charting a course toward interdisciplinary collaborations
DESCRIPTION
A keynote given at Tuskegee University.TRANSCRIPT
Charting a Course Toward Interdisciplinary
Collaborations
A Story of Successes, Failures, and lots of Fun
Prof. Jason Miller, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Mathematics
Truman State [email protected]
The Challenge
The Challenge
• coming together to form interdisciplinary collaborations
The Challenge
• coming together to form interdisciplinary collaborations
• influence curriculum in this direction
The Challenge
• coming together to form interdisciplinary collaborations
• influence curriculum in this direction
• results in students understanding the interrelatedness of the STEM fields
Acronyms
Acronyms
• UR = Undergraduate Research
Acronyms
• UR = Undergraduate Research
• STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Acronyms
• UR = Undergraduate Research
• STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
• STEP = STEM Talent Expansion Program (NSF)
Acronyms
• UR = Undergraduate Research
• STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
• STEP = STEM Talent Expansion Program (NSF)
• UBM = Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biology and Mathematics (NSF)
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
Truman is in rural Kirskville, Missouri
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
• Missouri’s only “highly selective” public liberal arts University
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
• Missouri’s only “highly selective” public liberal arts University
• ~6000 undergrads, ~325 faculty, 150 Masters students
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
• Missouri’s only “highly selective” public liberal arts University
• ~6000 undergrads, ~325 faculty, 150 Masters students
• Institutional commitment to Undergraduate Research and to Interdisciplinary work
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity• Truman has a strong institutional
commitment to interdisciplinary work and undergraduate research
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity• Truman has a strong institutional
commitment to interdisciplinary work and undergraduate research
• all students take a Junior Interdisciplinary Seminar course
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity• Truman has a strong institutional
commitment to interdisciplinary work and undergraduate research
• all students take a Junior Interdisciplinary Seminar course
• Truman views undergraduate research as a teaching tool; encourages faculty & students (grants, annual campus-wide conference)
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
• Two Truman programs -
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
• Two Truman programs -
The Next STEP program (STEM Talent Expansion)
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
• Two Truman programs -
The Next STEP program (STEM Talent Expansion)
Mathematical Biology program
Truman & Interdisciplinary Activity
• Two Truman programs -
The Next STEP program (STEM Talent Expansion)
Mathematical Biology program
• both grow out of Truman’s experience with undergraduate research and interdisciplinary work
Talk’s Focus
Talk’s Focus
• Why should we want to move our work in an interdisciplinary direction? What motivation is there?
Talk’s Focus
• Why should we want to move our work in an interdisciplinary direction? What motivation is there?
• What does “interdisciplinary” mean?
Talk’s Focus
• Why should we want to move our work in an interdisciplinary direction? What motivation is there?
• What does “interdisciplinary” mean?
• What are some ways we can go about doing interdisciplinary work?
Tuskegee’s Work
Tuskegee’s WorkTuskegee University is already doing some noteworthy and important things in this direction
Tuskegee’s Work
• the CReATE program - very successful talent expansion effort
Tuskegee University is already doing some noteworthy and important things in this direction
Tuskegee’s Work
• the CReATE program - very successful talent expansion effort
• Student Academic Partners
Tuskegee University is already doing some noteworthy and important things in this direction
Tuskegee’s Work
• the CReATE program - very successful talent expansion effort
• Student Academic Partners
• Aerospace Science & Psychology partnership
Tuskegee University is already doing some noteworthy and important things in this direction
Tuskegee’s Work
• the CReATE program - very successful talent expansion effort
• Student Academic Partners
• Aerospace Science & Psychology partnership
Tuskegee University is already doing some noteworthy and important things in this direction
You should take great pride in these and other accomplishments!!
Why move toward interdisciplinary work?
Motivation for Interdisciplinarity?
Motivation for Interdisciplinarity?
• external partners
places that hire our students, graduate training programs
Motivation for Interdisciplinarity?
• external partners
places that hire our students, graduate training programs
• ourselves
searching for new challenges
Motivation for Interdisciplinarity?
• external partners
places that hire our students, graduate training programs
• ourselves
searching for new challenges
• our students
give ‘em a competitive advantage, grow our programs
Professional Societies
Professional Societies
Professional Societies
Professional Societies
Professional Societies
Professional Societies
Professional Societies
If we don’t do this...?
If we don’t do this...?
• pure “disciplinarians” will always be necessary
If we don’t do this...?
• pure “disciplinarians” will always be necessary
• but....
If we don’t do this...?
• pure “disciplinarians” will always be necessary
• but....
external funding (federal and industrial)
If we don’t do this...?
• pure “disciplinarians” will always be necessary
• but....
external funding (federal and industrial)
student recruitment and retention to STEM
If we don’t do this...?
