Transdisciplinary Research for Addressing Complex Social Issues: Moving Towards Interdisciplinary Collaboration between Social Work and Neuroscience to Tackle Grand Challenges

The 12 Grand Challenges of Social Work delineate several complex societal issues that transcend the domain of social work. Successfully addressing these pressing challenges requires transdisciplinary collaboration, including developing interventions and advancing policies relevant to the Grand Challenges. In recent decades, there has been an increase in efforts to apply neuroscience to social work research pertinent to making interventions and policies. Both social work and neuroscience research share important commonalities, integrating biological and social sciences to better comprehend the transactional relationship between human behavior, development, and the broader sociocultural environment. By understanding this relationship, social workers can further employ critical strategies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities facing the adversities listed in the grand challenges. However, despite the potential benefits of integrating neuroscientific knowledge into social work research and practice, several existing barriers have hindered progress and limited opportunities to incorporate neuroscience into social work praxis.

This round table discussion is based on the conceptual framework of the 12 Grand Challenges of Social Work. The presenters consist of Ph.D. trainees, a social work faculty member whose training and research involve social work and neuroscience, and a neuroscience faculty member whose academic work involves collaboration between neuroscience, social science, and law. The round table will commence with a dialogue led by each presenter, exploring the epistemological and methodological challenges of empirically assessing and reconciling findings across two disciplines. Each presenter will also guide the conversation, exploring the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration between social work and neuroscience, especially in increasing the translational potential of research relevant to the Grand Challenges. The topics will include building resilience in individuals and communities, harnessing technology for good, reducing violence, and eliminating discrimination and inequality. Finally, the round table will conclude with an open discussion with attendees to identify three tangible strategies for improving transdisciplinary research in social work and neuroscience, thereby contributing to addressing the 12 Grand Challenges.