--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Aiming at interdisciplinarity A key player in the French research strategy, CNRS also uses its extensive expertise across the scientific spectrum to analyze tomorrow’s main international challenges. The Mission for Interdisciplinarity (MI), whose ultimate goal is to support and bolster interdisciplinary work, was set up to promote this cross-functional approach. Fundamental research often needs to meet the conceptual, technological, and industrial challenges that arise from major societal issues, affecting social and economic development. To achieve this, it must continuously draw on new ideas from a wealth of original research around the globe. CNRS is France’s leading multi- and interdisciplinary organization for fundamental research and one of a few to be able to carry out long-term studies on a very large scale thanks to its units, platforms, observation and testing systems across the world. CNRS is a continual driving force within which a multidisciplinary community can be mobilized rapidly to address urgent issues and serious concerns such as natural or man-made catastrophes, nanosciences, or the energy transition, under the auspices of the Mission for Interdisciplinarity. A plethora of ideas and initiatives “In my mind, it is not possible to define interdisciplinary work. Trying to do so would de facto limit its scope. Rather than explain it, we should make it a reality. Our role is to promote and organize it,” says Anne Renault, Director of the Mission for Interdisciplinarity (MI). CNRS Chief Research Officer Joël Bertrand confirms: “The greatest discoveries are often made at the interface between disciplines. As an interdisciplinary institution, CNRS is in an ideal position to support these new initiatives.” This groundbreaking role not only requires particular attention be paid to novel subject areas, but also a commitment to addressing emerging social issues. The Mission devised its strategy during the course of 2012, in collaboration with the rest of CNRS. With a €6 million budget, it helps all players to carry out or support interdisciplinary work within the organization, and specifically the Institutes’ Deputy Scientific Directors who sit on the CNRS Steering Committee. One of the MI’s main challenges is to design concepts and solutions that can only be achieved through cooperation between disciplines. “We either issue calls for tenders in the form of great ‘Challenges’, or we launch more flexible and higher-risk projects called PEPS (First Support Exploratory Projects),” says Anne Renault. “We are tuned in to the important issues of the future and on the lookout for new ideas requiring input from several disciplines,” she adds. Furthermore, the Mission also assists those who perform interdisciplinary work in the field on a daily basis. Finally, it makes proposals and works hand-in-hand with the various entities in charge of managing the careers of CNRS researchers, engineers, and technicians (see box). From “Challenges” to PEPS, interdisciplinarity is everywhere The CNRS “Challenges” program stands out from other initiatives as it relies on the organization’s strengths, namely its academic expertise in the human and social sciences. The “Challenges” span several years – between three and five on average – and may involve more than one partner: industry, schools and universities, regional authorities, government organizations, etc. Five “Challenges” have been underway since 2012: the Nuclear, Energy, Environment, Waste, and Society (NEEDS) program; Perceptual Deficits and Individual Relief (DEFISENS – see box); Large Data Volumes (Mastodons); GENRE Improved identification for increased support ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In early 2012, the Scientific Occupations Observatory launched a survey on the support provided to researchers involved in interdisciplinary work. The objective was to identify them better so as to increase assistance levels. The review was carried out in two phases. The initial phase, now complete, identified various types of interdisciplinary work: cooperation, use of an interface, dissemination or use of methods from other disciplines, or the mobilization of concepts from two distinct disciplines, etc. This was followed by a study of the various paths/routes/avenues leading to interdisciplinary work: recruitment, personal curiosity, collective effort within a laboratory. The last step was to identify potential risks for researchers: disciplinary isolation, hyper technicality, and lack of references. The second phase of the survey will test these indicators in the field through semi-directive interviews with the scientists concerned. 12 A year at CNRS 2012
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