• pure “disciplinarians” will always be necessary
• but....
external funding (federal and industrial)
student recruitment and retention to STEM
our connection to interesting questions
If we don’t do this...?
If we don’t do this...?
• forces of interdisciplinary inquiry are changing the nature of our disciplines...
If we don’t do this...?
• forces of interdisciplinary inquiry are changing the nature of our disciplines...
• Example: the New Biology
If we don’t do this...?
• forces of interdisciplinary inquiry are changing the nature of our disciplines...
• Example: the New Biology
• Example: the Experimental Mathematics
If we don’t do this...?
• forces of interdisciplinary inquiry are changing the nature of our disciplines...
• Example: the New Biology
• Example: the Experimental Mathematics
At some level, we will all be asked to adapt to the changing nature of our disciplines.
What does it mean to be “interdisciplinary”?
Non-Example
Non-Example
• Mathematics and Physics have an historical relationship
Non-Example
• Mathematics and Physics have an historical relationship
• At Truman: the Math Major requires students to take a course in physics (or chemistry)
Non-Example
• Mathematics and Physics have an historical relationship
• At Truman: the Math Major requires students to take a course in physics (or chemistry)
• Only an Add-on course!
Non-Example
• Mathematics and Physics have an historical relationship
• At Truman: the Math Major requires students to take a course in physics (or chemistry)
• Only an Add-on course!
• Students are left to make the connection between the disciplines
Non-Example
• Mathematics and Physics have an historical relationship
• At Truman: the Math Major requires students to take a course in physics (or chemistry)
• Only an Add-on course!
• Students are left to make the connection between the disciplines
When we talk about an interdisciplinary interaction, we expect more!
What is Interdisciplinarity?
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
• involves more than one discipline
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
• involves more than one discipline
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
• involves more than one discipline
Biology
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
• involves more than one discipline
Biology
Chemistry
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
• involves more than one discipline
Biology
Chemistry
ComputerScience
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
• involves more than one discipline
Biology
Chemistry
MathematicsComputer
Science
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
• involves more than one discipline
Biology
Chemistry Physics
MathematicsComputer
Science
What is Interdisciplinarity?
• is NOT the “add-on” course for a major
• involves more than one discipline
Biology
Chemistry Physics
MathematicsComputer
Science
\
Epistemology
Epistemology
• Disciplines can be distinguished from one another by their epistemology
Epistemology
• Disciplines can be distinguished from one another by their epistemology
• Example: Biology
scientific method, questions about life
Epistemology
• Disciplines can be distinguished from one another by their epistemology
• Example: Biology
scientific method, questions about life
• Example: Mathematics
deductive method, questions about pattern, proof
Epistemology
Epistemology
• Doing interdisciplinary work - need to be sensitive to discipline epistemology at the outset
Epistemology
• Doing interdisciplinary work - need to be sensitive to discipline epistemology at the outset
• abstract process:
Epistemology
• Doing interdisciplinary work - need to be sensitive to discipline epistemology at the outset
• abstract process:
1. identify a question of interest to two (or more) disciplines
Epistemology
• Doing interdisciplinary work - need to be sensitive to discipline epistemology at the outset
• abstract process:
1. identify a question of interest to two (or more) disciplines
2. apply each discipline’s approach to the question
Epistemology
• Doing interdisciplinary work - need to be sensitive to discipline epistemology at the outset
• abstract process:
1. identify a question of interest to two (or more) disciplines
2. apply each discipline’s approach to the question
3. synthesize/reconcile results
How to “do” interdisciplinary work?
Examples Here
Examples Here
• your Aerospace + Psychology collaboration
Examples Here
• your Aerospace + Psychology collaboration
• the Biochemistry efforts
Examples Here
• your Aerospace + Psychology collaboration
• the Biochemistry efforts
• the “Mathematics, Computers, and Biosciences” course
Examples Here
• your Aerospace + Psychology collaboration
• the Biochemistry efforts
• the “Mathematics, Computers, and Biosciences” course
• the CReATE program
Examples Here
• your Aerospace + Psychology collaboration
• the Biochemistry efforts
• the “Mathematics, Computers, and Biosciences” course
• the CReATE program
All these put Tuskegee University on the interdisicplinary map!
