ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

Creative approaches to building interdisciplinary connections 

Question: What do you get when you cross a room full of passionate researchers and some LEGO® bricks?  

Answer: New energy and new connections 

On a sunny day in June, about 40 researchers gathered in a room at University Park. But this was no ordinary meeting. This was the first event for of a new network of people who have joined together under the banner of ‘Climate, Environment and Health’. 

What is Climate, Environment and Health?  

‘Climate Environment and Health’ is a key research theme at the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´. The aim is to bring together a diverse range of researchers who are keen to explore and tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time.  

‘Climate’ can refer to climate change, or the past, present or future vision of how to live sustainably. ‘Health’ can include physical and mental health of individuals, groups and communities, as well as the links between human and animal health. And ‘Environment’ can refer to natural resources, physical infrastructures, and span scales from the local to the global. 

At the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´, we realise that each of these three areas is huge. However, we also appreciate that it is becoming increasingly difficult to consider these topics in isolation. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically revealed the close interrelationship between how we manage ecosystems, plan urban environments, and organise healthcare.  

It is therefore vital to clearly identify synergies, or the ways in which these three challenges link. But how can we best do this?   

How can creative methods help?  

Given the scale of the challenges we face, and the depth and breadth of research going on at the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´, we had to find a way to identify and promote shared understanding. Traditional talks or lectures from each participant didn’t seem like the right solution. We therefore used creative methods. 

First, we organised ourselves into small teams and used LEGO® bricks to ‘build our research’, or the research question that we consider the most urgent. By working with something concrete or hands-on, rather than just words or ideas, the idea was that new connections could be made.  By literally watching ideas coming to life in real time, new gaps in knowledge, and new links between disciplines or methodologies were identified.  

Second, the organisers provided a selection of vibrant, colourful images printed onto card. Some images were of objects commonly associated with ‘climate’, ‘environment’ or ‘health’, such as a tree or a medicine. Other images were more abstract. Each workshop participant selected an image that connected to their existing expertise. In small teams, we then used the images to share our research challenges or ambitions. By using images, new links and shared visions for research were identified more quickly.  

What was achieved?  

Most people who attended the event were not experts in creative methods. However, by trying something new, and being open to a different kind of meeting, a sense of solidarity was promoted. For example, participants saw new ways to connect their previous achievements and future research ideas and expressed a renewed energy for research going forward.  

As a group, we were keen to capture and record this positive energy and shared ambition. Thanks to support from the research theme, we were able to work with an artist to produce this image. We will use this a basis for planning future activities, funding applications, and hopefully new and creative ways to tackle some of the most pressing social challenges.