Background/Question/Methods Broad transdisciplinary collaboration is essential to identify viable pathways to ecological health in the future. Seasoned academics and professionals as well as rising students are confronted with dramatic changes that demand cooperative innovative. After working for years or decades in a discipline, it can be difficult to stretch one’s theoretical framework far enough to consider other disciplinary perspectives. For early career ecologists, it can seem overwhelming to train for engagement in multiple disciplines. Yet, within the vast marketplace of disciplines and professions, ecology is perhaps best equipped to lead cross-disciplinary work. A brief review of several case studies illustrate how boundary-breaking cross-disciplinary work and community engagement lead to unexpected advances in research, teaching, and service in an academic setting. Results/Conclusions Looking through the lens of systems shaken by the pandemic, there are clear examples of failures and losses in each case reviewed. However, each case also demonstrates that cross-disciplinary collaborations support resilience. The common lessons that emerge for us all is that there are key elements for successful work outside the silo: (1) a strong foundation of knowledge, (2) a simple story, (3) slightly lower risk aversion, and (4) community trust. Ecology, in its full definition, is not really a silo at all, but a discipline that already bridges sciences and translates well in the human dimension. Cross-disciplinary work is what allows for vital connections, and ecologists can lead in finding connections that take us on the path toward thriving social and ecological systems.
