Meeting the Challenges in Emerging Areas: Education Across the Life, Mathematical, and Computer Sciences

美国数学协会与美国科学促进协会合作，正在举行一次会议，与会者包括计算机科学、数学和生命科学相结合的新兴领域的领导人以及这三个领域的本科教育领导人。这次会议鼓励国家迎接教育挑战，培养有能力进入这些交叉领域的学生。会议结果是报告和资源，为那些有兴趣创建课程和计划。最重要的成果是向所有利益相关者提交一份报告，向他们通报问题、需求和机会，以及他们可以做些什么。知识价值：生命科学的研究和发展由于以下原因而升级：1）人类基因组计划，2）国家优先考虑加强和保护人民的健康和福祉，3）新技术的使用。产生的数据已经超出了我们的分析能力。然而，通过对数据进行适当的分析可以获得的知识将带来更大的进步。新的研究举措导致新的方法来整合生命，数学和计算机科学。有新兴的研究领域，整合这三个学科，如生物技术，生物统计学和生物信息学。在这幅图中缺少的是有知识和技能进入这些新的交叉领域的人。学生必须为进入劳动力市场做好准备，从本科教育的各个层次，学生必须为研究生课程做好准备，以促进研究和开发需求。会议产生的报告正在向主要利益攸关方广泛分发，并在三个领域的高等教育教师专业会议以及行政人员和其他人员会议上作了介绍。教育工作者这些介绍进一步提请他们注意报告和其中所述问题。在三个学科的交叉点，跨学科课程，学生的招聘和更好的准备学生的新兴领域的新方案将是这个项目的好处。国家将处于更有利的地位，以满足其优先事项，并进一步在生命和生物医学科学正在进行的动态工作。

The Mathematical Association of America, in cooperation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is holding a conference of leaders in the emerging fields that integrate computer science, mathematics and the life sciences, and leaders in undergraduate education in all three areas. This conference is encouraging the nation to meet the educational challenge of producing students competent to enter these cross-cutting areas. Conference results are reports and resources for those interested in creating courses and programs. The most important product is a report to the nation for all stakeholders informing them of issues, needs, and opportunities, and what they can do.Intellectual Merit: Research and development in the life sciences have escalated as a result of: 1) the Human Genome Project, 2) national priorities to enhance and protect the health and well being of the people, and 3) the use of new technologies. The data being generated has outstripped our capability to analyze it. However, knowledge that can result from proper analysis of the data will lead to greater advances. New research initiatives lead to new ways to integrate the life, mathematical, and computer sciences. There are emerging fields of study that integrate these three disciplines, such as biotechnology, biostatistics, and bioinformatics. What is missing in this picture are the people who have the knowledge and skills to enter these new crosscutting areas. Students must be prepared for entering the workforce from all levels of undergraduate education, and students must be prepared for graduate programs in order to contribute to research and development needs.Broader Impacts: Reports resulting from the conference are being distributed widely to the major stakeholders and presentations are being made at professional meetings for higher education faculty in the three areas and at meetings of administrators and other educators. These presentations further bring the report and the issues addressed in it to their attention. New programs in the emerging areas at the crossroads of the three disciplines, interdisciplinary coursework, recruitment of students, and better-prepared students will be the benefits of this project. The nation will be in a stronger position to meet its priorities and further the dynamic work being done in the life and biomedical sciences.