and understand each others' perspectives. This paper applies three perspectives on learning to the problem of enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration: Maslow's hierarchy of needs, constructivism, and organizational learning. Application of learning frameworks to collaboration provides insights regarding receptive environments for collaboration, and processes that facilitate cross-disciplinary interactions. These environments and interactions need time to develop and require a long phase of idea generation preceding any focused research effort. The findings highlight that collaboration is itself a complex system of people, scientific theory, and tools that must be intentionally managed. Effective management of the system requires leaders who are facilitators and are capable of orchestrating effective environments and interactions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T07:35:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a5c6c5fda570483cb638da94ff10e26c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1708-3087 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T07:35:48Z |
| publishDate | 2008-12-01 |
| publisher | Resilience Alliance |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-a5c6c5fda570483cb638da94ff10e26c2022-12-21T22:39:13ZengResilience AllianceEcology and Society1708-30872008-12-01132810.5751/ES-02520-1302082520Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and LearningDeana D. Pennington0Long Term Ecological Research Network OfficeComplex environmental problem solving depends on cross-disciplinary collaboration among scientists. Collaborative research must be preceded by an exploratory phase of collective thinking that creates shared conceptual frameworks. Collective thinking, in a cross-disciplinary setting, depends on the facility with which collaborators are able to learn and understand each others' perspectives. This paper applies three perspectives on learning to the problem of enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration: Maslow's hierarchy of needs, constructivism, and organizational learning. Application of learning frameworks to collaboration provides insights regarding receptive environments for collaboration, and processes that facilitate cross-disciplinary interactions. These environments and interactions need time to develop and require a long phase of idea generation preceding any focused research effort. The findings highlight that collaboration is itself a complex system of people, scientific theory, and tools that must be intentionally managed. Effective management of the system requires leaders who are facilitators and are capable of orchestrating effective environments and interactions.http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol13/iss2/art8/collaborationcollective thinkingcross-disciplinary science |
| spellingShingle | Deana D. Pennington Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Learning Ecology and Society collaboration collective thinking cross-disciplinary science |
| title | Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Learning |
| title_full | Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Learning |
| title_fullStr | Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Learning |
| title_short | Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Learning |
| title_sort | cross disciplinary collaboration and learning |
| topic | collaboration collective thinking cross-disciplinary science |
| url | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol13/iss2/art8/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT deanadpennington crossdisciplinarycollaborationandlearning |