The PRISM Seminar on Interdisciplinary Research and Sustainability was an event for postgraduate students interested in interdisciplinary research related to sustainability. The event was held on 10th February 2010 at Park Campus in the University of Gloucestershire. It brought together numerous postgraduate students from various universities and research centres. The participants’ diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and research interests proved valuable for the discussions, raising the various aspects of interdisciplinary research in sustainability; from the physical and technical aspects such as green construction and carbon reduction plans, to the educational aspects such as embedding sustainability into the educational system and exploring social learning in sustainability, to the human dimensions of sustainability and the links to health and well-being.
Dr Jenneth Parker from the University of Bristol was the seminar's facilitator, adding invaluable insight into the main framework and challenges of interdisciplinary research in sustainability, and highlighting necessary skills development for identifying and using adequate research and methodological tools. Dr. Parker also managed to effectively generate dialogue among the participants on their different perceptions on the topic and the challenges they were facing undertaking such inter-disciplinary research.
In addition, three interesting presentations from postgraduate research students at different stages of their study provided concrete examples of the process of interdisciplinary research, with focus on the methodologies used and the challenges faced at different levels of study.
This seminar proved very interesting and useful for providing a forum for post-graduate researchers to; (a) discuss their research in terms of concept and methodology, (b) learn about similar studies being conducted in the sustainability field, and (c) establish & maintain connections and contacts with other researchers in the field. Similar events in the future would further expand the scope and dimensions of interdisciplinary research in sustainability. All the participants agreed on the benefits of this seminar and were looking forward to similar events in the future.
Mona Zoghbi, PhD Student
If you would like to join the PRISM network either go to www.jiscmail.ac.uk and join the PRISM list or email either PRISM@jiscmail.ac.uk or Glenn Strachan at gstrachan@glos.ac.uk