The past half-century has witnessed a dramatic increase in the scale and complexity of scientific research. The growing scale of science has been accompanied by a shift toward collaborative research, referred to as “team science.” Scientific research is increasingly conducted by small teams and larger groups rather than individual investigators, but the challenges of collaboration can slow these teams’ progress in achieving their scientific goals. How does a team-based approach work, and how can universities and research institutions support teams?
Nancy J. Cooke, professor of human systems engineering in the Polytechnic School, and Margaret L. Hilton, edited a National Research Council Report on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Team Science.
