In the face of intersecting crises—climate change, energy injustice, and mobility inequities—the need for interdisciplinary collaboration has never been greater. Yet, moving beyond fragmented, disciplinary silos is not just an exercise in working together, rather it is an epistemological and political challenge.

This blog draws from the Cross-fertilisation: A dialogue aid for SSH and STEM researchers, authored by Alevgul H. Sorman from BC3, one of the SSH CENTRE partners. The document is a result of the SSH CENTRE project’s interdisciplinary collaboration among SSH and STEM researchers, and combines insights from our three-volume book collection on climate, energy, and mobility policy. The Dialogue Aid aims to help researchers navigate interdisciplinary challenges by blending SSH and STEM methods, enriching problem definitions, and integrating technical evaluations with social and policy implications.

📌 Read the full document here: Cross-fertilisation: A dialogue aid for SSH and STEM researchers

What is Cross-Fertilisation and Why Does It Matter?

Cross-fertilisation involves the deliberate mixing of disciplines, voices, and worldviews to seed new ways of knowing and acting in the face of intersecting crises. It is a gradual and intentional process marked by productive tensions that arise from encounters across disciplinary boundaries. Reflexivity, openness, and mutual learning form the foundation of this epistemic exchange and the co-creation of knowledge.

The SSH CENTRE Experiment in Cross-Fertilisation

Over the past three years, the SSH CENTRE project has actively experimented with cross-fertilising knowledge across disciplines, particularly through the collaborative efforts of 29 chapter contributors in our three-volume policy-focused book series on energy, climate, and mobility.

This cross-fertilisation took place at three interconnected levels:

  • Within each chapter team, composed of at least four members—intentionally balanced evenly between SSH and STEM researchers—to foster genuine interdisciplinary collaboration from the outset.
  • Across the thematic focus areas of each volume, energy, climate, and mobility, ensuring integrated perspectives on systemic challenges.
  • Through the collective impact of the three-volume series, offering actionable policy recommendations to support the European Commission’s strategies, particularly in advancing the EU Green Deal.

Interdisciplinarity in Action: A Collective Learning Experience

One of the most generative moments came through a collective reflective session in a virtual symposium. Rather than treating the chapters as isolated units, contributors collectively reflected on the intertwined challenges of energy, climate, and mobility. But they also explored a deeper question:

💡 How do we activate these ideas in research, practice, and policy?

This session was more than just a stocktaking exercise. It became a space to listen, reflect, and critically engage with one another’s perspectives—opening pathways for deeper understanding and shared learning.

 

A collective brainstorming session during the virtual symposium

Bringing Diverse Voices into the Conversation

Throughout this interdisciplinary journey, SSH CENTRE has featured expert voices in video discussions, highlighting rich perspectives from both SSH and STEM backgrounds. The video series begins with an introductory video by Alevgul H. Sorman (BC3), setting the stage for cross-fertilisation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Following this introduction, five key contributors bring their insights on navigating disciplinary boundaries, reflecting on tensions, and sharing lessons learned:

🎥 Featured Contributors:

  • Ami Crowther – Anglia Ruskin University, UK
  • Imre Keseru – Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
  • Gabriele Gaffuri – EERA – European Energy Research Alliance, Belgium
  • Sara Heidenreich – Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Norway
  • Luciano D’Andrea – Knowledge and Innovation, Italy

💡 The links to these video discussions are integrated within the publication, offering firsthand reflections on the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary research.

Beyond Methods: The Ethics of Interdisciplinary Work

In research domains that are socially embedded and value-laden, such as energy, mobility, and climate, interdisciplinarity is not optional—it is foundational. Technological solutions alone cannot respond adequately to normative issues unless informed by a plurality of perspectives.

Thus, the real value of interdisciplinarity lies in fostering epistemic justice—ensuring that multiple ways of knowing are acknowledged, respected, and woven into knowledge production. This shift calls for a move away from extractive research towards co-creative practices that honour diverse voices.

The Path Forward: Cross-Fertilisation for Systemic Change

Ultimately, cross-fertilisation is not a neutral or passive process. It requires intentionality, reflexivity, and discomfort, shifting interdisciplinary work from being just a methodological tool to an ethical and political commitment.

Rather than dissolving disciplinary boundaries, the goal is to navigate them with purpose, turning potential barriers into bridges for transformative research and policy impact.