The Science of Team Science is a new interdisciplinary field that empirically examines the processes by which large and small scientific teams, research centers, and institutes organize, communicate, and conduct research. This includes understanding how teams connect and collaborate to achieve scientific breakthroughs that would not be attainable by either individual or simply additive efforts.

The committee explored the topic to recommend opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of collaborative research in science teams, research centers, and institutes, including factors such as team dynamics, team management, and institutional structures and policies that affect large and small science teams.