Wissenschaftsfeld

Wissenschaftsfeld is a German term used in science studies and policy to denote a broad domain of scientific inquiry that encompasses multiple disciplines and research practices centered on a common object, problem, or methodological approach. It is distinct from but related to the narrower notion of a discipline (Disziplin) and from the more general concept of research field (Forschungsfeld).

In policy and evaluation contexts, Wissenschaftsfelder are used as units for analysis and funding. They emphasize the shared research questions, societal relevance, and infrastructural needs that cut across individual disciplines, such as data science, regenerative medicine, or climate research. Boundaries between Wissenschaftsfelder are often porous and change over time as new methods emerge and collaboration patterns shift.

However, there are debates about stability, measurement, and how to compare fields, since interdisciplinarity can blur boundaries and performance metrics may privilege established fields.

Institutions such as universities, research institutes, and funding agencies may organize programs, centers, or alliances around Wissenschaftsfelder to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and to structure evaluation criteria and funding.

Because of its flexible, policy-oriented nature, the term appears mainly in German-language discourse and in comparative science policy literature, sometimes in contrast to stricter disciplinary classifications.