Multi-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration are the key [Future Trends in I&M]
A few centuries ago, fundamental research and science were reserved to the happy few. However, the scope of the knowledge of renowned scientists was typically extremely broad. Take for instance James C. Maxwell, who formulated the equations which govern most of an electrical, electronic, and telecommunication engineer's application area. Well, his research topics did not only cover electromagnetism. He was also a mathematician, pioneered research in thermodynamics, and predicted the material composition of the rings of Saturn (which was verified only a hundred years later).