Convergence of the life sciences with fields including physical, chemical, mathematical, computational, engineering, and social sciences is a key strategy to tackle complex challenges and achieve new and innovative solutions. However, institutions face a lack of guidance on how to establish effective programs, what challenges they are likely to encounter, and what strategies other organizations have used to address the issues that arise. This advice is needed to harness the excitement generated by the concept of convergence and channel it into the policies, structures, and networks that will enable it to realize its goals.

Convergence investigates examples of organizations that have established mechanisms to support convergent research. This report discusses details of current programs, how organizations have chosen to measure success, and what has worked and not worked in varied settings. The report summarizes the lessons learned and provides organizations with strategies to tackle practical needs and implementation challenges in areas such as infrastructure, student education and training, faculty advancement, and inter-institutional partnerships.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE ON KEY CHALLENGE AREAS FOR CONVERGENCE AND HEALTH
• BOARD ON LIFE SCIENCES
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Summary
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • NATIONAL COORDINATION IS NEEDED
• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION IS OCCURRING
  • 1.2 CONVERGENCE IS AN EXPANDED FORM OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
  • 1.3 CONVERGENT THINKING IS ADVANCING SCIENCE
  • 1.4 INSTITUTIONS NEED GUIDANCE TO FOSTER CONVERGENCE EFFECTIVELY
  • 1.5 ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT
• 2. Convergence in Action
  • 2.1 A KNOWLEDGE NETWORK WILL IMPROVE DISEASE TREATMENT
  • 2.2 THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTING WILL BRING NEW HEALTHCARE OPTIONS
  • 2.3 CONVERGENCE OCCURS IN FEDERAL AGENCIES: ARPA-E
  • 2.4 CONVERGENCE OCCURS IN INDUSTRY: BIOTECHNOLOGY
  • 2.5 CONVERGENCE STIMULATES THE BIOBASED ECONOMY
• 3. Convergence Is Informed by Research Areas with Broad Scope
  • 3.1 TERMINOLOGY AND CONCEPTS
  • 3.2 MANY FACTORS AFFECT THE SUCCESS OF INTEGRATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
  • 3.3 REVISING STEM EDUCATION WILL FACILITATE CONVERGENCE
  • 3.4 CONVERGENCE MAY CONTRIBUTE TO UNDERSTANDING QUANTIFICATION AND REPRODUCIBILITY IN LIFE SCIENCES
  • 3.5 CONVERGENCE EXTENDS BEYOND THE INTEGRATION OF LIFE SCIENCES, PHYSICAL SCIENCES, MEDICINE, AND ENGINEERING
• 4. Fostering Convergence in Organizations: Challenges and Strategies
  • 4.1 CONVERGENCE IS FACILITATED BY DEPTH AND BREADTH OF EXPERTISE
  • 4.2 DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES SUPPORT INNOVATION
  • 4.3 CONVERGENCE REQUIRES A CULTURE AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURES
  • 4.4 CONVERGENCE INTERSECTS WITH FACULTY STRUCTURES AND REWARD SYSTEMS
  • 4.5 FACILITIES AND WORKSPACES CAN BE DESIGNED FOR CONVERGENT RESEARCH
  • 4.6 NEW EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS CAN BE DEVELOPED TO FOSTER CONVERGENCE
  • 4.7 CONVERGENCE RELIES ON EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS
  • 4.8 SUSTAINABLE FUNDING IS NECESSARY FOR CONVERGENCE EFFORTS
  • 4.9 THE CONVERGENCE ECOSYSTEM INCLUDES CORE ELEMENTS
• 5. Advancing Knowledge and Solving Complex Problems Through Convergence: Conclusions and Recommendations
  • 5.1 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
  • 5.2 NATIONAL COORDINATION IS NEEDED
• References
• APPENDIXES
  • A Committee Member Biographies
  • B Workshop on Key Challenges in the Implementation of Convergence: Agenda and Participants

This project was supported by the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Science Fund of the National Academy of Sciences, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the Kavli Foundation, Research Corporation for Science Advancement, the National Science Foundation through grant PHY-1353249, the National Institutes of Health through award HHSN263201200074I/HHSN26300047, TO#47, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science of North Carolina State University, the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Connecticut. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

Suggested citation:

NRC (National Research Council). 2014. Convergence: Facilitating Transdisciplinary Integration of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Beyond. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.