The labour of thought: reflections on interdisciplinarity in practice

In this reflective article we explore interdisciplinarity in practice. We begin from the position that interdisciplinary work provides great potential and acknowledge that it has become increasingly visible in discussions on the role that research can play to answer complex questions. By definition, interdisciplinarity transcends academic silos and enriches knowledge by integrating frameworks, methods and approaches across diverse disciplines. However, as our reflections identify, interdisciplinary can be a complicated, complex endeavour that requires careful thought. For instance, it is a non-trivial endeavour to find a common language, build coherent teams or gain a shared understanding of research problems - all of which is required for truly interdisciplinary work. It is important, therefore, to understand the labour of thought involved in conducting interdisciplinary work and achieving effective interdisciplinary collaboration. This article brings together the reflections of six early career researchers from a diverse range of disciplines. In this article we explore both the theoretical challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary research, as well as the practical application of this work. The impetus for this work comes from a British Academy Early Career Researcher Network event in September 2024 where we discussed the relevance of interdisciplinary research to ECRs.