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From Astrophysics to Unconventional Computation pp 337–362Cite as

Complex Systems of Knowledge Integration: A Pragmatic Proposal for Coordinating and Enhancing Inter/Transdisciplinarity

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Part of the book series: Emergence, Complexity and Computation ((ECC,volume 35))

Abstract

Humanity’s biggest challenges call for organised collective action, informed by the most complex forms of thinking. Different forms of knowledge and practices of knowing operate at different levels of organisation within society. Scientific knowledge is one form of knowing, but the development of science under a culture of disciplinisation and increasing specialisation has led to its fragmentation and blinded it to the possibilities offered by the integration of knowledge. Interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity are privileged routes for rich knowledge construction and integration. There is a pressing need for efforts directed toward the intentional construction of a culture where interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary practices may flourish. However, we believe significant change will only occur through the orchestration of a set of activities that attend to the complexity of knowledge construction and integration as emergent outcomes of a complex network of processes and relations that constitute an evolving inter and transdisciplinary ecosystem. In this paper we present a proposal for the organisation of an Alliance for Knowledge Integration and of Inter/Transdisciplinary Hubs aimed at coordinating collaborative actions and contributions from a diversity of agents and systems from different levels of organisation of society towards richer and more integrated practices of knowing.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Prof. Susan Stepney, from the York Cross-Disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis of the University of York for the many enriching and stimulating conversations that have supported us and provided the motivation for the development of the ideas presented in this paper.

The first author was funded by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (REF DL57/2016/CP1341/CT0011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colégio de S. Jerónimo, Largo D. Dinis, Apartado 3087, 3000-995, Coimbra, Portugal

    Ana Teixeira de Melo

  2. Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Ana Teixeira de Melo

  3. Apartado 2001, EC Praia da Granja, 4410-911, São Félix da Marinha, Portugal

    Leo Simon Dominic Caves

  4. York Cross-disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5GE, UK

    Leo Simon Dominic Caves

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  1. Ana Teixeira de Melo
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  2. Leo Simon Dominic Caves
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Correspondence to Ana Teixeira de Melo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unconventional Computing Laboratory, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

    Andrew Adamatzky

  2. Joint Quantum Centre, Durham University, Durham, UK

    Vivien Kendon

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de Melo, A.T., Caves, L.S.D. (2020). Complex Systems of Knowledge Integration: A Pragmatic Proposal for Coordinating and Enhancing Inter/Transdisciplinarity. In: Adamatzky, A., Kendon, V. (eds) From Astrophysics to Unconventional Computation. Emergence, Complexity and Computation, vol 35. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15792-0_14

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