Crossing the Line: Towards increasingly fruitful complex systems research for the physics community

TL;DR

This paper discusses challenges and solutions in interdisciplinary physics research involving fields like computer science, ecology, and economics, aiming to improve collaboration and scientific progress.

Contribution

It identifies key causes of methodological clashes in interdisciplinary physics and proposes strategies to facilitate more effective cross-disciplinary research.

Findings

Identifies common causes of interdisciplinary clashes.

Proposes solutions to improve collaboration.

Highlights importance of methodological understanding.

Abstract

This article addresses broad trends in interdisciplinary research in physics where interactions with colleagues in fields such as computer science, ecology, or economics can often be derailed by unintentional clashes of methodologies and perspectives on the core science. Key causes of such breakdowns in interdisciplinary work are detailed and solutions offered.