How CIRCUS operates

The activities of CIRCUS are organised in four operational areas, which each corresponds to a different part of the mission.

Four operational areas

A. Support for cross-cutting ideas and collaborations
B. Capacity building for individuals at Uppsala University
C. Work to improve the organisational conditions for cross-cutting research at Uppsala University
D. CIRCUS Knowledge Observatory

The first three operational areas (A-C) each address different needs within Uppsala University. The fourth operational area (D) refers to the provision of knowledge on cross-cutting research needed to fulfil the mission with a high quality.

Each of CIRCUS' activities is assigned to one of the four operational areas, but the general idea is that the operational areas interact so that together they strengthen the overall aim of developing interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research collaborations across faculties, disciplines and departments at Uppsala University.

Examples of activities within each operational area

A. Support for cross-cutting ideas and collaborations

Support for research networks, provided after an open call and an assessment procedure that involves external reviewers.
Support for development of cross-cutting research projects, provided after an open call and an assessment procedure that involves external reviewers.
Support for workshops, conferences and seminar series and support for gatherings among doctoral students that promote inter- and multi-disciplinary research collaborations.

All these forms of support combine some financial support along with process expertise, administrative support and access to facilities.

B. Capacity building for individuals at Uppsala University

The seminar series “Interdisciplinary Possibilities, Practices and Challenges”
The CIRCUS Interdisciplinary Summer School is a summer school held during three days in August. CIRCUS has offered the school, which is aimed at researchers and senior PhD students at Uppsala University, annually since 2022. The school is designed to suit both participants curious about engaging in interdisciplinary research in future and those who already have some experience in the area but wanted to go further.
A yearly symposium that foregrounds a specific theme with relevance for stimulating and developing multi- and interdisciplinary research endeavours.

C. Work to improve the organisational conditions for cross-cutting research at Uppsala University

Support by for instance coaching representatives of different research environments and initiatives within Uppsala University with missions involving cross-cutting research.
When needed, CIRCUS offer consultative support to the University Administration on issues related to the organisational conditions for inter- and multidisciplinary research at Uppsala University.

D. CIRCUS Knowledge Observatory

CIRCUS is in continuous contact with relevant research about how inter- and multidisciplinary research can be facilitated and supported. This also includes knowledge exchange activities with similar entities nationally and internationally. This provides us with a growing foundation for our efforts to support cross-cutting research initiatives at Uppsala University.