De- and Re-constructing Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences

TL;DR

This paper emphasizes the importance of tailoring physics education for biologists by understanding biological perspectives and collaborating with biologists to effectively integrate physics concepts into life sciences curricula.

Contribution

It highlights the need for physicists to work closely with biologists to adapt physics teaching to biological contexts, moving beyond superficial modifications.

Findings

Biologists have different ways of thinking that require tailored physics instruction

Collaborative curriculum development bridges the gap between physics and biology

Effective physics education for biologists involves understanding biological workflows and perspectives

Abstract

Teaching physics to biologists requires far more than making the course for engineers mathematically less rigorous and adding in a few superficial biological problems. What is needed is for physicists to work closely with biologists to learn not only what physics topics and habits of mind that are useful to biologists, but how biologists work is fundamentally different from ours, and how to bridge that gap. In this article, we discussed what we have learned about these issues from years of conversations with colleagues in biology.