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Rather than teach #science by compartmentalizing biology, chemistry, physics, etc., we should focus on systems thinking.

The world is interconnected - oceans, food, #climate, energy, health, security, biodiversity & on.

When more of us, all around the world, consider how the pieces fit together & influence each other, we’ll be better equipped to meet global challenges.

Book recommendation: https://donellameadows.org/systems-thinking-book-sale/ by the inspiring scholar Donella Meadows

Systems Thinking Book Sale - The Donella Meadows Project

Thinking in Systems    Written by Donella Meadows and edited by Diana Wright This is a primer that brings you to a tangible world and shows you how to develop systems thinking skills.
The Academy for Systems Change
#science #Climate
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Indy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Indy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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Very interesting thoughts. Thankyou for sharing. So rather than teaching #science by separating the different branches take a holistic view that moves focus towards systems thinking? Can I ask if this would include the arts?
#science
in reply to Indy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Sheril Kirshenbaum
Sheril Kirshenbaum
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@IndyRichard Certainly. And I don’t think there should be a one-size-fits-all approach.

Incidentally, many of the great scientists I know are also painters, musicians, writers, & so on.
@Indy Richard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

JMac
JMac
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Absolutely. Can you imagine the effect on engagement in mathematics if it was integrated with other disciplines?
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

TomGregory
TomGregory
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Agree completely. I worked in geosciences my entire career with degrees in math, geology and geophysics. I hated the stereotypes of geologists not knowing math or geophysicists not knowing geology in the business world. The silos need to come down.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Daniel Betz :linux: :donor:
Daniel Betz :linux: :donor:
• •
it’s been coined as “convergence education” by the US Dept of Education. They have a recent online talk about it.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Joseph
Joseph
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I really love this idea but question the details of it. I think this would be great with a focus on the scientific method and discovery but eventually biology, chemistry and physics do diverge. While I would agree students would benefit from a more holistic approach, coordinating classroom teachings between staff and ensuring a smooth succinct learning style between classrooms is hard. Multiply that over 50 states and we have a hot mess logistically.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Gabor Hrasko
Gabor Hrasko
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nice idea, but I think it is impossible to train good enough teachers for it.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Jon Awbrey
Jon Awbrey
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Some thoughts ...

Conceptual Barriers to Creating Integrative Universities
• https://www.academia.edu/1266492/Conceptual_Barriers_to_Creating_Integrative_Universities

Conceptual Barriers to Creating Integrative Universities

Today’s society looks to universities for solutions to broad-based issues that require cross-disciplinary expertise. Yet, the organizational structure of our institutions remains locked in academic and administrative silos that have little genuine
Jon Awbrey (org.sagepub.com)
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Jayarava
Jayarava
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Understanding substances requires reductionist methods and theories; understanding structure/system requires holistic methods and theories.

We need *both*.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

MEMEXIKON
MEMEXIKON
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I'm reminded of how cybernetics has influenced whole systems thinking..
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Kimota94
Kimota94
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Ironically that’s sort of the way science is taught in the early grades, at least here in Canada. It’s not until high school that the subject gets discretely split out into the various sub-disciplines.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Arun Wadhwa
Arun Wadhwa
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One of the things I loved about my Med-school was that they divided our anatomy course into two semesters and approached them differently. The 1st semester focused on Systemic Anatomy, where everything was divided into Musculoskeletal System, Circulatory System, etc., while the 2nd focused on Regional Anatomy, divided into the head, upper limbs, etc. They also had separate interdisciplinary courses like Pathophysiology, which helped connect both Pathology & Physiology learned earlier.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Rajiv Patel
Rajiv Patel
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Need to do both. Strong foundation of base technology and science and then the interplay in a systems setting.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Jay Bikay PhD
Jay Bikay PhD
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agree! Plus biology is chemistry, chemistry is physics, and physics is math. lol
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Arrakis_Surfer :antiverified:
Arrakis_Surfer :antiverified:
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Some of us divergent types can't help but think systemically. I have presented to several groups of engineers about building innovative teams. I recommend doing deep research in a very different field, like biology (as opposed to computer science for example), when searching for inspiration. I have several good examples and love the idea of transdisciplinary thought. You have my vote.

#science #climate
#science #Climate

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