Achievement

During the end of year interviews, participants expressed an increase in their ability to collaborate effectively and understand perspectives of multiple disciplines on issues, research and outcomes and point to IGERTs focused exposure to multiple disciplines as the driving force behind this increase of knowledge. Through this focused exposure, trainees are gaining a deeper understanding that “other disciplines have their own idea of what is important to discuss and their own systems.” During weekly seminars and interdisciplinary research, trainees are learning the languages of other disciplines and how to communicate effectively with professionals. One trainee reflected on the realization that “collaboration needs a basic understanding of other disciplines to be able to ask good questions and see where the gaps are.”