Geographic Information Science as a common cause for interdisciplinary research

Geographic Information Science (GIScience) seeks to understand the nature of geographic phenomena and geospatial information. It provides theoretical foundations for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the rationale for research and development in GIS and their applications. In this article, we analyse the role of GIScience as a common denominator among and between various disciplines, acting as a facilitator for interdisciplinary research. Starting from the development of a coordinated and structured doctoral programme, ten senior university faculty members from different disciplines examine the commonalities of spatial(1) concepts in their respective fields in three interdisciplinary research clusters. Since the educational rationale was published recently, we focus on the role of GIScience in building an interdisciplinary and inter-departmental research alliance and conclude that the university-wide visibility has increased and opens new changes for another 'spatial turn'.