The power of diverse perspectives: why collaboration is needed now, more than ever
By: Dr. Katie Plaisance | Estimated reading time: 4:30
Today’s complex social and environmental problems require urgent solutions. Issues such as climate change, global poverty, and a rise in infectious diseases can only be addressed when people from diverse backgrounds work together. It is no surprise, then, that organizations are increasingly employing collaborative approaches to problem-solving, and that one of the most sought-after skills by employers is the ability to work well in a team.
In the Faculty of Environment, collaboration has always been at our core. That’s why it is key theme for the Faculty’s bold new initiative, Environment 2035, which emphasizes a more integrative approach to research, graduate education, and undergraduate curriculum. Collaboration is also at the heart of Waterloo at 100, a long-term strategic vision for the university that asks, “What do we aspire to be known for by our 100th anniversary in 2057?” This raises the question: why are we so invested in collaboration?
The power of collaboration
Research from the emerging field of the ‘science of team science’ shows why collaboration is so powerful: teams that involve people from diverse backgrounds typically produce more creative and innovative solutions. This holds true whether diversity is construed in terms of expertise or lived experience. What is perhaps more surprising is that diverse teams also display higher levels of critical thinking: they are better able to analyze problems, a crucial step in designing effective solutions.
Assembling a group of diverse people isn’t enough, however; effective collaboration requires much more. At the interpersonal level, building relationships and cultivating trust is key. This requires individual attributes such as open-mindedness, curiosity, and intellectual humility, as well as the ability to tolerate dissent and embrace healthy disagreement, rather than avoiding conflict at all costs. Most important, research shows that while diverse perspectives have the potential to produce better outcomes, that potential will only be realized if collaborators recognize and embrace the value of diversity.
Collaboration in research
Through Environment 2035, the Faculty identified four core areas of research strength: climate change, natural resources and environment, cities of the future, and sustainable transitions. We also highlighted our predominant approach to research, which is driven by addressing socially-relevant issues, integrating different disciplines and knowledge systems, and engaging with external partners in research and dissemination of results.
The Waterloo Climate Intervention Strategies Lab (WatCISL) is a prime example of how collaboration across disciplines and with external partners produces better solutions to complex problems. WatCISL leverages the expertise of faculty and graduate students from a wide variety of disciplines including chemical engineering, environmental law, political science, economics, systems engineering, decision analysis, and governance. Together they research large-scale interventions that can mitigate the effects of climate change, such as Direct Air Capture (DAC), which pulls carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
WatCISL is not only researching ways of improving and implementing new technology, but they are also advocating for more inclusive approaches to addressing the climate crisis. In many cases, those who contribute the least to climate change are suffering the greatest impacts. WatCISL engages in meaningful collaboration with partners from communities, economic sectors, and governments across the globe, so that the solutions they develop will have real world, positive impact for those affected.
This is only one of the many examples of research collaboration for global impact. A key priority for the next decade is to increase and enhance meaningful connections among researchers within the faculty, across campus, and with industry partners, non-government organizations, and Indigenous communities. With the vision laid out in Environment 2035, we will be able to leverage our collective capacity to do this important work.
Collaboration in the classroom
Because we believe collaboration is the key to thriving in a complex and rapidly evolving future, Environment students have the opportunity to learn and practice collaboration skills in the classroom and through hands-on learning experiences, such as co-op work terms, field schools, and capstone courses.
One of the ways we achieve these goals is through innovative approaches to education. A fascinating example of this is a course called The Wicked Problem of Climate Change, piloted in 2023 with support from the Teaching Innovation Incubator. This course was co-taught by six PhD students – one from each of the university’s faculties – demonstrating interdisciplinary collaboration in action.
You can read about another first-of-its-kind course in this issue. The interdisciplinary capstone course, led by Mike Woods, a faculty member in the School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development, brings together students from across the university to work on real-world problems. Students are offered additional training for their capstone through ‘Making Collaboration Work’, a course co-designed by students and faculty in Knowledge Integration, which teaches students collaborative theories and practices and prepares them to work in interdisciplinary teams.
We are also developing innovative approaches to graduate education. Faculty members in Environment are leading Waterloo’s contribution to a pan-Canadian collaboration that will provide graduate students with the foundational skills needed to work in non-academic sectors and contribute to social innovation.
Working together for a better future
What we need now are people who recognize the value of diverse perspectives and the potential power of collaboration – people who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to harness this potential and create effective and just solutions to the wicked problems our world faces. The Faculty of Environment was established over 50 years ago to do just this. Working with our external partners, our alumni, and the rest of the Waterloo campus, we will build a more sustainable future, together.
