Fostering Multidisciplinary Research for Sustainability

Book excerpt: Modern research goes beyond disciplinary horizons for devising solutions to the society’s most pressing unsolved issues. Within the disciplinary framework, the ability to solve problems through the generation of knowledge is no more addressed from discipline-specific points of view only. However, it has become apparent that the research needed to address today’s complex problems requires the expertise of many disciplines. Multidisciplinary approach incorporates a combination of concepts and knowledge from various disciplines. These contributions enable the exchange of knowledge and experiences from diverse groups of people that can promote a holistic vision of a subject, as well as new explanatory theories. Being multidisciplinary does not mean giving up skills—it means moving into new scientific directions using one’s own special set of skills. Rather than being an end in itself, this kind of research is a way of achieving innovative goals, enriched understanding, and a synergy of new methods. The book highlights, the diverse perspectives of the researchers across disciplines from sustainable urban development to renewable energy strategies, from biodiversity conservation to equitable machine learning, internet of things, deep learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, eco-friendly methods, individualized education plans, and social policies that can contribute to more comprehensive and effective solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues, while acknowledging that sustainability challenges are inherently interconnected hence the importance of inclusivity in research.