Policies and Politics of Interdisciplinary Research: Nanomedicine in France and in the United States

Interdisciplinary research centers are growing in universities, but this book challenges the conventional views that disciplines form separate siloes and that interdisciplinary research has no intrinsic virtue. It argues that disciplines are flexible entities whose evolution supports the long-term institutionalization of interdisciplinary science and that interdisciplinary research depends on political support and cooperation between stakeholders. The book will appeal to scholars of sociology, science and technology studies, and science policy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Interdisciplinary research centers are flourishing in almost every university, and interdisciplinary research is expected to be a panacea for the ills of academic science. Do disciplines still matter? To what extent are interdisciplinary problem-solving approaches driven by socioeconomic stakeholders and policymakers rather than by academics? And how is interdisciplinarity organized? Through an in-depth sociological study of the development of nanomedicine in France and in the United States – an area that combines nanotechnology and biomedical research – this book challenges two conventional views of interdisciplinary research and academic disciplines. First, disciplines do not merely form separate siloes that hinder the development of interdisciplinary research: rather, they are flexible entities whose evolution supports the long-term institutionalization of interdisciplinary science in French and US academia. Secondly, interdisciplinary research has no intrinsic virtue: its ability to respond to societal issues and advance knowledge depends on continued political support and long-term cooperation between stakeholders. Interdisciplinarity might also be threatened by oversold promises and struggles for recognition. A study of the many challenges facing the formation of creative and sustainable interdisciplinary scientific communities, The Policies and Politics of Interdisciplinary Research tackles vivid debates among academics and research managers and will appeal to scholars of sociology, science and technology studies, and science policy.

Interdisciplinary research centers are flourishing in almost every university, and interdisciplinary research is expected to be a panacea for the ills of academic science. Do disciplines still matter? To what extent are interdisciplinary problem-solving approaches driven by socioeconomic stakeholders and policymakers rather than by academics? And how is interdisciplinarity organized? Through an in-depth sociological study of the development of nanomedicine in France and in the United States – an area that combines nanotechnology and biomedical research – this book challenges two conventional views of interdisciplinary research and academic disciplines. First, disciplines do not merely form separate siloes that hinder the development of interdisciplinary research: rather, they are flexible entities whose evolution supports the long-term institutionalization of interdisciplinary science in French and US academia. Secondly, interdisciplinary research has no intrinsic virtue: its ability to respond to societal issues and advance knowledge depends on continued political support and long-term cooperation between stakeholders. Interdisciplinarity might also be threatened by oversold promises and struggles for recognition. A study of the many challenges facing the formation of creative and sustainable interdisciplinary scientific communities, The Policies and Politics of Interdisciplinary Research tackles vivid debates among academics and research managers and will appeal to scholars of sociology, science and technology studies, and science policy.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 161 x 241 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367192433