Vol. 5, Issue 3

Interdisciplinary research presently assumes great importance due to its role in bringing new insights to the spectrum of knowledge. Further, many research topics are now days interdisciplinary in nature. Interdisciplinary research is a process where the concepts and methods of various discipline are integrated to provide holistic or systematic outcome. The main advantage of interdisciplinary research is the synergy brought into the research process and outcome. Such a kind of integration always creates opportunities for exploring new frontiers of knowledge and newer understanding towards existing realm of knowledge. Thus it is really important to promote cross fertilisation among the disciplines.

The discipline-based research works in a self contained manner with little focus on other disciplines. However, the modern research is diversified in nature, for there is always need to integrate the concepts from other disciplines. Thus the researcher always looks into the other subjects to make research more meaningful and rewarding. Interdisciplinary research can be within social sciences and among various branches or between social, natural, and life sciences. Such integration helps to transfer knowledge from laboratories to the society. Similarly, the social implications of scientific changes can also be conveyed to the scientists and technocrats. Further, the interdisciplinary research overcomes the bottlenecks encountered by single discipline research.

Interdisciplinary research in general has two approaches. The first one aims to enhance the expertise and competence of various disciplines, by broadening their methodology using tools of other disciplines. This type of integration enables us to address new issues in a highly effective manner. The second approach is problem focused and addresses the issues of social, scientific and policy relevance.

The advantages of interdisciplinary research are many. This engages with real world problems, tackle socially relevant issues, and contribute to development of various disciplines and policy making. Thus interdisciplinary researches must be promoted in the centres of higher education. Many universities across world have already opened new centres of interdisciplinary research comprising Bio-informatics, Geo-informatics, Bio-mathematics, indo-Arab culture and Bio-technology, etc. Sharing of knowledge and interlocking the scholarships of various disciplines will produce wonderful ideas in the future academic researches. We hope that there would be more interdisciplinary research outcome from our academicians in the years to come. The council of researches and other statutory bodies of higher education should promote research proposals of interdisciplinary nature in Science, Humanities and Languages. Let the collective effort bring the brightest results in the future.