Eight Academic Fields Reflect the Interdisciplinary Breadth of LASA
LASA presents the eight broad Academic Fields used to describe its international scholarly community and support connections across disciplines.
The Eight Academic Fields
Natural Sciences
This field includes physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, earth sciences, environmental sciences and related disciplines concerned with understanding the natural world.
Engineering and Technology
This field includes engineering disciplines, computing, artificial intelligence, information systems, materials, infrastructure and the development or application of technology.
Life Sciences and Medicine
This field includes biological sciences, biomedical research, clinical disciplines, neuroscience, public health, pharmacy and related areas concerning living systems and human health.
Social Sciences
This field includes economics, sociology, psychology, political science, communication, management and other disciplines examining people, institutions and societies.
Education and Learning Sciences
This field includes teaching and learning, curriculum studies, educational leadership, teacher education, higher education, learning technologies and related research and professional practice.
Arts, Humanities and Cultural Studies
This field includes the arts, literature, languages, philosophy, history, cultural heritage, cultural studies and creative or interpretive practice.
Law, Governance and Policy Studies
This field includes law, public governance, regulation, public administration, institutional studies and evidence-informed policy dialogue.
Interdisciplinary Studies
This field includes work that connects several domains or addresses questions that cannot be adequately represented by a single field. Examples may include sustainability, science and policy, digital society, and exchange between science and the arts.
A Non-Exclusive Framework
An individual may be associated with more than one Academic Field where this provides a more accurate description of their work. Field totals are therefore non-exclusive and should not be added together as a count of unique individuals.
Academic Field assignments are descriptive rather than hierarchical. They do not create separate academies, legal divisions, professional qualifications or differences in academic standing. An assignment may be reviewed when an individual’s principal professional role or area of work changes.
Academic Fields and Programme Areas
LASA’s eight Academic Fields should be distinguished from the Academy’s Programme Areas.
The Academic Fields describe the disciplinary composition of the Member and Foreign Member community. The Programme Areas describe how LASA develops activities, initiatives and cooperation opportunities. The two frameworks serve different purposes but can work together when the Academy identifies themes for interdisciplinary dialogue and future activities.
Connecting Disciplines While Respecting Standards
Interdisciplinary exchange is most valuable when it brings different forms of knowledge into genuine conversation while respecting the methods, evidence and professional standards of each discipline.
LASA’s Academic Fields provide a practical framework for presenting the breadth of its scholarly community, improving public navigation and identifying connections that may support future academic exchange.
Public profiles can be explored by Academic Field through the LASA Member Directory.