Interdisciplinary
In simple and concise terms, many dictionaries and scientific sources agree to define the term Interdisciplinary as an area that combines two branches of knowledge. The Oxford Dictionary, for example, defines “Interdisciplinary as relating to more than one branch of knowledge.”
A number of researchers (Newell & Green, 1982, p. 24) define this term as: “specialized area of knowledge which critically draws upon two or more disciplines and which leads to an integration of disciplinary insight”. It may seem obvious that interdisciplinary studies would involve the integration of disciplinary materials or insights, but considerable misunderstanding exists on this point among purported interdisciplinarians themselves-a fact which has resulted in the overuse and misuse of the term.
Interdisciplinary relations have affected modern human knowledge, be it at the level of knowledge production in general, or at the level of advancing new solutions to problems that could not be solved when dealt with from one limited and narrow knowledge portal. This could be added to the skills generated by the interrelationship between sciences and what it offers to researchers and intellectuals acting in different fields of knowledge. Interdisciplinary relations between disparate disciplines are of a remarkable importance in modern human knowledge, because of their contributions to the rapid development in the distinct fields of knowledge, scientific research and its methods. The interrelationship between social sciences and other sciences in modern times is one of the modern trends in the fields of university education and scientific research which has begun to renew its characteristics and review its traditional approaches; these are unable to provide explanations and solutions to some complex social problems. Therefore, social sciences have recently moved to interact and collaborate with other sciences in order to solve many contemporary social and humanitarian problems.
Social sciences interests in interdisciplinary scientific approaches has evolved as a product of human thought in interrelationship with other sciences, and since the social aspect in other fields of science has become recognized and sometimes necessary. Many instances can exemplify this case. For example, medicine is not limited to diagnosing physiological factors and diseases treatment solely, but again to taking social and psychological factors into account, and many social and human sciences look at the physiological aspects as they often affect the level of social performance, mental health or individuals’ social relationships. Consequently, there is a continuous confluence between the two fields, but this does not diminish from their distinctiveness because they are separate areas of knowledge.
Social and human sciences need for numbers, ratios and mathematical equations is indispensable to understanding trends and responses and turning them into indicators through which accurate plans can be drawn up to solve problems. At the same time, there will be no place for ‘mute’ figures unless they contribute to humanitarian and theoretical explanations and relate them to the societal reality through social statistics. The same applies to the science of biomechanics which is co-developed by the science of physical education, mechanical engineering and physiotherapy. The study of economics can, for instance, tackle the phenomenon of desertification in terms of its impact on the level of production and national income. In sociology, it deals with its influence on social relations and prevailing culture. Geography studies it as a geographical phenomenon, while psychology analyzes its impact on the behavior of individuals. Hence, it is a phenomenon that calls the attention of economic, social, psychological, geographical and environmental sciences all at once.
The interdependence and synergy between sciences in general and social sciences with other sciences in particular, has deepened if compared to the past. There is no doubt that social sciences continuous pursuit in order to develop new scientific curricula and invent modern techniques in testing, measurement and investigation, is ensured to move away from the traditional patterns of classical knowledge leading the human phenomenon to go beyond the specificity of the subject to eventually interact with other fields of knowledge.
The current reality in many international universities today is indicative of advanced steps that reflect interest in the interrelationship between sciences in the form of academic programs and departments. It is, more importantly, manifested in institutes and colleges at international universities in the United States of America, for instance, as in Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon, Illinois, Southern California, College of William & Mary at Williamsburg, and ancient prestige’s Japanese universities such as the University of Tokyo, the University of Osaka, and at British universities, such as Glasgow University, Essex University, and the University of Manchester.
The list of universities and colleges interested in interdisciplinary programs is actually long; these are but a few instances. Another example of this interest in inter-sciences relations in the global academic community today is the emergence of a number of scientific associations, unions and journals on inter-sciences relations in different regions of the world, as it will be indicated in the coming sections of this chapter. Universities and research centers around the world also hold ongoing conferences on this subject.
In the Arab world, interest and activities in the interrelationship between sciences is still limited to some programs within one college or between colleges. To the best of my knowledge, this subject matter did not exceed this level, which is mainly related to individual initiatives and to some academic leaders’ personal convictions.
In the future, Arab universities need to go beyond individual or fragmented initiatives to reach institutional initiatives and regular projects that have the appropriate visions and clarity to promote the concept interdisciplinary and its applications in the form of ongoing study programs or research projects to obtain a better academic qualification on the one hand, and to provide more comprehensive and powerful scientific solutions to multidimensional societal problems on the other.
In the Arab academic institutions, we also need better convictions to overcome the fragmentation of knowledge and sciences that reflects a picture of isolated and unconnected islands. We need to bring sciences closer to each other and to transcend the desire to control the sciences to which we belong. More than that, we need to surmount easy personal questions when thinking about linking our knowledge to other sciences, such as: who runs the program? Who issues the certificate? Will the names of our departments remain when new programs are created? And some other similar narrowed and closed minded questions.
These questions need to be more profound and forward-looking if we want to achieve a prospective university education and a qualitative scientific research that reflects this interrelationship of knowledge and sciences and offers interdisciplinary programs.