Advice for Graduate Students Interested in Transdisciplinary Research
Many graduate students interested in conservation recognize the importance of approaching conservation issues from a variety of angles, which is why there is a desire to participate in transdisciplinary research. However given the constraints from committee members, research directions and funding sources, it is often difficult to get these projects started. In this section we will provide advice from our own research projects, and ask those of you who have your own stories to share them with us so that we can learn what does and does not work.
A major obstacle to transdisciplinary research is institutional inertia. Academic departments may not be keen on having their graduate students focus on more applied conservation work. This is particularly true in the natural sciences. By framing the research as part of larger dissertation project, you can slide some transdisciplinary research in with the other more traditionally focused chapters. Also, by focusing on conservation questions, you open up your dissertation to a wider spectrum of methodological approaches than by having your dissertation being narrowly framed as a simple taxonomic or ethnographic exercise.
Another way to conduct interdisciplinary research is to obtain your own funding. Professors have to justify paying you on a TAship or RAship because you are working on a segment of their research. If you can find ways to pay for yourself, and are able to justify the research within the larger context of your dissertation (above), then you may find yourself with considerable latitude in terms of project design and development.
One potential problem graduate students face is finding a collaborator from a different academic discipline to work with. This cross-fertilization is the hallmark of transdisciplinary research, yet is often one of the most difficult aspects. There are several ways to identify and contact potential collaborators.
The first way to identify potential collaborators is to network. While it may sound simple, going to meetings is a great way to meet others doing very interesting work. When attending meetings and conferences try to attend some talks outside your major area(s) of interest. If you have the money and/or time, you may also consider going to meetings outside your academic area. Many biology based meetings host special social science or transdisciplinary research symposia so take advantage of these. You may find yourself serving as the voice for your discipline, and it is a great way to see what folks in other disciplines are doing.
Also, while at meetings, don’t just stand around with the four lab-mates you came with. Make a point of introducing yourself to someone whose talk interested you and whose work or perspective seems to compliment your own. Don’t forget to hand them a business card at the end of your conversation. This will help people remember your name and let them know how to contact you later. If you don’t have business cards handy, you can make them easily with your own printer. Just pick up a package of blank business cards at your local office supply store and create your own using the “Letters and Mailings” tool in Word.
Although it is difficult to find time, reading the literature from other disciplines can be very rewarding. Journals such as the ones listed in the publications section often have interesting transdisciplinary articles, but within the references of those papers are journals that you may not have thought of reading. Finally subscribing to list-serves can provide you with access to hundreds of potential collaborators. If you can succinctly phrase your question and have a specific “ask”, you may find people who are willing to give you invaluable advice. |
