Early career research between disciplinary output and interdisciplinary expectations
Dies Academicus, HCU Hamburg, 13 June 2024
The open roundtable ‘Early career research between disciplinary output and interdisciplinary expectations’ focused on the challenge of aligning interdisciplinary research with the expectations of disciplinary career advancement. While many research streams and funding agencies expect interdisciplinary collaboration, academic careers in the German context are still primarily based on discipline-related output and visibility. It is often difficult, for instance, to place results of interdisciplinary collaboration in international and national journals, as many journals still operate within quite narrow disciplinary epistemic boundaries and scholarly communities. The same goes for academic networks and conferences, which are often quite limited by disciplinary boundaries. As a result, research output is frequently valued mostly based on disciplinary criteria, while interdisciplinary experiences are not acknowledged or valued. The roundtable discussed related questions and experiences. Researchers at all levels were welcome, including students finishing their master’s studies at HCU and considering a PhD project and an academic career.
The Dies Academicus emphasized research dialogue, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage with our researchers and explore the wide range of research at HafenCity University. Participants discovered sustainable perspectives on digitalization, gained insights into the HCU’s research neighborhood, and immersed themselves in the world of artificial intelligence through a diverse and interdisciplinary program. The keynote speech and panel discussion by Prof. Dr. Laura Marie Edinger-Schons offered exciting insights into sustainability practices in companies. Her award-winning research on sustainable employee engagement, social entrepreneurship, and digital social innovation provided valuable perspectives on promoting sustainable development and business practices.
