Abstract
The US National Science Foundation defines convergence as the deep integration of knowledge, techniques, and expertise from multiple fields to form new and expanded frameworks for addressing scientific and societal challenges and opportunities. Because convergence research is progressing at a rapid clip, the quick evolution of non-traditional perspectives that it engenders will present a number of challenges/opportunities to education. NSF, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; and the University of Southern California sponsored a workshop, with global participation, to explore actions that would facilitate convergence in education. A descriptive of the workshop and the key action items it identified are presented.
Highlights
The field of Nanoscale Science and Engineering is a “poster child” for examining the educational issues/ challenges associated with convergence
Education is imposing a growing cost to society (~ $1 T/year US) and to students (~ 20% of one’s life devoted to formal schooling)
The challenges/ opportunities raised by convergence include: 1. How to incorporate the growing amount of new knowledge—must either pare/compress existing course material, extend the time at school, or build on a convergent educational paradigm that synergistically leverages formal and informal educational infrastructures
Summary
The field of Nanoscale Science and Engineering is a “poster child” for examining the educational issues/ challenges associated with convergence. Attention to Convergence Education is highly pertinent to nanoscale science and engineering, as well as addressing the larger societal implications. Education is imposing a growing cost to society (~ $1 T/year US) and to students (~ 20% of one’s life devoted to formal schooling). The challenges/ opportunities raised by convergence include: 1. How to incorporate the growing amount of new knowledge—must either pare/compress existing course material, extend the time at school, or build on a convergent educational paradigm that synergistically leverages formal and informal educational infrastructures. 2. Convergence accelerates the creation of new knowledge that does not fit neatly into traditional curricula
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