Being Interdisciplinary

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In Being Interdisciplinary, Alan Wilson leverages five decades of experience in urban science to present a systems approach to interdisciplinarity for researchers. He posits that most research inherently involves interdisciplinary elements and that a systems perspective encourages collaboration by transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries. This approach not only fosters creativity and ambition but also helps researchers identify transformative ideas from the past, enabling innovative thinking. The book begins by laying the groundwork for understanding interdisciplinarity. Drawing from his extensive experience, Wilson shares a personal toolkit that includes general principles and a framework for researchers to develop their own interdisciplinary strategies. This toolkit encompasses explorations of transformative ideas in research and the concept of superconcepts. In the final section, the book addresses the management and organization of research at both individual and institutional levels. Wilson's diverse background—as a researcher, university professor, civil servant, and institute director—enriches the narrative. While his examples stem from urban science, the principles discussed are applicable across various research domains, making the insights relevant to a wide audience of scholars and practitioners.