June 29, 2010
Interdisciplinary Research- the “New Biology”- Holds Great Potential, Subcommittee Hears
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to examine the future of the biological sciences. The trend toward interdisciplinary research--specifically, research at the intersection of the biological sciences, engineering, mathematics, and the physical sciences--has been termed “new biology.” The hearing explored the potential that the new biology holds for addressing fundamental problems in energy, the environment, agriculture, materials, and manufacturing.
Research in the biological sciences is the largest area of research supported by the federal government, representing 27 percent of federal research obligations in 2007. Many believe biological research is on the verge of a revolution, moving from a field that began with simple taxonomy to one that is data driven and engineerable.
“Research happening at the intersection of the biological sciences, the physical sciences, engineering, and mathematics has the potential to help solve numerous important problems,” Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL). “To take just one example, synthetic biology could lead to the development of bacteria that could help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, produce cellulosic biofuels, or even lead to an organism that can detect and destroy cancer cells. The prospect of advances like these is one reason the market for synthetic biology-based products is expected to grow to more than $3.5 billion over the next decade. It also shows the need to link research outcomes to American companies and American jobs.”
Biologists are taking an increasingly multi-pronged approach to both basic and applied research, from using mathematical tools to study heart physiology, to applying engineering principles to the production of biofuels and gene therapies. As witnesses and Members discussed, this shift in approach holds great potential for game-changing breakthroughs but may necessitate an equally serious shift in training and education programs. The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports interdisciplinary research and education through the Integrative Graduate Research and Education Traineeship program, which exposes students to research, education, and training across scientific fields. Members and witnesses discussed the type of education and training necessary for undergraduate and graduate students to work effectively across traditional disciplines and the effectiveness of federal support for interdisciplinary research and education.
“I’ve seen firsthand the difficulty of overcoming cultural and institutional barriers between academic departments and schools. But the potential successes that can be realized by having interdisciplinary teams working on biological problems mean that we need to ensure that these collaborations continue to grow,” said Lipinski.
In order to address many of the grand challenges in energy, the environment, agriculture, materials, and manufacturing, there is an increasing need for interagency coordination of biological sciences research. Some examples of successful coordination already exist. For example, the National Plant Genome Initiative brings together four federal agencies to translate basic research into the enhanced management of natural resources. The U.S. Global Change Research Program draws on 13 federal agencies to research the sensitivity and adaptability of different ecosystems and human systems to climate and related global changes. In addition to interagency coordination, Members and witnesses also examined the current state of university-industry collaborations, and how federal programs might be able to better address potential workforce gaps.
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