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Workshop on Education in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology WEBCB 2009 7 Sep 2009

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

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Workshop on Education in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology WEBCB 2009 7 Sep 2009

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  1. Workshop on Education in Bioinformatics and Computational BiologyWEBCB 20097 Sep 2009 Discussion Session Bruno Gaeta, Shoba Ranganathan Tan Tin Wee, Kwoh Chee Keong

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Discussion Point 6: Students • Bioinformatics-related careers: • Industry Visits and industry career prospects • Higher Degree and academic career

  8. 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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