Capturing the Transdisciplinary Dragon: Creating a Crossover Natural History-Art Exhibit

Abstract

Although transdisciplinarity has been in practice for decades, its use as a methodology in higher education is limited.  In addition, the need to connect academe to the community outside its walls has never been more pronounced. Working within the gaps created between disciplinary boundaries gives researchers an opportunity to create new ways of understanding the common, yet complex problems of the world. In this article we explain how a group of student researchers, scholars, and other community members came together to create a transdisciplinary exhibit that explains how plant fossils and dragon folklore are connected worldwide. We provide evidence of how the creation and implementation of the exhibit facilitated learning across wide cross-sections of stakeholders and how the project continues to develop new avenues of inquiry.