What exactly are interdisciplinary sciences?
Let’s break down what interdisciplinary sciences are and which universities offer programs in this field.
Understanding Interdisciplinary Sciences
Interdisciplinarity—or interdisciplinary sciences—is all about merging different scientific fields to address some of the world’s biggest challenges. These programs blend subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, geology, mathematics, computer science, and psychology.
Interdisciplinary science also comes into play when principles and methods from various scientific fields are used in a single research project. This could mean one researcher combining multiple disciplines or a team of experts from different fields contributing their knowledge.
Just a quick note—don’t mix up interdisciplinary sciences with interdisciplinary studies. The latter covers a broader mix of disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, and more, while interdisciplinary sciences focus specifically on scientific fields.
What Is Interdisciplinary Research?
Interdisciplinary research happens when knowledge and expertise from different subjects come together to tackle a research question. This could involve a group of researchers from various fields or a single researcher integrating multiple disciplines.
Each discipline plays a role in addressing the core question or problem at the heart of the research.
Why Does Interdisciplinary Research Matter?
This approach is crucial because it breaks down academic silos, paving the way for major scientific breakthroughs. By examining problems through different perspectives, researchers can uncover fresh solutions that might not emerge within a single discipline.
Examples of Interdisciplinary Science
There are plenty of examples to look at:
- Materials science—mixing physics, chemistry, and biology.
- Sports science—combining biology, psychology, and medicine.
- Other fields like environmental science, public health, women’s studies, and cognitive science also fall under this category.
Is Psychology an Interdisciplinary Science?
Absolutely. Psychology intersects with biology (studying behavior and cognition), mathematics (data analysis), and social sciences. It’s often called a “hub science” because it connects so many disciplines.
Cross-Disciplinary vs. Interdisciplinary
Both terms describe work that spans multiple fields, but there’s a slight difference:
- Cross-disciplinary usually refers to overlapping disciplines with a shared foundation.
- Interdisciplinary involves blending principles and frameworks from different fields.
Where Can You Study Interdisciplinary Science?
Many universities offer interdisciplinary science programs or research opportunities. While specialized institutions like MIT or Caltech are great options, plenty of general universities also provide strong interdisciplinary science pathways.
Times Higher Education, in partnership with Schmidt Science Fellows, recently released its first Interdisciplinary Science Ranking, evaluating universities on scientific collaboration and excellence.
- India leads in representation with 65 universities in the ranking.
- The U.S. dominates the top 10, with seven universities—MIT taking the #1 spot.
You can explore the full ranking [here] and check out the methodology [here]. The list includes 749 universities from 92 countries, covering Japan, Pakistan, Mexico, Nigeria, Malaysia, and more.