Disciplinary, Interdisciplinary, Multidisciplinary and Transdisciplinary

DISCIPLINARY, INTERDISCIPLINARY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY

by Anton Antonio

April 4, 2015

Why do you suppose environmental science is referred to as an academic discipline that is also interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary?  Wouldn’t this characteristic make environmental science transcending (meaning: be or go beyond the range or limits of something abstract; typically a conceptual field or division) and, perhaps, at the same time vague?

To understand the relationship and difference of these academic terms, let us consider their meaning and definition:

1. DISCIPLINARY relates to a specific field of academic study, a branch of learning or one branch of learning.
2. INTERDISCIPLINARY relates to more than one branch of knowledge, learning or academic study.  These academic disciplines are combined into one complimentary academic activity.  The term interdisciplinary is applied within education and training pedagogies (meaning: the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept) to describe studies that use methods and insights of several established disciplines or traditional fields of study.
3. MULTIDISCIPLINARY is combining or involving several academic disciplines or professional specialization in an approach to an academic topic, subject or problem.  It also involves drawing appropriately from multiple disciplines to redefine problems outside of normal boundaries and reach solutions based on a new understanding of complex situations.
4. TRANSDISCIPLINARY is a term that is closely related to “interdisciplinary”.  Both terms are used interchangeably.  However, transdisciplinary, in research, is defined as a research activity conducted by investigators/researchers from different discipline working jointly to create new conceptual, theoretical, methodological, and translational innovations that integrate and move beyond discipline-specific approaches to address a common and shared problem.

The study of the environment and natural resources management transcends most disciplines or branches of science.  Everything being studies on earth has something to do with the environment.  It is for this reason why environmental science is disciplinary, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/)