Developing Cross Disciplinary

CollaborationsFIE 2011

Robin S. Adams, Ruth A. Streveler

Purdue University

Pre-workshop survey

Please assign a code (numbers or words) you will use to on both pre- and post-workshop surveys (so we can match your two responses)

Workshop Objectives Translate research ideas and interests into everyday language that can engage and excite potential collaborators

Identify expertise needs and communities for finding potential collaborators

Describe strategies for making the most of first “cultural” exchanges in developing cross-disciplinary research collaborations.

Workshop metaphor: “Want ad”

We’re going to use a “want ad” as a tool to help you identify

future collaborators outside of your field of expertise, effectively

communicate your project to them, and prepare you for your first “cultural” exchange with

your new collaborators

First: What are your experiences?

Think – Pair - Share

What is stopping you from looking for collaborators outside your area of expertise?

What experiences have you had in finding collaborators?

What are some of your lessons learned?

From our own experiences…

Rejection (ouch)– They don’t have time– This isn’t a priority for them– Not clear what is in it for them– Can’t understand the project

Didn’t know where to look or how to get started

Found someone – but collaboration was “complicated” (different language, methods, ideas about evidence, values)

From our own experiences…

This is about learning… Nothing ventured, nothing gained– Don’t be afraid to talk to someone– Engage them in a conversation about their

work

Focus on developing a relationship– Find ways to spend time together, to get to

know each other– Describe how their work is helping you with

your own work– Become a resource for each other – mutual

benefits– Be clear about what you want so you can use

their time well

From our own experiences…

This is about learning…

Find pragmatic start points– Link to a local resource where can meet

face to face– Is there a student of theirs you can fund?– Can you do a pilot to get to know each

other?– Be willing to give it the time it needs

Cycle 1 – Look inward. How to talk about your own stuff with a wider audience.

Cycle 2 – Look outward. What do YOU want in a collaborator?

Cycle 3 - Finding communities. Knowing where to go to find these people.

Cycle 4 – What do you do when they answer the ad? Preparing for your first “cultural” exchange

Looking inward

How to talk about your own stuff with a wider audience. – Identify characteristics of effective

ways to communicate your research (examples from Stanford I-RITE)

– Craft a short statement for you “want ad”

–Use members of the workshop who are not in your same discipline to get feedback about your statements.

What do you notice in these examples?

“Tuning the crystal morphology and size of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 in aqueous

solution by surfactantsYichang Pan, Dodi Heryadi, Feng Zhou, Lan Zhao, Gabriella Lestari,

Haibin Su and Zhiping Lai CrystEngComm, 2011

Herein we report a facile synthesis method using surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a capping agent for controlling the crystal size and morphology of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) crystals in aqueous systems. The particle sizes can be precisely adjusted from ca. 100 nm to 4 μm, and the morphology can be changed from truncated cubic to rhombic dodecahedron.

Why Are Jet Airplanes So Loud?Daniel Bodony, Aeronautics & Astronautics, Stanford University, May 2001

People living near a major airport know that when an airplane flies overhead, the noise created is loud enough to rattle dishes and wake them up. My research attempts to develop a method to predict the noise so that quieter engines can be designed. A big problem in reducing airplane noise is that it is very expensive and time consuming to experimentally test an airplane, determine its noise, and correct the design if necessary. Computers are beginning to show promise in predicting airplane noise by simulating some air motion around an airplane and/or its engines, but they do not yet have enough capability to simulate the entire airplane and its engines. Instead, individual components of the airplane are simulated, such as the jet engine exhaust, and examined in detail. Even at this simplified level, today's computers are not fast enough and big enough to simulate realistic conditions. To account for this, computer models, similar to those used in meteorology, are used to simplify the calculation and make it feasible to solve relatively simple problems. My research focuses on creating a model that can help predict the noise generated by jet engine exhaust, making it easier to incorporate design changes, thus saving time and money and allowing quieter jets to be produced.

Communicating across “differences”

Important things to notice: People are “different” (language, styles of

communicating, values, methods) How you communicate is based on your assumptions

about your “audience”

Attending to “communicating across differences” What looks like “everyday language” to you, looks like

“jargon” to someone else You have to educate others to understand your work

(e.g., use examples) You need to connect to “where they are coming from” This takes practice…it’s more difficult than you think

Creating a “want ad”

Think of a project in which you would like to collaborate with someone outside your field of expertise

In your want ad you need to describe your project–What will be the name of the project?–What are 3-5 statements to describe the

project?

Feedback

Find a partner Constructive feedback– Clear– Specific - avoid general comments and

clarify pronouns such as “it”, “that”, etc.– Provides specific examples and

suggestions for improvement– Provide positive reinforcement

Rewrite…

Cycle 1 – Look inward. How to talk about your own stuff with a wider audience.

Cycle 2 – Look outward. What do YOU want in a collaborator?

Cycle 3 - Finding communities. Knowing where to go to find these people.

Cycle 4 – What do you do when they answer the ad? Preparing for your first “cultural” exchange

Look outward

What do YOU want in a collaborator? –Where does your expertise end?–What types of help do you need?–What are qualities you are looking for?–What are the benefits to the

collaborator?

Add to your “want ad”

Feedback

Find a partner Constructive feedback– Clear– Specific - avoid general comments and

clarify pronouns such as “it”, “that”, etc.– Provides specific examples and

suggestions for improvement– Provide positive reinforcement

Rewrite…

Cycle 1 – Look inward. How to talk about your own stuff with a wider audience.

Cycle 2 – Look outward. What do YOU want in a collaborator?

Cycle 3 - Finding communities. Knowing where to go to find these people.

Cycle 4 – What do you do when they answer the ad? Preparing for your first “cultural” exchange

Where might you post your “want

ad”?Think – Pair - Share

Where to place your “want ad” Intentional serendipity – chance comes to the

prepared mind

Identify local expertise• Be a sleuth: Walk around the hallways, read notices,

what kinds of work do they do in that program?– Get around: Get on seminar notices for programs on

campus– Go to a hub: Is there a teaching and learning center

than can point you in a direction?– Use your network: Are there engineering education

people you can talk to?– Ask questions: Who are the “connectors” – the people

who know other people and connect people?

Some useful resources

• GEECS website (updated frequently): http://engineeringeducationlist.pbworks.com/w/page/27610854/Engineering%20Education%20Communities%20and%20Societies

Cycle 1 – Look inward. How to talk about your own stuff with a wider audience.

Cycle 2 – Look outward. What do YOU want in a collaborator?

Cycle 3 - Finding communities. Knowing where to go to find these people.

Cycle 4 – What do you do when they answer the ad? Preparing for your first “cultural” exchange

So…someone answered your

“want ad”…Strategies to make the most of your first cross-disciplinary “cultural”

exchange

What does the research say…

“you talk different” – iterative communication process

Be a learner AND an educator – engage in self-directed learning process

What does the research say…

Build trust, shared ownership – create common ground–Respect difficulty of their training–Honor alternative ways of knowing,

no way is better than the otherEngage in critical reflection on your own beliefs, be open to new ways of thinking

Your first “cultural exchange”

Practice “getting to know someone”– Opening statements– Follow up on words that are unfamiliar to

you– Educate others about what you do (in

everyday language)– Look for common ground, shared interests,

passions

Practice your want ad – Does it spark interest?

If time remains

One-on-one consultation with participants.

Post-workshop survey

Thank you NSFDUE 0817461