University of North Texas Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity (Denton, Texas)
University of North Texas Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity
Denton, Texas
Website: http://www.csid.unt.edu/
Mission Statement
CSID conducts research into the theory and practice of inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to knowledge. Interdisciplinary centers focused on a particular theme or problem are common; CSID is the first center devoted to developing a philosophy of interdisciplinarity.
CSID is concerned with two overall themes: the development of the philosophy of interdisciplinarity, and the dedisciplining and interdisciplining of philosophy. In the first task, a much-bandied term is explored in terms of the changing nature of knowledge production today. Disciplines grew into our main means for managing knowledge in parallel with the development of the modern research university. Both assumed the compartmentalizing of knowledge, a system breaking down today.
In the second, the disciplining of philosophy and the humanities is treated as an ontological mistake. Perhaps the sciences can be disciplined, although ecological approaches to knowledge strongly suggest the limits of that. But the humanities are inherently anti-disciplinary in nature. They depend on questioning, redrawing, and erasing boundaries. A disciplined philosophy, where philosophers work primarily with other philosophers, is no philosophy at all.
Issue Areas – Action Issues
CSID research into interdisciplinarity is conducted via case studies, an approach we call ‘field philosophy‘.
Our work at the University of North Texas forms one set of case studies, which include:
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The CSID Fellows Program
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Graduate Fellows Program
Beyond campus, our work includes
- The Philosophy of Peer Review (e.g. CAPR and our work on NSF’s Broader Impact Criterion)
- INIT–the International Network of Inter- and Transdisciplinarity
- PIN–Philosophy of/as Interdisciplinarity Network
And a number of publications, such as the Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity.
Student Name and Class Year: Jordan M. Kincaid, MS ’13
Relevant blog posts:
- Science Progress publicizes study of beliefs about hydraulic fracturing for natural gas
- *Fracking survey* – Make sure your beliefs about hydraulic fracturing for natural gas are counted!
- A letter to the Denton City Council
- Is Denton fracked?
- When in RoME…
- All roads lead to RoME
If you are interested in getting in touch with this student/alum, please contact Caroline Ramaley, [email protected]
