Documentary 1 + 1 = 3
Interdisciplinary collaborations are easier said than done! The complexity of societal challenges requires approaches that cross disciplinary and institutional boundaries. Therefore interdisciplinary research is gaining increasing attention. In this documentary a group of mid-career academics ranging from geologists, to art historians, to medical scientists and beyond, takes you along their interdisciplinary journey. 1+1=3 shows their great enthusiasm, as well as the barriers they encounter. It also shows how some of those are overcome.
You are welcome on the locations and data below, to watch this documentary with colleagues and hear more about these barriers and challenges. The film will last half an hour, after which there will be an opportunity to discuss (your own experience with) interdisciplinary collaboration. Find more data for screenings below.
| Locatie | Datum | Tijd |
| Universiteit Utrecht Alliantiekantoor Vening Meineszgebouw C Princetonlaan 6 3584 CB Utrecht Register here | 14 September | 16 – 17 uur (inloop vanaf 15.30) |
| TU/e Disruptor Meeting Room 0.35 Horsten 1 5612 AX Eindhoven Register here | 21 September | 16 – 17 uur (inloop vanaf 15.30) |
| WUR Plus Ultra 2 gebouw Meeting Room Connect (1.08) Bronland 12 6708 WH Wageningen Register here | 28 September | 16 – 17 uur (inloop vanaf 15.30) |
| UMC Utrecht Blauwe Collegezaal Heidelberglaan 100 3584 CX Utrecht Registration coming soon! | 5 October (UMC Utrecht Research Day) | 18 – 19 uur (inloop vanaf 17.30) |
Recognition and rewards
Many early and mid-career academics feel a drive to extend their curiosity beyond their disciplinary silos. They wish to explore crossover fields and long to collaborate, with other humans and their different perspectives. However, the institutional arrangements in academia are set for competition and high productivity. Academics are primarily recognized and rewarded for specialisation leading to a high level of output. Obviously, this is putting up barriers for researchers wishing to collaborate.
The journey of a research team
In addition, training of academics is directed towards knowing and sending, rather than questioning and listening, both key elements of interdisciplinary research. The documentary gives insight in the journey of a research team that is supported by the alliance TU/e, WUR, UU, UMC Utrecht (EWUU). Despite their enthusiasm and the availability of funding, the group runs into a lack of recognition and reward for their ground-breaking work. And they learn that it takes a specific set skills to make their collaborative work meaningful and effective. 1+1=3 takes you on a journey with this research team and the alliance’ Centre for Unusual Collaborations, to explore barriers as well as ways to overcome them.
Alliance EWUU and Centre for Unusual Collaborations (CUCo)
The Centre for Unusual Collaborations, part of the alliance between Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht, has the mission to facilitate unusual collaborations. Future generations face unprecedented challenges; climate change, resource depletion, socio-economic and health inequalities. Systemic structural transitions are urgently needed. The next big innovations for societal impact are to be found through unusual collaborations in research: through the interactions that push us outside our disciplinary comfort zones, and encourage us to think differently about problems and possibly solutions.