Western philosophers, scientists among global scholars tackling “wicked problems”
Rotman Institute director Dan Lizotte explains why philosophers join scientists on hard problems, after Western hosted the first Summit on Interdisciplinarity with Durham University.
Western’s Rotman Institute of Philosophy recently hosted the Summit on Interdisciplinarity, in partnership with the Centre for Humanities Engaging Science and Society at Durham University in the U.K. International scholars gathered to discuss how to create and support interdisciplinary research, which has been the Rotman Institute’s foundation since 2008.
Institute director Dan Lizotte, a professor of computer science and of epidemiology and biostatistics, told Western News he did not train as a philosopher and joined the institute through a reading group on AI and ethics in fall 2020. He says its members take on deep problems that need a fundamental shift in thinking and wicked problems, such as adapting to climate change, that need many viewpoints.
For Lizotte, the summit’s biggest result is a new international community of interdisciplinary institutes and scholars.
The group is already planning to meet again in 2028. It is also planning several reports to share what was learned and proposing programs that let students and faculty visit other institutes.
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