A response to BIO 2010: Transforming undergraduate education for future research biologists, from the perspective of the biochemistry and molecular biology major program at Kenyon College

Abstract

A central recommendation of the BIO 2010 report is that biology pedagogy should use an interdisciplinary approach incorporating a strong basis in mathematics and physical sciences. The emphasis on interdisciplinary education is in fact a major concern at liberal arts colleges, such as Kenyon, that have developed undergraduate major programs focusing on the intersection of chemistry and biology. We review here the recommendations of BIO 2010 in light of our experience developing a major program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Kenyon College.BIO 2010: RECOMMENDATIONS A key observation of BIO 2010 is that at most of the nation's universities, biology and chemistry students take courses in these disciplines but fail to grasp the ways in which chemistry feeds the study of biology. An even greater divide is seen between biology and physics and mathematics.To bridge these gaps between biology and the physical sciences throughout the undergraduate curriculum, BIO 2010 makes a number of recommendations for teaching, which we summarize as follows:• New teaching approaches should be developed that incorporate rigorous mathematical, physical, and informational sciences into biology. A noted model for the incorporation of this material is the modular approach, in which a case study such as that of the mechanism of influenza infection is used to motivate investigation of carbohydrate chemistry.• In addition to the improvement of disciplinary courses, cross-disciplinary faculty collaborations should facilitate the incorporation of rigorous mathematical, physical, and informational science concepts and topics into biology courses and vice versa. Such collaborations require resources and support from administrators and funding agencies.• Cross-disciplinary study must also extend to the student laboratory. Interdisciplinary laboratory experiments should incorporate a discovery approach.• Student independent research should be promoted as early as possible. Student scientific communication skills should be enhanced through presentations of their research.• Implementation of the BIO 2010 recommendations should be accompanied by proper assessment of achievement of pedagogical goals.In considering the BIO 2010 recommendations, we note that the main target audience for this report is research universities, whose faculty BIO 2010

Integrative Biological Chemistry Program Includes The Use Of Informatics Tools, GIS And SAS Software Applications

“…In response new undergraduate curricular materials have been developed and implemented (Rylands et al, 2013; Jungck et al, 2010; Matthews et al, 2010; Pursell, 2009; Owen and Breyer, 2005; Steen, 2005; Slonczewski and Marusak, 2004). …”

Using the Principles of BIO2010 to Develop an Introductory, Interdisciplinary Course for Biology Students

“…BIO2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists ( National Research Council, 2003 ) was a timely and credible call to action on reforming undergraduate science education, and it also offered a “blueprint” for this change. The report particularly catalyzed international discussion and debate around the need for stronger interdisciplinary approaches and greater quantitative rigor in life science education, resulting in broad consensus that change is urgently required ( Kennedy and Gentile, 2003 ; Steitz, 2003 ; Bialek and Botstein, 2004 ; Gross et al , 2004 ; May, 2004 ; Slonczewski and Marusak, 2004 ). However, challenges arise as individual institutions attempt to translate the blueprint of BIO2010 into practice.…”

Enhancing Interdisciplinary, Mathematics, and Physical Science in an Undergraduate Life Science Program through Physical Chemistry

“…Much has been written on the topic of increasing the interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate biology education, to include enhancing the level of mathematics and physical sciences in life science programs (Kennedy and Gentile, 2003;National Research Council, 2003;Steitz, 2003;Bialek and Botstein, 2004;Gross et al, 2004;May, 2004;Slonczewski and Marusak, 2004). On the whole, it seems most agree that increasing interdisciplinary, mathematics, and physical sciences components of a life science program is a positive development.…”