Believe it or not, most of us think like interdisciplinarians although we might not know what that means...
Interdisciplinary is the collaboration and integration of knowledge to solve complex problems or questions. Multiple disciplines, in other words, multiple professionals or different schools of thought, come together to solve a complex question or problem.
Professionally defined by Julie Klein and William Newell’s Advancing Interdisciplinary Studies* as “a process of answering a question, solving a problem, or addressing a topic that is too broad or complex to be dealt with adequately by a single discipline or profession," furthermore, "IDS draw disciplinary perspectives and integrate their insights through the construction of a more comprehensive perspective”(pp.393-394).
Therefore, an interdisciplinarian is someone who looks at complex problems from multiple angles. Dissecting complex problems or questions calls for multiple disciplines to come together to properly and efficiently solve.
As we continue to evolve and grow our problems and questions become more complex. Instilling interdisciplinary behaviors in an individual encourages them to wear multiple hats when looking at a complex problem or question. Leading to effective problem-solving.
If complex problems or questions are examined through a single lens without multiple disciplines coming together, details can be missed, solutions can fail, or solutions may not be the most productive. This shows the importance of interdisciplinary studies for synthesis and integration.
