Zalina I; Wan Asim, W.A and Dzulkifli AR. Webcast : Read the Summary

BRAINetwork: Experience in Transdiciplinary Neuroscience Research At Universiti Sains Malaysia

The University as a knowledge-based organisation, must provide evidence-based solutions to a range of social, ethical and material problems. Our emphasis on sustainable development and dependence on science and technology requires that research-based solutions are not limited to a single viewpoint but cut across disciplines. In our University, this need is apparent in the Neurosciences which is seen to "belong" to medicine. The medicalisation of the brain has made it difficult to envision research designs that are responsive to community needs which transcend the discipline of medicine.

To address this issue, BRAINetwork initiated a collaboration in fundamental and translational brain research involving humanities and the sciences. Our problem was that transdisciplinarity had to thrive within the context of a discipline-based academia and a mindset that had difficulty in finding a framework within which to conceptualise transdisciplinarity. Our ally was the commitment of the university in promoting transdisciplinarity and our strategy was to increase awareness and develop programmes to bridge this psychological gap.

A study after 18 months indicated that researchers were aware of transdisciplinarity but still assessed achievements within their discipline. Tensions were detected between scientific methodology and the philosophical viewpoint of the humanities. This required a reassessment of strategy with a focus on community outreach programmes as well. Since community needs are always transdisciplinary, BRAINetwork now aims to let desired community outcomes drive the process Toward transdisciplinarity in brain research.