Selected Publications
Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice
Bugin, K., Lotrecchiano, G. R., O’Rourke, M., Butler, J. (2021). Evaluating integration in collaborative cross-disciplinary FDA new drug reviews using an input-process-output model. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science 5: e199, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2021.861
Fam, D., O’Rourke, M. (Eds.) (2021). Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Failures: Lessons Learned from Cautionary Tales. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367207045.
O’Rourke, M., Fam, D. (2021). Theoretical and empirical perspectives on failure: An introduction. In D. Fam and M. O’Rourke (Eds.), Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Failures: Lessons Learned from Cautionary Tales (pp. 1–20). London: Routledge.
Robinson, B., Gonnerman, C., O’Rourke, M. (2019). Experimental philosophy of science and philosophical differences across the sciences. Philosophy of Science. 86(3): 551–576. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/703553.
O’Rourke, M., Vasko, S. E., McLeskey, C., Rinkus, M. A. (2020). Philosophical dialogue as field philosophy. In E. Brister and R. Frodeman (Eds), A Guide to Field Philosophy: Case Studies and Practical Strategies (pp. 48–65). New York: Routledge.
Laursen, B. K., O’Rourke, M. (2019). Thinking with Klein about integration. Issues in Interdisciplinary Studies. 37(2): 33–61.
O’Rourke, M. (2017). Comparing methods for cross-disciplinary research. In R. Frodeman, J. T. Klein, and R. Pacheco (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity, 2nd edition (pp. 276–290). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Crowley, S., Gonnerman, C., O’Rourke, M. (2016). Cross-disciplinary research as a platform for philosophical research. Journal of the American Philosophical Association 2(2): 344-363. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/apa.2016.16.
Piso, Z., O’Rourke, M., Weather, K. C. (2016). Out of the fog: Catalyzing integrative capacity in interdisciplinary research. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 56: 84–94. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2016.01.002.
Robinson, B., Vasko, S. E., Gonnerman, C., Christen, M., O’Rourke, M. (2016). Human values and the value of humanities in interdisciplinary research. Cogent Arts & Humanities 3(1). Available online. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2015.1123080.
O’Rourke, M., Crowley, S., Gonnerman, C. (2016). On the nature of cross-disciplinary integration: A philosophical framework. Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 56: 62-70. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2015.10.003.
Looney, C., Donovan, S., O’Rourke, M., Crowley, S., Eigenbrode, S. D., Rotschy, L., Bosque-Pérez, N., Wulfhorst, J. D. (2013). Seeing through the eyes of collaborators: Using Toolbox workshops to enhance cross-disciplinary communication. In M. O’Rourke, S. Crowley, S. D. Eigenbrode, and J. D. Wulfhorst. (Eds.) Enhancing Communication and Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
O’Rourke, M., Crowley, S., Eigenbrode, S. D., Wulfhorst, J. D. (Eds.) (2013). Enhancing Communication and Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483352947.
Williams, C., O’Rourke, M., Eigenbrode, S. D., O’Loughlin, I., Crowley, S. (2013). Using bibliometrics to support the facilitation of cross-disciplinary communication. Journal of the American Society of Information Science and Technology 64(9): 1768–1779. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asi.22874.
O’Rourke, M., Crowley, S. (2013). Philosophical intervention and cross-disciplinary science: The story of the Toolbox Project. Synthese 190: 1937–1954. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11229-012-0175-y.
Crowley, S., Eigenbrode, S. D., O’Rourke, M., Wulfhorst, J. D. (2010). Localization in cross-disciplinary research: A philosophical approach. Multilingual 114, http://www.multilingual.com/downloads/114LCDR.pdf.
Epistemology
Buchanan, N. T., Dotson, K., O’Rourke, M., Rinkus, M. A., Settles, I. H., Vasko, S. E. (2017). MSU Creating Inclusive Excellence Grant project Toolbox workshop report. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. 10 July, 2017. DOI: https://osf.io/9wa7r/
Steel, D., Gonnerman, C., O’Rourke, M. (2017). Scientists’ attitudes on science and values: Case studies and survey methods in philosophy of science. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 63: 22–30. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2017.04.002.
Piso, Z., Sertler, E., Malavisi, A., Marable, K., Jensen, E., Gonnerman, C., O’Rourke, M. (2016). The production and reinforcement of ignorance in collaborative interdisciplinary research. Social Epistemology 30(5-6): 643-664. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02691728.2016.1213328.