Case Study #1
Case Study #1
• Truman’s STEP program - 10 week Summer UR program
Case Study #1
• Truman’s STEP program - 10 week Summer UR program
• for students “on the fence” about STEM
Case Study #1
• Truman’s STEP program - 10 week Summer UR program
• for students “on the fence” about STEM
• all STEM disciplines at Truman represented
~20 students
~15 mentors
Case Study #1
• Truman’s STEP program - 10 week Summer UR program
• for students “on the fence” about STEM
• all STEM disciplines at Truman represented
~20 students
~15 mentors
• highly structured community & program
Truman STEP program
Truman STEP program
• students living together in the same residence hall
Truman STEP program
• students living together in the same residence hall
• Lunch & Learn Workshops/Discussions
Truman STEP program
• students living together in the same residence hall
• Lunch & Learn Workshops/Discussions
• Monday Morning Meetings - time to report to group (ups & downs, questions, requests)
Truman STEP program
• students living together in the same residence hall
• Lunch & Learn Workshops/Discussions
• Monday Morning Meetings - time to report to group (ups & downs, questions, requests)
• everyone aware of all the research being done - learning about the nature of each disciplines through interaction
Truman STEP program
Truman STEP program
• through community & discipline specific projects, these students are being sensitized to disciplinary differences
Truman STEP program
• through community & discipline specific projects, these students are being sensitized to disciplinary differences
• projects of interdisciplinary nature can amplify this effect
Truman STEP program
• through community & discipline specific projects, these students are being sensitized to disciplinary differences
• projects of interdisciplinary nature can amplify this effect
• (faculty mentors are affected, too!)
Case Study #2
Case Study #2
• Introduction to Mathematical Biology course
Case Study #2
• Introduction to Mathematical Biology course
• major elective in Math & Biology, both
Case Study #2
• Introduction to Mathematical Biology course
• major elective in Math & Biology, both
• team taught: biologist + mathematician; lecture & discussion
Case Study #2
• Introduction to Mathematical Biology course
• major elective in Math & Biology, both
• team taught: biologist + mathematician; lecture & discussion
• students work in cross-disciplinary teams on modules that require expertise from both disciplines
Case Study #3
Case Study #3
• Research-focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology program
Case Study #3
• Research-focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology program
• centered around Mathematical Biology Seminar
Case Study #3
• Research-focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology program
• centered around Mathematical Biology Seminar
• community of 4-person teams (cross-disciplinary pair of students and pair of faculty mentors)
Case Study #3
• Research-focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology program
• centered around Mathematical Biology Seminar
• community of 4-person teams (cross-disciplinary pair of students and pair of faculty mentors)
• work on a research project for 12 months, including intensive summer 10 week period with STEP community
Community
Learning Community
Community
Learning Community
Community
Learning Community
Community
Learning Community
Community
Learning Community
Community
Learning Community
Community
Learning Community
Learning Community
Residence Hall
Small Group Meetings + MentorsWeekly Discussions/Workshops
Meals
Social EventsMathBio Seminar
Learning Community
Residence Hall
Small Group Meetings + MentorsWeekly Discussions/Workshops
Meals
Social EventsMathBio Seminar
Learning Community
Case Study #3
Case Study #3• Goals of the Learning Community
1. prepare students for interdisciplinary graduate programs
2. foster long-term research collaborations between faculty
3. build human infrastructure to build inter-curricular interactions
Case Study #3• Goals of the Learning Community
1. prepare students for interdisciplinary graduate programs
2. foster long-term research collaborations between faculty
3. build human infrastructure to build inter-curricular interactions
• Not - turning biology majors into mathematics majors or mathematics majors into biology majors
Case Study #3
Case Study #3
• Each team (faculty + student) gets deep interdisciplinary experience
Case Study #3
• Each team (faculty + student) gets deep interdisciplinary experience
• Mathematical Biology seminar gets us together, talking about disciplinary differences
Case Study #3
• Each team (faculty + student) gets deep interdisciplinary experience
• Mathematical Biology seminar gets us together, talking about disciplinary differences
• Research projects develop institutional expertise and faculty buy-in to the program goals
Case Study #3
• Each team (faculty + student) gets deep interdisciplinary experience
• Mathematical Biology seminar gets us together, talking about disciplinary differences
• Research projects develop institutional expertise and faculty buy-in to the program goals
• Observation: a faculty dynamic in an interdisciplinary collaborations - technician v. investigator
Summary
Summary
• These are different activities happening at Truman
Summary
• These are different activities happening at Truman
• They share some features of work happening at Tuskegee
Summary
• These are different activities happening at Truman
• They share some features of work happening at Tuskegee
• All signs point to
Summary
• These are different activities happening at Truman
• They share some features of work happening at Tuskegee
• All signs point to
you can do interdisciplinary work
Summary
• These are different activities happening at Truman
• They share some features of work happening at Tuskegee
• All signs point to
you can do interdisciplinary work
just need a collaborator + curiosity and
Summary
• These are different activities happening at Truman
• They share some features of work happening at Tuskegee
• All signs point to
you can do interdisciplinary work
just need a collaborator + curiosity and
a willingness to learn something new