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Interdisciplinary work is that which integrates concepts across different disciplines. New disciplines have
arisen as a result of such syntheses. For instance, quantum information processing amalgamates elements of quantum physics and computer science.
Bioinformatics combines molecular biology with computer science. An interdisciplinary team is a team of people with training in different fields. Interdisciplinary teams are common in complex
environments such as health care.
A few traditional disciplines could be considered as more interdisciplinary than others: philosophy, anthropology, mathematics, business, education, ecology, and history among others. Some other, newer fields, such as cybernetics and systems theory, are also highly
interdisciplinary. All disciplines have important connections with other disciplines, however.
Factors that, arguably, have hindered interdisciplinary work are the traditional divisions that have been established between
disciplines and the resulting homogeneity within academic bodies such as departments and specialized academic journals. Nevertheless, some of the most important
interdisciplinary work has been done by people who have a definite "academic home" in one discipline.
Here are a few of the most important concepts that are arguably interdisciplinary, thus finding applications in several
different fields:
Interdisciplinarity terms
See also
Highly interdisciplinary fields (see also: Category:Interdisciplinary fields)
External links
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