Donovan, S. M., O’Rourke, M., Looney, C. (2015). Your hypothesis or mine? Terminological and conceptual variation across disciplines. SAGE Open. 5(2): 1–13. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2158244015586237.
O’Rourke, M. (2013). Philosophy as a theoretical foundation for I2S. In G. Bammer, Disciplining Interdisciplinarity: Integration and Implementation Sciences for Researching Complex Real-World Problems, Canberra: ANU E Press.
Schnapp, L. M., Rotschy, L., Hall, T. E., Crowley, S., O’Rourke, M. (2012). How to talk to strangers: Facilitating knowledge sharing within translational health teams with the Toolbox dialogue method. Translational Behavioral Medicine 2(4): 469–479. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13142-012-0171-2.
Campbell, J. K., O’Rourke, M., Silverstein, H. (Eds.) (2010). Knowledge and Skepticism, Topics in Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. 5. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262014083.001.0001.
Campbell, J. K., O’Rourke, M., Silverstein, H. (2010). Framing knowledge and skepticism. In J. Keim Campbell, M. O’Rourke, and H. Silverstein (Eds.), Knowledge and Skepticism. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262014083.003.0001.
Team Science
Hoffmann, S., Deutsch, L., Klein, J. T., O’Rourke, M. (2022). Integrate the integrators! A call for establishing academic careers for integration experts. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications 9: 147, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01138-z
Bennett, L. M., Cardenas, E., O’Rourke, M. (2022). Collaboration agreement template (Version 1). Zenodo, CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva, Switzerland. <https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6394789>
Bammer, G., Pearce, B., Penker, M., O’Rourke, M. (Eds). (2021). Expertise in Integration and Implementation for Transformative Research. Special issue in Humanities & Social Sciences Communications. <https://www.nature.com/collections/ahbhdghcda>. London: Springer.
O’Rourke, M., Crowley, S., Eigenbrode, S. D., Vasko, S. E. (2021). Failure and what to do next: Lessons from the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative. In D. Fam and M. O’Rourke (Eds.), Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Failures: Lessons Learned from Cautionary Tales (pp. 97–113). London: Routledge.
Rinkus, M. A., Donovan, S., Hall, T. E., O’Rourke, M. (2021). Using a survey to initiate and sustain productive group dialogue in focus groups. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 24(3): 327–340. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2020.1786240.
Hubbs, G., O’Rourke, M., Orzack, S. H. (Eds.). (2020). The Toolbox Dialogue Initiative: The Power of Cross-Disciplinary Practice. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429440014.
Bammer, G., O’Rourke, M., O’Connell, D., Neuhauser, L., Midgley, G., Klein, J.T., Grigg, N.J., Gadlin, H., Elsum, I.R., Bursztyn, M., Fulton, E.A., Pohl, C., Smithson, M., Vilsmaier, U., Bergmann, M., Jaeger, J., Merkx, F., Vienni Baptista, B., Burgman, M.A., Walker, D.H., Young, J., Bradbury, H., Crawford, L., Haryanto, B., Pachanee, C., Polk, M., Richardson, G.P. (2020). Expertise in research integration and implementation for tackling complex problems: when is it needed, where can it be found and how can it be strengthened? Palgrave Communications. 6:5: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0380-0.
O’Rourke, M., Crowley, S., Laursen, B. K., Robinson, B., Vasko, S. E. (2019). Disciplinary diversity in teams, integrative approaches from unidisciplinarity to transdisciplinarity. In K. L. Hall, A. L. Vogel, and R. T. Croyle (Eds.), Strategies for Team Science Success: Handbook of Evidence-based Principles for Cross-Disciplinary Science and Practical Lessons (pp. 21–46). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Norris, P. E., O’Rourke, M., Mayer, A. S., Halvorsen, K. E. (2016). Managing the wicked problem of transdisciplinary team formation in socio-ecological systems. Landscape and Urban Planning. 154: 115-122. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.01.008.
Read, E. K., O’Rourke, M., Hong, G. S., Hanson, P. C., Winslow, L. A., Crowley, S., Brewer, C. A., Weathers, K. C. (2016). Building the team for team science. Ecosphere 7(3): e01291.10.1002/ecs2.1291. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ES15-00566R.1.
Gonnerman, C., O’Rourke, M., Crowley, S. J., Hall, T. E. (2015). Discovering philosophical assumptions that guide action research: The reflexive Toolbox approach. In H. Bradbury Huang and P. Reason (Eds.), The SAGE Handbook of Action Research, 3rd edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Fisher, E., O’Rourke, M., Evans, R., Kennedy, E. B., Gorman, M. E. (2015). Mapping the integrative field: taking stock of socio-technical collaboration. Journal of Responsible Innovation. 2(1): 39–61. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2014.1001671.
