Abstract
Transdisciplinary innovation — what is it and how does it work? In this paper, the authors consider the way seemingly disparate professional and community actors may work together, drawing on case study data from a series of research projects commissioned as part of the University of Newcastle’s Research and Project Innovation and Development (RAPID) grant program, a novel approach to fostering collaboration across and beyond the academy. Transdisciplinary research aims to integrate and extend beyond discipline-specific concepts, approaches, and methods to accelerate progress towards solving real-world, complex problems. Whilst transdisciplinary research alludes to the potential of novel and wide-reaching discoveries it brings with it unique challenges. Overall participants reported that the transdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the projects led to an enriching and highly positive professional experience. Open communication between stakeholders and strong community engagement were hallmarks of RAPID projects which produced professional, academic, or economic benefits for those involved. The ability to produce multiple iterations of a solution or prototype based on community feedback also stood out as a clear advantage of the program’s structure. While some projects faced challenges moving their project beyond the prototype stage or securing additional industry funding, perhaps due to socio-political factors, the potential for the solutions created remains and may be revisited under more favorable conditions. We conclude by discussing the relevance of the RAPID approach for transdisciplinary team-based research projects.
Presenters
Mario MinichielloProfessor, Visual Communication Design, The University of Newcastle, Australia Leicha Stewart
Sessional Academic, School of Creative Industries, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia Paul Egglestone
Director FASTLab, Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
RAPID, TransdisciplinaryCollaboration, TransdisciplinaryInnovation
Digital Media
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