University of Minnesota ranked top public university in global Interdisciplinary Science Rankings

Rankings highlight researchers in diverse fields who communicate and collaborate effectively outside of their disciplines

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/17/2024) — The Times Higher Education’s first-ever global Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (ISR) ranked the University of Minnesota Twin Cities the top public university in the U.S. and sixth overall, out of 749 institutions around the world.

As society’s pressing problems have become more complex in the 21st century, interdisciplinary research has grown tremendously in importance. Specialists in diverse fields must learn to communicate and collaborate effectively outside of their disciplines to provide relevant solutions.

“The U of M is a national leader in interdisciplinary collaboration. Our teams are working across fields to generate new frontiers of knowledge, spark new innovations and discoveries, and find solutions that drive the health and prosperity of our society,” said President Rebecca Cunningham. 

The ISR measured university performance in three areas: inputs (funding); process (measures of success, facilities, administrative support and promotion); and outputs (publications, research quality and reputation).

“As a College of Science and Engineering, we have a long history of interdisciplinary research and education where scientists and engineers work together to develop innovations that improve people’s everyday lives,” said University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering Dean Andrew Alleyne. “Being part of a comprehensive University with all of the health, agricultural, and social sciences opens up even more opportunities for lasting impacts.”  

Examples of interdisciplinary initiatives that involve the College of Science and Engineering are: 

  • Institute for Engineering in Medicine improves health care by strengthening collaboration between the disciplines of engineering and medicine, with significant expertise in the design of medical devices, cardiac imaging and physiology, cancer bioengineering, and biological preservation.
  • International Institute for Biosensing, advances research in the relatively new study of biosensors, which can serve as critical monitors in a broad spectrum of applications, including food safety, agriculture, the environment, healthcare, animal health, national security and water quality.
  • Institute on the Environment (IonE) pursues research-based solutions to the biggest challenges of the 21st century related to climate adaptation, energy, food and land use, freshwater, urban resilience, whole systems and more. IonE educates environmentally knowledgeable leaders, engages partners to find new environmental solutions and recently partnered with several U of M colleges to launch a first-of-its-kind sustainability leadership graduate program to target the intersection of policy, business and environmental stewardship.
  • Sustainable GeoCommunities program brings together experts from a wide range of disciplines, community leaders, and residents to use geodesign principles to tackle the problems within a given community that could range from lack of clear air or water, to lack of systems for processing the waste.

View the full story and other interdisciplinary initiatives on the University of Minnesota’s website.

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