Thinking and operating on a global scale has become so necessary to research, innovation, and the arts that we sometimes lose sight of how we, as individuals and institutions, can get to that level of complexity.
Isolation limits us—we need collaboration with those beyond our personal fields of expertise and beyond the borders of our countries, institutions, concepts, or positions.
The new Northwestern Buffett research trajectory is designed to leverage the full power of collaboration for scholars and thought leaders around the world to step outside of their usual communities, and to develop impactful research queries and plans for action. This process will offer real, sustainable support for meaningful outcomes in the world.
Stage 1: Idea Dialogues
The research trajectory begins with Idea Dialogues: opportunities to speak informally with colleagues across the University about Sustainable Development Goals that would benefit most from interdisciplinary research. Northwestern Buffett will receive initial proposals from faculty, then provide a lunch meeting where scholars can engage in low-stakes conceptual discussions.
The Idea Dialogues are an exploration, not a strategic planning meeting. Great ideas come from curiosity and purposeful intellectual play, and these Idea Dialogues give invitees with diverse expertise a chance to engage in serious topics through interdisciplinary perspectives.
If the faculty involved in the Idea Dialogues determine that they could work collectively to address the questions they are pursuing, they are invited to participate in the next stage: an Idea Incubation Workshop.
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