I wholeheartedly agree with you that many of the greatest innovations are achieved when we are considering an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary approach so we can see how the different systems connect with one another and how they influence each other.
I will also mention that is also quite reflective of many indigenous world views, which do not separate into disciplines in the same way. For example, one frame of reference would be the medicine wheel, which can often be a metaphor for health with the different parts, and looking at those four segments, you need each and every one of those—physical, mental and spiritual health—to be in harmony in order to have those connections.
Similarly, I know the Haudenosaunee peoples, in the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen—“the words that come before all else”, or the Thanksgiving Address—also talk about giving thanks for all of the elements of creation and recognize that it's only when each and every element there is contributing its own responsibility that everything works well together.
Let's deviate a little bit from that to talk about some practical applications of it and something that falls into my area of research as an example. I've done a lot of work in structural engineering, and in the last 20 to 25 years, I've done a lot of work in fire engineering. I've recently been interested in wildfires. We understand what a problem that is for Canadians in general and across the world, but it's particularly having an impact on first nations and other indigenous communities. Some 40% of first nations community members are evacuated when they only represent of about 5% of the population.
In looking at that and focusing on ways to do that, I'm working right now with Prince Albert Grand Council. They're interested in these displacements: How can you protect the communities? I'm interested in how to protect the people there but also in how their mental health is affected by being displaced and other things. I've also engaged with medical professionals to look at that. By bringing together this wide range, we can have much better solutions.