Many scientists see comparative research as one of the great strengths of their disciplines. Many agree that it is through such research that they can make some of their most substantial contributions to public discourse and the public good. Consequently, many research communities have long sought ways to collect and share the varied and complex kinds of data that are needed to document and understand our diversity as a species.

However, scientists have long faced two challenging hurdles:

	Information about our diversity-locational, biological, cultural, etc. is rich, complex, and not easily reduced to summary facts about "peoples," "cultures," or "places."
	The richness and complexity of this information are not easily cross-indexed in meaningful ways.

Collaborative interdisciplinary research on the connections (i.e., gene-human-environment interactions) between health & our global genetic diversity must confront not only these hurdles but others, as well:

	Specialists working in different scientific communities must accept that research on issues of common interest can be done efficiently and well thorough collaboration with experts in other fields.
	There must be reasonable agreement on what should be done and how to do it so that the results of different research projects can be shared productively.
	Investigators must be prepared to obtain samples and information that their collaborators need even when they themselves may not find such materials and data directly useful.

Collaborators must be able to share information and resources efficiently in ways that will reduce duplication of effort, enhance interoperability, and promote collaboratory, interdisciplinary cooperation. There is little current agreement among practitioners in the different disciplines interested in health & our global genetic diversity on the value and prerequisites for jointly acquiring and sharing information.