Environmental Science
Cwik, B., Gonnerman, C., O’Rourke, M., Robinson, B., Schoonmaker, D. (2022). Building community capacity with philosophy: Toolbox dialogue and climate resilience. Ecology and Society 27 (2):21. [online] URL: https://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol27/iss2/art21/.
Valles, S., Piso, Z., O’Rourke, M. (2019). Coupled ethical-epistemic analysis as a tool for environmental science. Ethics, Policy & Environment. 22(3): 267–286. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21550085.2019.1652288.
Hall, T. E., Engebretson, J., O’Rourke, M., Piso, Z., Whyte, K., Valles, S. (2017). The need for social ethics in interdisciplinary environmental science graduate programs: Results from a nation-wide survey in the United States. Science and Engineering Ethics. 23(2): 565–588. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11948-016-9775-0.
Hall, T. E., O’Rourke, M. (2014). Responding to communication challenges in transdisciplinary sustainability science. In K. Huutoniemi & P. Tapio (Eds.), Heuristics for Transdisciplinary Sustainability Studies: Solution-oriented Approaches to Complex Problems. Oxford: Routledge. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203734834.
Kabasenche, W., O’Rourke, M., Slater, M. (Eds.) (2012). The Environment: Philosophy, Science, and Ethics, Topics in Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. 9. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262017404.001.0001.
Eigenbrode, S., O’Rourke, M., Wulfhorst, J. D., Althoff, D. M., Goldberg, C. S., Merrill, K., Morse, W., Nielsen-Pincus, M., Stephens, J., Winowiecki, L., Bosque-Pérez, N. A. (2007). Employing philosophical dialogue in collaborative science. BioScience 57: 55–64. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1641/b570109.
Education
Berling, E., McLeskey, C., O’Rourke, M., Pennock, R. (2019). A virtue-based responsible conduct of research curriculum: Pilot test results. Science and Engineering Ethics. 25(3): 899–910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-9991-2.
Hall, T. E., Piso, Z., Engebretson, J., O’Rourke, M. (2018). Evaluating a dialogue-based approach to teaching about values and policy in graduate transdisciplinary environmental science programs. PLoS ONE. 13(9): e0202948. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202948.
Kjellberg, P., O’Rourke, M., O’Connor-Gomez, D. (2018). Interdisciplinarity and the undisciplined student: Lessons from the Whittier Scholars Program. Issues in Interdisciplinary Studies. 36(1): 34–65.
O’Rourke, M., Hall, T. E., Boll, J., Cosens, B., Dietz, T., Engebretson, J., Goralnik, L., Piso, Z., Valles, S., Whyte, K. (2018). Values and Policy in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science: A Dialogue-based Framework for Ethics Education. Online Ethics Center for Engineering. 8/16/2018 OEC. Accessed: Wednesday, November 28, 2018. <http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Values-and-Policy-Environmental-Science-Framework.aspx>
Pennock, R. T., O’Rourke, M. (2017). Developing a scientific virtue-based approach to science ethics training. Science and Engineering Ethics 23(1): 243–262. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11948-016-9757-2.
Bosque-Pérez, N. A., Klos, P. Z., Force, J. E., Waits, L. P., Cleary, K., Rhoades, P., Galbraith, S. M., Bentley Brymer, A. L., O’Rourke, M., Eigenbrode, S. D., Finegan, B., Wulfhorst, J. D., Sibelet, N., Holbrook, J. D. (2016). A pedagogical model for team-based, problem-focused interdisciplinary doctoral education. BioScience. 66(6): 477–488. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biw042.
Hessels, A., Robinson, B., O’Rourke, M., Begg, Melissa D., Larson, E. (2015). Building interdisciplinary research models through interactive education. Clinical and Translational Science 8(6): 793–799. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cts.12354.
Knowlton, J. L., Halvorsen, K. E., Handler, R. M., O’Rourke, M. (2014). Teaching interdisciplinary sustainability science teamwork skills to graduate students using in-person and web-based interactions. Sustainability 6(12): 9428-9440. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su6129428.
Henscheid, J., O’Rourke, M., Williams G. (2009). Embedding the humanities in cross-disciplinary general education courses. JGE: The Journal of General Education, 58(4): 279–295. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/jge.0.0052.
