Understanding Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary Studies

How should the theory of global warming be managed from an interdisciplinary approach?

Reasoning: The global warming theory takes into account a number of scientific and sociological/anthropological disciplines: chemistry, physics, ecology, meteorology, vulcanology, biology, oceanography; as well as history, anthropology (medical, cultural, etc.), medicine, resource management, geography, political science, international relations, and more.

Step Questions:

Begin with an interdisciplinary question

How should the theory of global warming be managed from an interdisciplinary approach?

Identify key and subsidiary phenomena

First, is global warming a fact or theoretical phenomena; Do we have enough data to actually make determinations about climate, since climate trends move at a geologic pace?

Ascertain what theories and methods are particularly relevant to the question at hand.

Human industrialization theory, natural climatic occurrences over time; volcanism.

4. Perform a detailed literature survey.

See Appendix A

5. Identify relevant disciplines and disciplinary perspectives.

Each discipline focuses on a particular aspect of the issue; if we think of meteorology or ecology as the central hub, we would find that each additional discipline was a spoke in the wheel of interdisciplinary study.

6. If some relevant phenomena (or links among these), theories, or methods in 2 or 3 have received little or no attention; encourage the performance of such research.

History of Pollution examines human impact on climate change; ecology examines interactions between aspects of the biological and chemical environment and consequences.

7. Evaluate the results of previous research.

Global warming is the gradual increase of the earth's median temperature for surface air and oceans. Although controversial, global warming consistently measured since the mid-20th century has resulted in environmental impacts that may be disastrous to the environment. While scientists agree that solar variation and volcanic activity have had an effect on the environment, it was not until the 1950s that the collective effects of greenhouse gases from industry and automobiles began to cause noticeable climactic changes, quantified globally by a community of international scientific organizations (Houghton, 2009). Computer models are not yet sophisticated enough to predict actual consequences of global warming, but many scholars believe that there will be rapid and increasing variations in extreme weather patterns (e.g. dramatic changes in rainfall, freezing temperatures, storm systems, heat waves, etc.), possible aggravated melting of the polar glaciers causing a rise in ocean levels, disruption of global agriculture, and adverse health effects resulting from unplanned temperature changes (Gore, 2006).

8. Compare and contrast results from previous disciplinary or interdisciplinary research.