Workshop on Education in
Bioinformatics
and Computational Biology
WEBCB 2009
7 Sep 2009
Discussion Session
Bruno Gaeta, Shoba Ranganathan
Tan Tin Wee, Kwoh Chee Keong
Discussion Point 1:
The Substrate
•
Bioinformatics for Biologists
–
Beyond bioinformatics appreciation
–
glorified
ppt/word/google users;
–
Beyond cut
-
and
-
paste bioinformaticians
–
Able to think computationally and informatically at an
adequate level of abstraction to solve biological
problems
–
minimally understand how to read a paper
containing bioinformatics procedures.
•
Bioinformatics for others
–
Bioinformatics algorithmers
–
Bioinformatics programmers
Discussion Point 2:
The Product
•
Successful Application Users
–
Tool Users
•
Tool Developers
•
Independent PhD Researchers in Life
Sciences
•
Basic level of bioinformatics competencies
dynamically defined at a level which is
challenging enough to serve biological
research well into the future.
Discussion Point 3:
Which Level?
•
In Schools? Polytechnic?
–
Thinking bio logically vs computationally?
–
By analogy; descriptive; inductive reasoning; patterns, reductionistic vs
by deductive reasoning, building up from first principles; abstraction,
algorithmic thinking
•
Undergraduate Courses:
–
Major
–
Minor
–
Appreciation
–
Cross Teaching bio
-
background vs computing
-
bkgrd
•
Masters Courses: basic couirsework requirements plus
electives; projects with basic minimum standards
–
Bioinformatics Technicians
•
PhD Programmes by research, in
-
depth science
•
Benchmarking to different levels
Discussion Point 4:
Guide for Educators
•
Educational Philosophies for Bioinformatics
–
Transferrable skills
•
Curriculum and Syllabus at each level
–
Techniques come and go and come back again
–
Rapidly changing landscape
–
anticipating the future
–
Basic transferrable skills
–
thinking, basic mathematical, statistical,
computational, algorithmic
•
Minimum Skillsets for UG Bioinformatics
–
Skills for Majors
–
Skills for Minors
•
Minimum Bioinformatics Skills for Life Science Undergraduates
–
Bioinformatics Appreciation
–
Minor in bioinformatics
-
Power Users for Honours project
•
Minimum Qualifications for “trained” bioinformaticians
Discussion Point 5:
Course Organisers
•
Well Trained Lecturers and Instructors
•
Material
–
audio video software material
•
Resources
–
computational and databases
–
Bioinformatics Core Facilities
•
Textbooks for theory
•
Practical Courses
•
Accreditation and Benchmarking
Discussion Point 6:
Students
•
Bioinformatics
-
related careers:
•
Industry Visits and industry career
prospects
•
Higher Degree and academic career
Concluding Remarks of WEBCB
•
“Bioinformatics is Dead;
Viva la Bioinformatique
”
–
Lincoln Stein (2002)
•
Bioinformatics Beyond 2012?
–
It will become part and parcel of the system.
•
New Directions for the Bioinformatics?
–
Short term 5
-
10 yrs
–
one of the many
-
the Personal Genomics
challenge; environmental bioinformatics for sustainable
management of our natural resources
–
Synthesis or separation between bioinformatics and
computational biology? The technologists
-
technicians vs the
Scientists?
–
Long term
-
the New Biology revolution which is “old”
–
biology
as an informational science.
–
“What is Life?” Schrodinger (1944)
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