SyMBiosis*
SyMBiosis I 2000
In 2000, an interdisciplinary science seminar, SyMBiosis*, brought together scholars from math, the physical sciences, statistics, and biology. The underlying motivation for this seminar series was to address a pedagogical question: Can we devise a curriculum in which chemistry, math, physics and statistics (CMPS) courses are somehow coordinated with biology courses so that students will be able to perceive the linkages between these disciplines? The seminar approached this pedagogical question indirectly through discussions of research - mainly biological research - and of how "interdisciplinarity" can advance the process of discovery. The seminar was designed to discover ways for biological sciences faculty to work together with colleagues in CMPS to create a learning environment in which life sciences majors can learn to be better scholars. But also to ignite new research fires as well.
A broad topical area of biological sciences was discussed in a two-week module. In the first week, a two-person team of biological scientists described two approaches to research in the area and CMPS underpinnings. In the next week, CMPS participants discussed the implications for teaching the foundational courses that would prepare students well for research in that topical area.
Outcomes: Biology Interest Groups, a new course cross-college course in Medical Imaging (Medical School and L&S), discussions about a calculus course for biological sciences students.
SyMBiosis II 2005-6
In 2005, the Center for Biology Education and the Physics Department began a collaboration to create an Introductory Physics (Calculus-based) course that would meet the needs of biological sciences students. A series of meetings between a core leadership team in Physics and a team of biological sciences faculty culminated in a Forum on November 4, 2005 for sharing examples in the biological sciences that could be used in instruction of the content areas of Physics 207/208. The Physics Department initiative started Spring 2006 with a lecture section taught by Don Cox. Since then, other Physics faculty have been teaching sections of 207-208 with an eye to the needs of biological sciences students. Numerous other physics colleagues have participated in assessment projects, materials development initiatives, and grant-writing. Faculty, staff, and an assessment project assistant will observe and assist in identifying successes and ideas for areas needing improvement.
Photos from Forum- Nov 4, 2005
Biological Examples from the Forum
* The name, SyMBiosis Seminar, is intended to emphasize the idea of creative interaction across disciplines with "Science and Math for Biology students" encoded in the name. Note: The fractal image in the header was inspired by Mitsutoshi Naruse and Masako Naruse In Tojyo Hyogo Japan, http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mugenn/uchuu, with their permission.
UW-Madison Faculty/staff wishing to become participants should contact Lillian Tong: tong@wisc.edu