The Collaboratory (aka CoLab) is an interdisciplinary collective of scholars, led by Dr. Kathryn Plaisance, working together to study collaboration and knowledge flow across disciplines. Our members include collaborators from across Canada and the U.S., representing philosophy, rhetoric, writing studies, psychology, sociology, biology, science and technology studies (STS), and interdisciplinary studies.
Our research examines how collaborations start, what types of challenges arise, the ways collaborators address those challenges, and the benefits of bringing together diverse perspectives. We offer actionable advice for improving collaborative processes and outcomes, and for fostering more fruitful interactions.
CoLab originated in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada (now a part of the School of Resources, Environment, and Sustainability). Knowledge Integration, also known as ‘KI", is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that teaches students how to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries and in diverse teams.