Caterina Schürch in Bielefeld: How interdisciplinary research opens new paths

How knowledge transcends boundaries: Caterina Schürch on interdisciplinary research

How do new insights emerge when different scientific disciplines meet? Caterina Schürch will address this question on October 27, 2026, at the University of Bielefeld. Her English-language lecture How and why disciplines are integrated: A tentative typology is part of the joint lecture series of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) and the Institute for Studies of Science (ISoS).

Interdisciplinarity between theory and research practice

The event focuses on the conditions, forms, and consequences of interdisciplinary collaboration. Central to the discussion is how knowledge is integrated across disciplinary boundaries and how interdisciplinary research differs from multidisciplinary research. The Lecture Series links theoretical perspectives with practical experiences from research, funding, and institutional organization.

A science historian with a special research profile

Caterina Schürch is a Professor of Science History at the Technical University of Berlin. Her research focuses on the history of the life sciences, the development of scientific methods, and collaboration between different disciplinary cultures. In her monograph published in 2024, she examines how biological, chemical, and physical approaches interacted in research projects of the early 20th century.

For her research on the connection of different areas of knowledge, Schürch will receive the Young Researchers' Award of the Berlin Science Prize in 2026. Her work makes it visible that scientific innovation often arises where methods, materials, and perspectives from different disciplines practically converge.

Audience-oriented event experience in a university setting

The Lecture Series is aimed at researchers, educators, students, early-career scientists, and all citizens interested in science and research. The atmosphere blends academic precision with open exchange. Participation is possible both in person and online.

The lecture is designed as a public colloquium with an opportunity for professional discussion afterward. This provides a good opportunity to learn about current questions in science research and gain insights into the organization of interdisciplinary research processes.

Conclusion: An evening for curious perspective-changers

Caterina Schürch's lecture promises a concentrated yet stimulating event experience about the emergence of scientific collaboration. Those who want to understand how disciplinary boundaries can be overcome, methods combined, and new fields of research developed will experience an informed evening with an international perspective at the University of Bielefeld.

Official channels of Caterina Schürch:

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Sources:

• University of Bielefeld – Event page
• TU Berlin – Prof. Dr. Caterina Schürch
• TU Berlin – Research and Berlin Science Prize
• Max Planck Institute for the History of Science – Caterina Schürch