ABOUT uS
Objective
PRISM is an initiative for advancement of transdisciplinary knowledge. We all have an ingrained curiosity to understand the functioning of world around us. To assist, a segmentation of information has long existed that forms the basis of different academic disciplines. The segmented approach, however, has resulted in somewhat partial understanding of various research issues, as specialists from one discipline generally remain ignorant of the parallel happenings in a (presumed) separate discipline. Until quite recently, there were a dearth of bridges to interconnect this segmented knowledge so to identify laws that are not imprisoned by disciplinary boundaries. Currently, however, multidisciplinary research has become an accepted norm at higher institutions of learning, though that normally implies an assemble of specialists from different fields for the purpose of contributing their individual talent in solving a specific problem; the objective of these specialists is not necessarily to learn from the other discipline, rather it is a collaboration where each contributes own knowledge. A focus on training individuals who could see through different specializations still lacks. PRISM seeks to achieve the goal of inculcating in individual researchers a tendency to handle problems in a unifying way - to amalgamate the knowledge from a rainbow of separate disciplines. There is no particular recipe for developing a 'master of all', but with our efforts at PRISM we aim to envisage one.
Our Approach
Researchers and academicians, to whichever field of study they belong, strive to develop an understanding of the component of world that surrounds them basically in terms of its functionality. Whether we deal with observations, experimentations, theorizations, or any other aspect of scientific reasoning and investigation the objective is to discern the mechanism that governs the functioning of that particular component. The latter can be called a 'System', a term whose use is almost universal and cutting across disciplines (to an extent that it has become a sort of cliché within research communities). Regardless of the semantics and the prevalent customs, a system-based approach for investigating problems seems most appropriate. In a system we see a unit that a researcher is interested in - interested in discovering the details of how it functions. 'Functional details' are readily described by a mechanism. Exploring the Mechanistics of a System is the task that we as investigators of some problem are engaged in. It is apt then to name the transdisciplinary approach of ours towards knowledge as, SYSTEM MECHANISTICS. Within System Mechanistics there are no disciplinary boundaries, and the approach centred around ideas that form foundation for universal laws. For us, all scientific investigations are valuable, no matter of which branch, because they are part of a whole that ultimately constitutes the truth(s).
Your Participation
At PRISM, we are an academic organization promoting and advocating transdisciplinary research (and teaching). As such, individuals and institutions are invited to join hands with us towards the advancement of a unified research strategy that is appropriate for acquirement of holistic knowledge. Participation can either be in the form of active contribution or simply by spreading the word around.
PRISM aims at offering a platform and guidance to freshers in matters concerning implementation of our approach. If interested, please do contact.