Thought Provoking...

Last night, Natural Sciences Council hosted its bi-annual Town Hall Meeting which featured Dean Reichle and Dr. Iverson. One issue that we brought up dealt with majors. In the realm of biology, there are something like eight different majors to choose from complete with their own specializations and so on. Yet, in chemistry, there is only the chemistry option (and sure, I think a computational and teaching approach exist, but that's different). Why do we not have an organic chemistry option, or analytical, or even physical?

As Dr. Iverson put it, the expanse of knowledge we posses doubles (yes, doubles) every ten years. So, take everything we know right now, and in 2018 it will be double. That is impressive! But, it also posses a major challenge. Everyone needs to take a certain amount of core knowledge courses to be prepared for any career path they may explore. But, the knowledge of chemical processes, for instance, has expanded so much that we're at a point of asking "What exactly is core knowledge?" And sure, one could argue that their field is core knowledge, but others can very well argue against that.

But, the question can turn around and run the opposite way. Why then are there eight different biology majors to choose from? Surely the field of biology is also expanded along this exponential curve?

We then touched on the question of minors, but it was deemed a more appropriate question for Dean Laude, who could not make it. From what I've heard on his stance, Dr. Laude views minors as nothing more than another specialization. With the policies of the university as they are, why not just dual major in this case? So, we don't have minors, but we do allow for dual degrees. It's a sort of odd give and take, but I find myself agreeing with his logic. The requirements for a minor (if they'd be offered) and a second degree are much the same. So, just get the second degree and get it over with. There's no need to call something by a different name if it's the same thing.

The rest of the meeting ran smoothly. Most concerns did center around courses and research (to be expected at a university much like UT).

Unfortunately, I lack further astute observations to make this random musings entry more fulfilling. I shall leave off here for the time being. Off to the lab I shall go where the endless fields of research await. Until another time, have a good day and farewell.