Research project
Building Bridges with LEGO® Bricks: Collaborating Across Disciplines
How can the LEGO® Serious Play® method contribute to improved interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of joint research proposals?
- Duration
- 2026
- Contact
- Mischa Hautvast
- Funding
- KIEM grant (Leiden University)
Introduction
Major societal challenges increasingly require interdisciplinary research. Yet in practice, collaboration between different scientific disciplines can be difficult. Researchers often ‘speak different languages’, ask different questions, and follow different methods. This project explores how a playful yet structured method can help bridge these differences and kickstart collaboration.
Research goal: building interdisciplinary collaboration
The aim of this project is to investigate whether and how the LEGO® Serious Play® method can support the development of effective interdisciplinary collaboration. By engaging researchers in new ways, the project seeks to help identify shared research questions and develop joint funding proposals, particularly at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cultural heritage.
Interdisciplinary approach
Two Research Managers from different faculties work together in this project to build bridges between disciplines and scientific traditions. From the Faculty of Science, Mischa Hautvast (LIACS) is involved, and from the Faculty of Humanities, Chris Flinterman (LUCAS). Together, they encourage researchers to initiate interdisciplinary projects in the fields of artificial intelligence and cultural heritage.
Project description: Building Bridges with Bricks
Traditional forms of interdisciplinary exchange, such as workshops or symposia, often lead to inspiring discussions but rarely result in lasting collaboration. After such events, concrete follow-up opportunities are often missing. LEGO® Serious Play® breaks this pattern by creating tangible outcomes that participants develop together and can continue to build upon. This provides a shared foundation of understanding and trust.
In this project, LEGO® Serious Play® is used as an innovative tool to stimulate collaboration among researchers. During guided workshops, participants build models with LEGO® bricks that represent their ideas, challenges, and ambitions. These physical models make abstract concepts concrete, help participants better understand each other’s perspectives, and facilitate discussion of differences and similarities between disciplines. The models thus serve as a shared reference point for further discussion and collaboration.
The pilot focuses specifically on collaboration between researchers in artificial intelligence and cultural heritage, two key priorities of the university. If successful, this method can be scaled up and applied more broadly, both within Leiden University and beyond, for example in collaboration with societal partners such as the municipality of Leiden.
Further information
The project is submitted as part of the Kiem 2025 grant.