Dialogues Concerning Some Old Sciences—The Seattle Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

A conference to identify specific problems in areas which are of interest in instruction at the undergraduate level in two or more disciplines was held at Seattle in June 1965. The meetings were organized jointly by the commissions on college physics, chemistry, and biology and were attended by representatives of the college commissions on geology, geography, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics. The work of the conference was carried out by four subgroups which were charged with the investigation of interdisciplinary problems and opportunities in the following areas: (1) The biology-chemistry interface; molecular structure; (2) The chemistry-physics interface, macroscopic and statistical thermodynamics; (3) Quantum mechanics; (4) Interdisciplinary experimental science. Each of the groups made recommendations for future efforts in the area with which it was concerned. Ways of implementing these recommendations are under consideration by the relevant commissions.