Developing a Transdisciplinary Team Using Online Data Science Training and a Real-World Case Study on the Pandemic, COVID-19

Abstract

Using a real-world, team-led, virtual case study focused on the international pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, more commonly referred to as COVID-19, we assessed if data science could serve as the common discipline for the development of a professional transdisciplinary team.  Team success was measured by assessing if all members contributed to the virtual, student-led case study, which occurred, and if the product of the collaboration transcended the discipline, which occurred when the team created this report due to the success of the online data science program preventing the commonly encountered difficulties such as communication among team members and cognitive obstacles of experts being unable to relate to others outside their expertise.  We suggest that future pandemic response training programs consider incorporating data science as a fundamental discipline when developing pandemic response teams.