APS
Task Force on Interdisciplinary Collaborations
Norman Tolk, chair
Vivien Casagrande
Larry Dowdy
Ron Emeson
Helmut Smith
David Wood
Jose Medina
Joey Barnett
John Braxton, Peabody, external appointment
Leonard Feldman, A&S, external appointment
Vera Kutzinski, A&S, external appointment
Douglas Perkins, Peabody, external appointment
Task Force Charge:
Background: The purpose
of this task force is to ensure that the faculty through the Faculty
Senate has a voice in the ongoing debate in various parts of the University
on best strategies for organizing and promoting transdisciplinary cooperation
in research and teaching. The Vice Chancellors for Academic Affairs
and for Health Affairs are in the process of organizing a series of
faculty seminars on interdisciplinary issues to take place in the immediate
and near future. The VCs’ seminars are to be faculty generated.
Concurrently, the Chancellor has announced his intention of sponsoring
a series of colloquia on interdisciplinarity, as well. The Faculty Senate
has a prime opportunity to contribute to both endeavors by making its
views known and by suggesting two or three faculty seminars that dovetail
with the above-mentioned initiatives but also, quite possibly, go beyond
what has already been envisioned.
Simply put, the Charge to
the Task Force is (1) to suggest two or more transdisciplinary initiatives,
which will contribute to the dialogue on the enhancement of both research
and teaching at Vanderbilt, and (2) make recommendations with regard
to how best to structure transdisciplinary research and teaching on
the Vanderbilt University Campus.
Final report (May 2007)