Drake, T., O’Rourke, M., Panttaja, D., Peterson, I. (2008). It’s alive! The life span of an interdisciplinary course in the humanities. JGE: The Journal of General Education 57(4): 223–243. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/jge.0.0028.
Philosophy of Language and Communication
Halpern, M. K., O’Rourke, M. (2020). Power in science communication collaborations. Journal of Science Communication 19 (04), C02. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.19040302.
O’Rourke, M., Robinson, B. (2020). Communication and integration in cross-disciplinary activity. In G. Hubbs, M. O’Rourke, and S. H. Orzack (Eds.), The Toolbox Dialogue Initiative: The Power of Cross-Disciplinary Practice (pp. 58–81). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
O’Rourke, M., Hall, T. E., Laursen, B. K. (2020). The power of dialogue. In G. Hubbs, M. O’Rourke, and S. H. Orzack (Eds.), The Toolbox Dialogue Initiative: The Power of Cross-Disciplinary Practice (pp. 94–115). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
O’Rourke, M. (2019). Referential intentions. In B. Abbott and J. Gundel (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Reference (pp. 19–44). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kabasenche, W., O’Rourke, M., Slater, M. (Eds.) (2012). Reference and Referring, Topics in Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. 10. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press.
O’Rourke, M., Washington, C. (Eds.) (2007). Situating Semantics: Essays on the Philosophy of John Perry. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press.
O’Rourke, M. (2003). The scope argument. The Journal of Philosophy 100(3): 134–155. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5840/jphil2003100323.
O’Rourke, M. (2000). In defense of common content. Philosophical Papers 29(3): 159–188. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/05568640009485071.
O’Rourke, M. (1998). Semantics and the dual-aspect use of definite descriptions. Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 79(3): 264–288. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-0114.00062.
Selected Presentations
“Interdisciplinarity and Science Communication,” Panel discussion with A. Kienle, O. Ruf, and N. Wöhrl, DART Symposium on Science Communication and Communication in Science, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Online, November 2021
“Team Science Curriculum: Convergence Accelerator Program,” NSF Convergence Accelerator Program, Curriculum Kickoff, National Science Foundation, Online, October 2021
“Introducing the MSU Center for Interdisciplinarity,” Interdisciplinary Excellence Program, Egyptian Ministry of Education, Cairo, Egypt, Virtual, September 2021
“Creating Common Ground for Interdisciplinary Teams,” Keynote lecture, Team Research Symposium, University of New Mexico, Virtual, April 2021
“Facilitating Convergence Through Dialogue: The Toolbox Dialogue Method,” Keynote lecture, Convergence Symposium, Dartmouth College, Online, February 2021
“Is There Any Hope for Interdisciplinarity?”, Department of Philosophy Colloquium, University of Utah, Online, October 2020
“Epistemic Integration and Cross-Disciplinary Science,” Colloquium, Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, February 2020
“How Do You Integrate?”, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney, Australia, November 2019
“How to Facilitate Interdisciplinary Research,” Keynote lecture, Building Bridges – Colloquium on Interdisciplinary Research, Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science, Brussels, Belgium, September 2019
“Enhancing Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Toolbox Approach,” University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, April 2018
“Talking over the Fence: Dialogue and Integration in Interdisciplinarity,” Department of Philosophy Colloquium, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, March 2018
“Interdisciplinarity, Integration, and Dialogue: Reflections on the Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity,” Keynote address, 10th anniversary Celebration of the Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany, November 2017
“Solving Complex Health Care Problems through Effective Interdisciplinary Collaboration,” Keynote address, Ph.D. Program in Health Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Hoffman Estates, IL, August 2017
“Team Science Approaches to Bring the Bench and Bedside Closer,” Keynote Address, International Conference on One Medicine One Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, April 2016
“Interdisciplinary Responses to Complex Problems: Are the Humanities Relevant?”, presented as part of the AH! Talks – Arts and Humanities Speaker Series, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, February 2015
“The Toolbox Approach to Interdisciplinary Communication,” presented to Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Farm Campus, Ashburn, VA, May 2014
“Interdisciplinary Science: Opportunities and Obstacles,” presented at the Moore Foundation Marine Microbiology Initiative Research Associate and Postdoctoral Scholar Summit, Dorado, Puerto Rico, February 2014
“On Epistemic Integration: Toward an Analysis,” presented to the University of Kansas Department of Philosophy Colloquium, Lawrence, KS, April 2013
“Cross-Disciplinary Research and the Epistemology of Disagreement,” with S. Crowley, presented to the Department of Philosophy Colloquium University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, April 2012