The world we are living in hence has been very dynamic, creating complex problems than ever before. Climate change, global pandemics, technological crises, social inequality all of it cannot be solved inside the box of a certain discipline or specialization. Under these situations, interdisciplinary innovation has taken the world by storm as it involves combining the efforts of various disciplines to produce solutions that would otherwise have been unheard of.
Interdisciplinary innovation refers to a situation where problems are solved with the integration of knowledge and techniques of various disciplines like science, technology, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, arts and business. The practice does not only give a larger view, but it also introduces concepts and innovations that cannot be achieved within the framework of one field.
Walls breakage and collaboration enhancement
The research and the traditional education usually build the silos across disciplines. An economist specialist would hardly ever attempt to comprehend biotechnology and a science student would not peep into the literature.
Yet interdisciplinary programs destroy these boundaries. Combining the engineering students with the study of business, they come with an end product solution and product design not only technically correct but also commercially successful.
The example here is that in the renewable energy sector when engineers and the environmentalists collaborate in the design of a solar panel, such panel is not only energy efficient, but also cost effective and sustainable.
The resolution of the overall universal dilemmas
The modern world also has complex problems.
It is not only a scientific issue as climate change requires economics, politics, sociology, and environmental policy.
A new pandemic, such as COVID-19, would call upon the efforts not only of medical science but data analytics, data policy and mental health, and international supply chains.
Case in point: Reducing the issue of algorithmic bias in artificial intelligence necessitates knowledge of not only computer science, but ethics, cognitive science and sociology as well.
Rewards on innovativeness and creativity
As soon as the collision of the various opinions and thoughts takes place, creativity is boosted per se. This is what the actual strength of interdisciplinary approach is.
Examples:
The combination of medicine, engineering and business are responsible in the creation of what is termed as Wearable Health Technology, which are things like smart watches.
Incorporating biology into architecture to make so called green buildings, which are capable of conserving energy by using natural ventilation and lighting.
The strategy not only leads to new solutions, but it also features the path toward the emergence of surprising and radical innovations.
gain future relevant skills
Aspects of the modern job market It used to be sufficient to know a lot about one thing. The corporations want people that are able to do the following:
- think critically,
- cooperate with persons of other backgrounds,
- and to look at issues differently.
Interdisciplinary education builds up such capacities. It does not only enable students to be a successful person in a professional field, but also allows one to be a global citizen who may comprehend various cultures and ideologies.
What will be the new kind of teaching and where should we move forward?
Previously, education system was built on the principles of the so called specialization as when a person became a doctor, he was fully engrossed in the study of medicine, or an engineer was concentrated only on technical skills at all.
Today the concern of the education is steadily shifting to the combined and comprehensive one.
The K.R. Mangalam Global School in Delhi argues that in the times to come the disciplines may seem interchangeable and interdisciplinary might become the primary approach to solving the problems.
Real life success stories
Tesla and Solar Energy: This is the work of the team of engineers, designers, environmentalists and business experts led by Elon Musk to introduce the electric cars and solar technology in the market.
Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare: Computer scientists, physicians, psychologists and ethics professionals all have a part to play in coming up with AI-derived diagnostic tools.
The given examples help to realize that interdisciplinary innovation is not only a theory but a reality with tangible outcomes.
Conclusion
The world is transforming very fast and so are the types of problems. Under those circumstances, it is not enough to rely on the knowledge of a single subject. Inter-disciplinary innovation does not just provide us with new ideas and solutions, it also prepares us concerning the future. It is also this same practice that will matter in the most fundamental ways that will determine the solution to the problems such as climate crisis, technological inequality, health crisis along with social issues in the upcoming decades.
