Experts gather for public discussion on boundary-breaking research in science

They will be debating the issues raised by such work and taking questions from attendees at Cambridge University Chemical Society’s forum on interdisciplinarity in science.

The forum, which will be chaired by Quentin Cooper, presenter of Radio 4’s weekly science programme The Material World, will examine the impact of the increasing promotion of new research that cuts across the traditional boundaries of academic disciplines, and the consequences of this on the career paths of young scientists.

Panelists will include:

• Professor John McCarthy - Director of the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre.
• Georgina Born, Professor of Sociology, Anthropology and Music in Cambridge, whose recent paper Logics of Interdisciplinarity discussed results of an 18 month empirical study of interdisciplinary research across different areas of science and engineering.
• Dr. John Canning, founder of the Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning Group at the Higher Education Academy.
• Dr. Ian Gibson, MP - member of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee, and regular contributor to Science and Public Affairs, a monthly journal for the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
• Professor Alan Hughes, Director of the Centre for Business Research and member of the Council for Science and Technology, the top-level independent advisory body on policy in the field.
• Duncan Connors, General Secretary of the National Postgraduate Committee.

  The panel will discuss topics such as how to decide which research from a wide range of other areas may be relevant to a particular investigation, and the difficulties of balancing broad knowledge of a spectrum of disciplines with an in-depth treatment.

  Also under consideration will be the role of universities and funding bodies, as well as government policy makers, in promoting and supporting interdisciplinary research, particularly in light of changes to be introduced into the university research assessment exercise (RAE).

  Other issues that will be raised include the question of whether interdisciplinary approaches to teaching should be introduced at undergraduate level, or if strong disciplinary boundaries help to ensure rigorous training of young students.

  The forum will be held on Tuesday 29 April in the Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture Theatre, in the Department of Chemistry. It will start at 5.30pm, and there will be an opportunity to pose questions to the panel. The event is free and open to all and refreshments will be served afterwards.