Collaboration across disciplines importance

Borrego and Newswander (2008 124) use the term "cross-disciplinary collaborations which can manifest either in (1) multidisciplinary approaches or (2) truly interdisciplinary approaches. They describe multi-disciplinary collaboration as an experience where die joint work on a common problem leaves the parties involved unchanged whereas interdisciplinary collaboration interact in ways that may later on even result in new fields or disciplines. The authors also point out that mutual engagement and learning are important elements of integrative approaches that enhance successful collaborations across disciplines. Davis (1995) stresses that "truly interdisciplinary courses can help develop comprehensive perspectives (cf op.cit, 125, quoting Lattuca et al. 2004). 

He set high standards for his own and his collaborator s work, and emphasized the importance of innovation and work across scientific borders. Many scientists with different backgrounds visited and worked in his laboratory for various periods. They solved the structures of a range of complex carbohydrates. The Lindberg group had a unique atmosphere of creativity and hard, disciplined work. We look back on that time with gratitude and pleasure as we feel that we were involved in something scientifically important. 

The themes for polymer colloids research presented in outline in the previous sections highlight the wide range of research that is necessary to take the field of polymer colloids forward in relation to industrial needs, and emphasise the importance of collaborative research across several disciplines. The principal disciplines that will be essential to advancing future research in the field of polymer colloids are shown in Figure 2. An increasing contribution from the disciplines of biochemistry and inorganic chemistry can be anticipated as newer, more specialised applications develop. 

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