Barriers- ability to address complex scientific dilemmas

Disciplinary specialization- does not guarantee the ability to solve complex problems

To cross barriers requires;A. Funding/Time – joint proposal

writing/doctoral preliminary examsB. Cross disciplinary cooperation/ integrated

technical trainingD. Getting around turfismE. Getting around egosF. Getting past differences in methodologies

What is IGERT or sometimes referred to as CATIE?

A NSF interdisciplinary and international funded grant initiative through the University of Idaho Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education center in Idaho and Costa Rica with the theme of biodiversity conservation and sustainable production of anthropogenically fragmented landscape

To Design research questions that integrate theoretical knowledge with practical problem solving

To research outcomes that impact the knowledge structures of each represented disciplinary product

To construct ways to create a critical awareness towards understanding the needs for interdisciplinary research

To over come institutional barriersTo produce grad students with interdisciplinary

backgrounds and deep knowledge in chosen disciplines with technical, professional and personal skills

To produce students to become their own career leaders and creative agents for change

Themes of the issues can become a bridge or barrier

A. IndividualB. DisciplinaryC. Programmatic

18 doctoral students in 4 cohorts over 2 yearsTheir backgrounds included; botany, economics,

entomology, forest ecology, wildlife and plant genetics, hydrology, remote sensing, rural sociology, soil science and wildlife biology

Students coursework took place in the College of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Science and Environmental Science

5 Research teams operated in agricultural and forested landscapes in Costa Rica and Idaho, USA. (3 in Costa Rica and 2 in Northern Idaho

IGERT fellows are involved in an interdisciplinary effort to study conservation biology and sustainability issues. Four cohorts of students are working closely with their UI and CATIE advisors, as well as other UI and CATIE graduate students. Students from different disciplinary backgrounds, including biological, physical and social sciences, work together in the cohorts and conduct comparative and cooperative research projects across ecological settings and disciplines.    

             

Technical training through integrated networks

Funding - multi year graduate stipend for 3 years plus provided funding for professional travel

Time- joint proposal writing, doctoral exams, coordinated [proposal writing

Inquiry needs to come from the social and biophysical sides of the equation

The integration depends on the geographic location and region

VisionRisk takingFlexibilityCommon visionCreativityCross- disciplinary thinkingDedicationProfessionalism/accountabilityPatienceProblem SolvingConflict resolutionCommunication strategyExperience

IdiosyncrasiesLanguageParadigmScales and unitsSpatial scaleTemporal scaleMetricsTiming, models and frameworksExamples of interdisciplinary workTeam make up and focus themeProblem centered/applied resultsUnifying theme/focusAudience

1. Establish an accountability strategy2. Develop formal and informal communication

strategies3. Select team members thoughtfully and

strategically4. Address temporal and spacial scale issues5. Recognize and respect timing issues6. Define focal themes and research questions

jointly and clearly7. Emphasize problem definition and team proposal

writing8. Target interdisciplinary training9. Identify mentors on team integration

Framework Broad and flexible research topic Disciplinary or interdisciplinary focus Depth vs. breadth Mentoring Advisor experience/ commitment Proposal writing CATIE partnership International research Training and resources Technical training Funding Time Preliminary exams