Workshop on Education in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology WEBCB Sep 2009 Discussion Session Bruno Gaeta, Shoba Ranganathan Tan Tin Wee, Kwoh Chee Keong

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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 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)