VT College of Science Magazine Annual 2012 | Página 10

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

Undergraduate “scieneers”
integrate science,
engineering, and law

Working from science to engineering, from engineering to science, and from science (or engineering) to law. (top left) Meghan Canter (middle), a student in biological sciences, is helping to develop
BacteriaBots for biosensing under the direction of co-mentors Bahareh Behkam (left) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Birgit Scharf (right) in the Department of Biological Sciences.
(top right) Winston Becker, a student in engineering science and mechanics, is studying functional
nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery with Rich Gandour in the chemistry department. (bottom)
Robert Jones, mechanical and science engineering, at the Joint Fralin and Scieneering Summer 2011
Undergraduate Research Symposium. Robert is pursuing a minor in science, engineering, and law.

True interdisciplinarity defies almost all traditional boundaries. Virginia Tech
students and faculty alike have a longstanding history of crossing the Drillfield to engage in innovative and productive collaborations.
Thanks to a $1.4 million science education grant from the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, undergraduates across campus are becoming scieneers.
The scieneering program funds undergraduate students to step outside the
comforts of their major discipline to conduct research and complete minors
that broaden both their skill sets and their perspectives. College of Science
scieneers work with research mentors in the College of Engineering, while
College of Engineering students are mentored in the College of Science. All of
these students complete a minor in integrated engineering and science with
curricula tailored to introduce students to the “other” discipline.

covered, the ISC philosophy is to create a learning
environment that models the way science is practiced. Tyson explains, “We can’t teach everything,
even in a traditional setting. And we don’t want to.
What is taught is not as important as guiding students in learning how to learn, how to put ideas together, and how to create something new.”

For example, engineering students take Cell and Molecular Biology for Engineers while science students take Engineering Fundamentals for Scientists.
Keri Swaby, coordinator for the entire scieneering program, says, “Our students are appreciating the exposure and unique opportunities we offer, that
they cannot readily find elsewhere … they really enjoy the close-knit community and cul