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Title: Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2010.

Abstract

Traditionally, the natural sciences have been divided into two branches: the biological sciences and the physical sciences. Today, an increasing number of scientists are addressing problems lying at the intersection of the two. These problems are most often biological in nature, but examining them through the lens of the physical sciences can yield exciting results and opportunities. For example, one area producing effective cross-discipline research opportunities centers on the dynamics of systems. Equilibrium, multi-stability, and stochastic behavior--concepts familiar to physicists and chemists--are now being used to tackle issues associated with living systems such as adaptation, feedback, and emergent behavior. Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences discusses how some of the most important scientific and societal challenges can be addressed, at least in part, by collaborative research that lies at the intersection of traditional disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and physics. This book describes how some of the mysteries of the biological world are being addressed using tools and techniques developed in the physical sciences, and identifies five areas of potentially transformative research. Work in these areas would have significant impact in both research and society at large by expanding our understanding of the physical world and bymore » revealing new opportunities for advancing public health, technology, and stewardship of the environment. This report recommends several ways to accelerate such cross-discipline research. Many of these recommendations are directed toward those administering the faculties and resources of our great research institutions--and the stewards of our research funders, making this book an excellent resource for academic and research institutions, scientists, universities, and federal and private funding agencies.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1052446
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/46378-FINAL
DOE Contract Number:  
FG02-07ER46378
Resource Type:
Other
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Physical sciences; life sciences; physics; biology; chemistry; biophysics; biochemistry; biomaterials; nanomaterials; interdisciplinary; survey; NRC; NAS; report

Citation Formats

Committee on Forefronts of Science at the Interface of Physical and Life Sciences. Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2010.. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
Committee on Forefronts of Science at the Interface of Physical and Life Sciences. Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2010.. United States.
Committee on Forefronts of Science at the Interface of Physical and Life Sciences. 2009. "Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2010.". United States.
@article{osti_1052446,
title = {Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2010.},
author = {Committee on Forefronts of Science at the Interface of Physical and Life Sciences},
abstractNote = {Traditionally, the natural sciences have been divided into two branches: the biological sciences and the physical sciences. Today, an increasing number of scientists are addressing problems lying at the intersection of the two. These problems are most often biological in nature, but examining them through the lens of the physical sciences can yield exciting results and opportunities. For example, one area producing effective cross-discipline research opportunities centers on the dynamics of systems. Equilibrium, multi-stability, and stochastic behavior--concepts familiar to physicists and chemists--are now being used to tackle issues associated with living systems such as adaptation, feedback, and emergent behavior. Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences discusses how some of the most important scientific and societal challenges can be addressed, at least in part, by collaborative research that lies at the intersection of traditional disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and physics. This book describes how some of the mysteries of the biological world are being addressed using tools and techniques developed in the physical sciences, and identifies five areas of potentially transformative research. Work in these areas would have significant impact in both research and society at large by expanding our understanding of the physical world and by revealing new opportunities for advancing public health, technology, and stewardship of the environment. This report recommends several ways to accelerate such cross-discipline research. Many of these recommendations are directed toward those administering the faculties and resources of our great research institutions--and the stewards of our research funders, making this book an excellent resource for academic and research institutions, scientists, universities, and federal and private funding agencies.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1052446}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}