How can you gain from interdisciplinary urban planning research?

1 Benefits for researchers

Interdisciplinary urban planning research can enhance your research skills and outcomes by enabling you to investigate questions and problems that go beyond disciplinary boundaries, as well as learn from and contribute to diverse theories, methods, data, and tools. You can also engage with and communicate to various stakeholders, such as policy makers, practitioners, communities, and the public. Additionally, collaborating with other researchers who have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can challenge and supplement your own assumptions and approaches.

2 Benefits for practitioners

Interdisciplinary urban planning research can be a valuable resource for practitioners, enabling them to access and apply the latest knowledge and evidence from various disciplines and sources that can inform their decisions and actions. It also allows for the adoption of innovative and holistic solutions that address the multiple dimensions and interconnections of urban problems and opportunities. Additionally, practitioners can participate in and influence the production and dissemination of urban planning knowledge and evidence by sharing their expertise, needs, and feedback with researchers. Furthermore, this research can help build and strengthen networks and partnerships with other practitioners, researchers, policy makers, communities, and the public who can support and enhance their work.

3 Challenges and strategies

Interdisciplinary urban planning research can be challenging due to conflicts and misunderstandings between different disciplines, difficulties in finding and accessing data, lack of recognition, and time and resource constraints. To make the most of interdisciplinary research, consider establishing clear goals and expectations with team members, seeking interdisciplinary platforms to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and resources, demonstrating the value of your research to relevant audiences, and planning sufficient time and resources while seeking support from mentors.

4 Examples and resources

To illustrate the potential and diversity of interdisciplinary urban planning research, here are some examples of recent and ongoing projects: the Urban Data Lab at the University of British Columbia, the Future Cities Laboratory at the Singapore-ETH Centre, and the Urban Transitions Hub at the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon. To learn more about interdisciplinary urban planning research, you may find resources such as the Interdisciplinary Urban Research Network, the Handbook of Interdisciplinary Research Methods in Urban Planning, and the Journal of Urban Affairs helpful. These sources provide theories, methods, tools, and challenges for conducting interdisciplinary urban research with examples and case studies from various contexts.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?