Spring Break
Biology and math merge in new curriculum
By: Liang Liang
Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: News
Having studied in the program for nine months, Stevenson said he is planning to go to graduate school to pursue an advanced degree in biology.
Some undergraduate students in biology who are not involved in the integrated program expressed different points of view.
"I think biology and mathematics are different things. I don't see much mathematics involved in biology. The program should be designed as a graduate program which is more geared toward research," said Barry Hamilton, a senior biology major.
Clayton Smith, who is also a senior biology major, said math is not essential to biology.
"The more you know about math the more theory it becomes. I took calculus I and II. They didn't help a lot," Smith said.
Dr. Vincent M. Cassone, head of the biology department is the principal initiator of the UBM program. He said the program was created for undergraduates because there has been an increasing need for research in biology undergraduate programs.
"(The opposing opinion) speaks volumes for the need for this program, because nothing I do in my laboratory or in my classes can be understood completely without a mathematical basis," Cassone said. "We need to train students to think biological questions from mathematical perspective. And we hope our students will go on and go to the graduate schools and become professional scientists taking advantage of what they learn in this program."
Newton said the National Science Foundation is hoping to permanently change the current biological curricula in the U.S. universities, adding more mathematical emphasis in biology, as biology increasingly involves mathematics.
"The potential here is very real. We are excited about the program from both biological and mathematical stand points. We expect more students will come in down the main stream," said Dr. Albert Boggess, head of the Department of Mathematics.
Some undergraduate students in biology who are not involved in the integrated program expressed different points of view.
"I think biology and mathematics are different things. I don't see much mathematics involved in biology. The program should be designed as a graduate program which is more geared toward research," said Barry Hamilton, a senior biology major.
Clayton Smith, who is also a senior biology major, said math is not essential to biology.
"The more you know about math the more theory it becomes. I took calculus I and II. They didn't help a lot," Smith said.
Dr. Vincent M. Cassone, head of the biology department is the principal initiator of the UBM program. He said the program was created for undergraduates because there has been an increasing need for research in biology undergraduate programs.
"(The opposing opinion) speaks volumes for the need for this program, because nothing I do in my laboratory or in my classes can be understood completely without a mathematical basis," Cassone said. "We need to train students to think biological questions from mathematical perspective. And we hope our students will go on and go to the graduate schools and become professional scientists taking advantage of what they learn in this program."
Newton said the National Science Foundation is hoping to permanently change the current biological curricula in the U.S. universities, adding more mathematical emphasis in biology, as biology increasingly involves mathematics.
"The potential here is very real. We are excited about the program from both biological and mathematical stand points. We expect more students will come in down the main stream," said Dr. Albert Boggess, head of the Department of Mathematics.
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