Bridging the Arts and Sciences: Using Design for Transdisciplinary Collaboration

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Albert Einstein famously declared: “The greatest scientists are artists as well”. Innovators, Nobel Prize winners, and scholars throughout history have used creative practices to drive innovation, spark “eureka” moments, and communicate their research. Nevertheless, the sciences have largely failed to embed creative practices into their disciplinary research methodologies. New perspectives, paradigms, and frameworks are needed if we are to transcend the barriers between the arts and sciences. To address this need, the Integrated Creative Practices (ICP) framework clarifies how the methods of art and science can work together (both independently and synergistically) within the context of a transdisciplinary research project, from inception to mobilization. Design, as a “future-focused discipline” sitting at the intersection of the arts and sciences, serves as the ideal foundation for this framework. In recent years, design methods have been increasingly recommended for guiding robust transdisciplinary collaboration between multiple disciplines and stakeholders. Design’s unique set of tools, frameworks, and methods are well positioned for addressing complex “real-world” challenges (e.g. - “wicked problems”) that require multifaceted solutions, robust stakeholder integration, and non-linear approaches. Furthermore, the inherently dialogic, participatory, and socially-oriented aspects of design methods and practices (e.g. codesign, empathy mapping, user journeys, reframing, user/audience targeting, group ideation, critiques, etc.) are uniquely well-suited for guiding and training people in transdisciplinary collaboration. Aside from the gap between the arts and sciences in contemporary academia, another gap exists between knowledge and action (or “evidence and practice”). Knowledge mobilization (KMb) is intended to close this “knowledge to action” (K2A/KTA) gap. The need for practical and robust knowledge mobilization strategies is especially apparent in the sciences, where the disconnect that exists between academia and culture has led to poor knowledge uptake and an erosion of trust between scientists and the public. Design is particularly well-positioned to help bridge this knowledge to action (K2A) gap through its focus on creative and effective communication strategies, iterative problem solving, usability research, multi-platform engagement, cultural awareness, empathy, and accessibility. In Fall 2020, an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate student and faculty researchers was assembled to address the challenges surrounding the rapid spread of an invasive species (Bohemian knotweed) in BC. The researchers’ backgrounds span between art, design, the natural sciences, psychology, and media/communication. Now in its fourth year, the grant-funded (SSHRC) project has culminated in a wide range of knowledge mobilization outcomes (in print, web, video, social media, etc.), rich learning experiences, and robust external stakeholder engagement. This project has also informed the creation of the Integrated Creative Practices (ICP) framework for transdisciplinary collaboration, which uses design methods and practices to guide transdisciplinary projects seeking to bridge the gap between the arts and sciences and increase the societal impact of research.

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• Education