MSci Integrated Natural Sciences: An anti-disciplinary answer to problems in Science
Summary
Interdisciplinarity is...
“using whatever it takes to try and get to the bottom of understanding the question”
We spoke to Andrew McAinsh, Deputy Dean at Warwick Medical School, about his experiences teaching on the new MSci Integrated Natural Sciences course. Andrew speaks about his own experience working and studying in the field of cell biology, particularly the need to collaborate with colleagues from other departments. This experience led Andrew to develop an “anti-disciplinary” approach which encourages scientists to draw from a wide range of knowledge to approach a problem without feeling constrained to a traditional scientific discipline. Andrew highlights the course’s hands-on approach to learning, with every afternoon spent in labs. This complements the course’s practical methodology which is centred around problem-solving. Students on this course typically come from a range of disciplines which creates an effective learning environment, but also logistical challenges for teachers.
Students Say...
The course page features student testimonials, who have given very positive feedback about the course. The benefits of doing practical work were highlighted by several students. On the topic of combining maths with other scientific disciplines, students said that the course “gives you an applicable view of how maths works in the real world”, and that it was “very interesting to use maths [they] had learned before, in a biological context”.
Andrew McAinsh
Prof. Andrew McAinsh is the Deputy Dean & Pro Dean (Research) at Warwick Medical School. Andrew completed a PhD in molecular and cell biology at the University of Cambridge, followed by postdoctoral work at MIT before joining University of Warwick, co-founding the Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology in 2009.
See Andrew’s full bio here.
Highlights
“The future of sciences is going to really require that people are able to combine different ways of thinking in order to solve a particular problem.”
“[Interdisciplinarity is] a bit like baking a cake…”
“I think that it’s good for students to realise that I don't know everything either, and therefore that means it's perfectly OK for the students to not know things or understand things”
Further Resources
Curious to learn more?
Please find information on the MSci Integrated Natural Sciences course here.
You can also contact Andrew: a.d.mcainsh@warwick.ac.uk