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Breaking down disciplinary silos? In search of interdisciplinary integration in postgraduate agroecosystems research

Sandro Luis Schlindwein

Kybernetes

ISSN: 0368-492X

Article publication date: 18 June 2024

32

Abstract

Purpose

Interdisciplinary inquiry has been increasingly adopted to address issues of growing complexity in the biophysical and social sciences, as for example in agricultural research and rural development. The purpose of this article is to trace the origins of a Postgraduate Programme in Agroecosystems (PGA) in Brazil in order to discuss how its interdisciplinary practices have been enacted and epistemologically and institutionally constrained in just over 25 years of teaching and research activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptualized as a systemic inquiry, the study reported here builds upon participant observation, empirical evidence and literature-based analysis.

Findings

Some of the academic features of the PGA introduced to facilitate interdisciplinary integration are presented and discussed, as well as their main challenges and obstacles, notably those emerging from “disciplinary imperialism” hindering individuals to work towards interdisciplinary inquiry and collaborative learning.

Originality/value

Raising epistemological awareness and building systems literacy are critical aspects to be addressed to foster the embodiment of interdisciplinary inquiry practices. This might also lead to new understandings and to new and productive forms of joint teaching and research practices, fostering interdisciplinary integration.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

To Fabiana Dassoler from PGA’s administrative office for her help with information about the Programme, and to Maria Jose Hötzel, Luiz Renato D’Agostini, Alfredo Celso Fantini and Sergio Roberto Martins for their helpful comments and suggestions. I also want to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments to improve the manuscript.

Citation

Schlindwein, S.L. (2024), "Breaking down disciplinary silos? In search of interdisciplinary integration in postgraduate agroecosystems research", Kybernetes, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-11-2023-2421

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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