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Biomedical engineering and bioscience students address hypoxia‐related research problems in an interdisciplinary physiology laboratory course
Author(s) -
Stanley Jennifer Anne,
Clase Kari,
Gerber Jonathan,
Hein Patrick,
Lenzi Elizabeth A,
Sinak Kelly Marie,
Walls Elwood,
Pelaez Nancy J
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.575.14
Subject(s) - multidisciplinary approach , discipline , engineering ethics , teamwork , scope (computer science) , medical education , psychology , management science , engineering , computer science , medicine , sociology , political science , social science , law , programming language
Innovative transformational research is being promoted by the NSF Strategic Plan 2006–2011, with multidisciplinary projects emphasized. To prepare undergraduates for careers that cross disciplinary boundaries, bioscience students need to practice interdisciplinary communication in academic programs that connect students in diverse disciplines. This report describes a physiology laboratory course being piloted to create and study this educational frontier. Measurement and Design Issues for Experimental Physiology is a course where biomedical engineering and biology students apply knowledge from both fields while cooperating in multidisciplinary teams under specified technical constraints. Students use information, tools, techniques, and theories from their disciplines to solve problems that are beyond the scope of any single discipline. Instructional guidelines are provided to promote effective communication, systems thinking, laboratory skills, self‐management, and professional ethics needed for hypoxia‐related research. This project recognized different problem‐solving approaches used by students of engineering and bioscience, broke down stereotypes between the disciplines, and developed an educational environment where interdisciplinary teamwork was used to bridge differences.