Some subscribers to Phys-L might be interested in a recent post
"Convergence of the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and
Engineering" [Hake (2011)]. The abstract reads:
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ABSTRACT: Some discussion-list subscribers might be interested in the
MIT White Paper "The Third Revolution: The Convergence of the Life
Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering" [Sharp et al. (2011)].
Therein it is stated that: "Convergence is a new paradigm that can
yield critical advances in a broad array of sectors, from health care
to energy, food, climate, and water." For reviews of the "Convergence
Movement" see MIT News (2011) and Inside Higher Ed's "The Rise of
'Convergence' Science" [Berrett (2011)].
For previous work in the "Unity of Knowledge" and
inter/trans-disciplinary areas see e.g., (1) "Principles of Systems"
[Forrester (1968)]; (2) "Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge" [Wilson
(1999)]; (3) "Emergence and Convergence: Qualitative Novelty and the
Unity of Knowledge" [Bunge (2003)]; (4)"Thinking in Systems: A
Primer" [Meadows (2008)]; (5) "Inspired by Biology: From Molecules to
Materials to Machines" NRC (2008); (6)citations in "Over Two-Hundred
Annotated References on Systems Thinking" [Hake (2009)]; (7) "The
Science of Synthesis: Exploring the Social Implications of General
Systems Theory" [Hammond (2010)]; and (8) "Research at the
Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences" [NRC (2010a)].
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In my opinion, although the White Paper is a valuable contribution to
the advance of science, it might have been improved if it had
acknowledged:
(a) precursors to its "new paradigm" of Convergence, such as the
"Systems Dynamics" work of MIT's Jay Forrester in particular; and
inter/trans-disciplinary "Systems Thinking" generally;
(b) world problems in need of inter/trans-disciplinary attention that
are even more severe than the "health care" problem emphasized in the
White Paper's Introduction - e.g., the "Threat to Life on Planet
Earth."
REFERENCES [URL's shortened by <http://bit.ly/> and accessed on 14 Jan 2011.]
Berrett, D. 2011. "The Rise of 'Convergence' Science," Inside Higher
Ed, 11 January; online at <http://bit.ly/fVOp3C>. As of 14 Jan 2011
10:26:00-0800 there had been 9 comments at <http://bit.ly/fomM8o>.
You might wish to add yours.
Hake, R.R. 2011. "Convergence of the Life Sciences, Physical
Sciences, and Engineering" online on the OPEN! AERA-L archives at
<http://bit.ly/fI9Zjf>. Post of 14 Jan 2011 11:14:07-0800 to AERA-L
and Net-Gold. The abstract and link to the complete post are being
transmitted to various discussion lists are also online on my blog
"Hake'sEdStuff" at <http://bit.ly/g2f8Fo> with a provision for
comments.
MIT News. 2011. "MIT scientists say 'convergence' offers potential
for revolutionary advances in biomedicine, other fields," January 4;
online at <http://bit.ly/gdACA7>.
Sharp, P.A., C.L. Cooney, M.A. Kastner, J. Lees, R. Sasisekharan,
M.A. Yaffee, S.N. Bahatia, T. E. Jacks, D.A. Lauffenburger, R.
Langer, P.T. Hammond, M. Sur. 2010. "The Third Revolution: The
Convergence of the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and
Engineering," online as a 3.1 MB pdf at <http://bit.ly/eHzKKq>. After
an explanatory "Letter to our Colleagues" the authors state:
"Convergence is a new paradigm that can yield critical advances in a
broad array of sectors, from health care to energy, food, climate,
and water."