This document discusses education in the life sciences. It argues that the ability to gather and apply knowledge, synthesize new ideas, innovate, and solve problems should be the mandate of life sciences education. However, the current system focuses too much on memorization and regurgitation. Instead, students should be encouraged to take risks and make mistakes in order to try new ideas, as advocated by Albert Einstein. The author invites readers to share their experiences on this topic.

1. Atif Kukaswadia
@MrEpid
www.MrEpidemiology.com

4. “Education”

8. Life Sciences’ Mandate

 The ability to:
 gather, assimilate and apply knowledge
 synthesize new ideas
 innovate
 solve problems
 A knowledge of the life sciences:
 a broad knowledge base
 in depth expertise in one field
 an interdisciplinary perspective

9. Who is good at science?
How do we treat mistakes?

10. The measuring stick for
ability


11. To succeed in science

 Memorize
 Regurgitate
 Repeat

13. Sir Ken Robinson

14. You can’t afford to make mistakes

15. Here’s the situation

 Highly competitive youth
 Stakes are incredibly high
 Your future depends on doing well

16. 
VS

17. “Anyone who has never made a mistake has
never tried anything new”
Albert Einstein

19. We encourage being-pushed-right-up-
against-the-edge-of-the-box thinking

20. Or we’ll be forced to change later

21. Your Experiences?

 Atif Kukaswadia
 atif.ak@gmail.com
 @MrEpid
 www.MrEpidemiology.com