The SHAPE-ID Toolkit

The SHAPE-ID toolkit was developed by the SHAPE-ID project, a Coordination and Support Action funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. The aim of the project was to review understandings and best practice of doing and supporting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research (IDR/TDR) involving Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) disciplines alongside societal partners and researchers from the Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This toolkit aims to provide guidance for policymakers, funders, research performing organisations, researchers and research partners to help make better decisions and promote change in policymaking, funding and educational institutions.

The SHAPE-ID consortium brought together inter- and transdisciplinary scholars and practitioners from six countries (see SHAPE-ID Project). The toolkit was developed by SHAPE-ID partners Catherine Lyall and Isabel Fletcher. Doireann Wallace, Sibylle Studer and Bianca Vienni Baptista also provided important contributions.

Who is the toolkit for?

As outlined in Principal Investigator Jane Ohlmeyer’s introductory video, the toolkit aims to both inspire and inform. It is aimed at all levels of experience but especially newcomers. It is designed to serve as a knowledge gateway for:

• Researchers from any discipline, but particularly the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, who want to learn more about IDR/TDR, doing collaborative research and IDR/TDR careers
• Funders and policymakers interested in understanding why IDR/TDR is worth investing in and how to develop and evaluate IDR/TDR funding programmes 
• Staff in research performing organisations with roles in educating, training, supporting, hiring, evaluating and promoting researchers
• Societal partners who wish to engage in knowledge co-creation with researchers, e.g. partners from industry, civil society organisations, the cultural sector and citizens

Using the toolkit

The toolkit is a collection of resources organised around goals users might want to achieve, such as understanding IDR/TDR, funding collaborative research, evaluating IDR/TDR or developing IDR/TDR research skills. Some resources come from specific disciplines or organisations but we have selected them because they have valuable messages for a more general audience and we provide context and introductions to guide their use where necessary.

Resources Include:

• Short case studies and video clips highlighting some of the main opportunities and challenges in doing or supporting IDR/TDR.
• Our “Top Ten Tips” offer brief introductions and links to distilled wisdom on key aspects of IDR/TDR, such as writing an ID/TD research proposal or developing a career in ID/TD research.
• Tailored collaborative tools are designed to help you consider the most important issues when developing, designing, funding or collaborating on an IDR/TDR project.
• Collaborative tools and Factsheets can be downloaded as PDF documents for use as workshop handouts and short reference guides under Creative Commons licensing.
• At the core of the toolkit are a series of guided pathways to resources based on your role or current goal.
• You can access the full ‘Resources’ menu in the top right-hand side of the screen.
• Our FAQ section provides answers to commonly asked questions and links to the resources that can help you
  explore issues more deeply.
• Our guided further reading list offers an accessible entry point to scholarship on IDR/TDR .

Watch our Guided Tours for further information about how to make the most of your visit depending on your interests.