Eine Studie zur persönlichen Interdisziplinarität.

Interdisciplinarityis, inmostcases, viewed ascooperation amongscientists fromdifferent disciplines, i.e. in the shape of interdisciplinary teams. However, interdisciplinarity also occurs at the individual level; significant scientific advances were and are often initiated byindividuals based or activeinmorethan onefield.Up to nowsuch constellations are onlyrarely present in the discussion on interdisciplinary collaboration. This paper explores what I have called personal interdisciplinarityfrom both a theoretical and empirical perspective.Insights and debates from research on multilingualism therebyserve as serve as useful analogues and parallels. Sources are based on qualitativeinterviewswith scholars at homeinmorethan one discipline, with funding agencies, the analysis of relevant documents, and a reflection of personal experiences, leads to a discussion of the challenges and opportunities of personal interdisciplinarity. The results show that Scholars, evaluate their own interdisciplinarity as ambivalent. On the one hand they consider it as an intellectual benefit with regard to scientific knowledge, on the other as a burden and obstacle for an academic career. Concerns regarding disadvantages in theevaluation of one's own academic performance, longer project timeframes, therisk of isolation and thelack of "disciplinaryidentity" play a centralrole. At the same time, the results suggest that personal interdisciplinarity not only differs significantly from interdisciplinarity in groups, but may also play a crucial role in the success of interdisciplinary efforts. The paper concludes with a range of suggestions for the promotion and fostering of personal interdisciplinarity at both the personal and institutional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]