PPT (100Kb) - APBioNet

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)