| University research centers and institutes have been advocated as an important organizational locus or mechanism for interdisciplinary research collaboration from both societal and academic requirements. This descriptive and exploratory study examines organizational and environmental contexts and factors for interdisciplinary collaboration, and thus, attempts to illuminate the nature and role of research centers and institutes in interdisciplinary activities.;Survey data were provided by 142 research centers and institutes broadly engaged in energy or materials research in engineering across 70 research universities in America. Collected data were analyzed through the use of multiple classification schemes of research centers in alignment with the multiple indicators of interdisciplinary collaboration. Research centers and institutes generally revealed a fairly higher level or extent of interdisciplinary collaboration activities. Respondents' overall perception or evaluation also appeared to be fairly positive toward their current interdisciplinary collaboration activity.;Despite inherent limitations in developing measurement indicators, the study identified some important contexts and factors for interdisciplinary research collaboration. While the research center size, the level of administrative integration, and funding support were largely identified to be associated with the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration, an articulated mission of the research center was likely to significantly enhance the overall level or extent of interdisciplinary collaboration. Applied orientation, along with the substantial presence of professional research staff, also encouraged interdisciplinary activity. Disciplinary and faculty structures, however, were likely to be major barriers as inhibiting factors to interdisciplinary collaboration.;University-based research centers and institutes operate as an intellectual and physical forum or platform, the necessary infrastructure not readily provided by individual academic departments. Depending upon different organizational and environmental contexts, some research centers and institutes seemed to provide a more proactive forum for interdisciplinary research efforts, often overcoming disciplinary- and faculty-related barriers. This study finally suggests some recommendations for further research. |
