The document summarizes the Interdisciplinary Science program at the University of Leicester that has become the Natural Sciences program. It discusses the core teaching team, awards received, key features of the program including problem-based learning and competency-based mathematics support. It also provides updates on student numbers, program enhancements, outreach activities, student projects, and an exchange program with McMaster University.

1. Interdisciplinary Science
becomes
Natural Sciences
•The Iscience Team
•Key features
•The IScience review
•Updates
•Student numbers
•Programme
•Outreach
•Projects
•McMaster Exchange Programme
•Careers

3. The Core Teaching Team
Professor Derek Raine – Director
Research background: relativity, quantum gravity, complex systems
Teaching awards: MBE, NTF, IOP Bragg Medal,
Dr Cheryl Hurkett (Physics TF)
Research background – gamma ray bursts;
Teaching awards - PGCHE (distinction)
Dr Dylan Williams (Chemistry TF) Dr Sarah Gretton (Biology TF)
Research background – metal nanoparticles Research background – cellular biology of
Teaching – University of Leicester award hepatitis C virus
Teaching awards- PGCHE (distinction)
Dr Catarina Fernandes (Geology TF)
Research background– spectroscopy of asteroids
Emma Tebbs (GTA, EOS)
Research – Remote Sensing in East African
Paul Abel (Mathematics TA) River Basins
Research – Black Holes Teaching award – University partnership
Teaching award - University partnership

5. Awards and distinctions
Cheryl & Sarah: PGCHE distinctions
Paul and Emma: University partnership awards
Green Gown award nomination
(Victoria Robinson)
Sarah: The Innovative Re-use of a Virtual Genetics Laboratory - 100 European
micro innovation practices: sharing evidence of successful integration of ICT in
learning processes.
Project support (~£50K)
BioSciences Centre: Sustainable Futures (Sarah)
HESTEM: Conceptual Understanding in Physics
How to build a solar system (Caterina)
HEA: Teaching Fellows Forum & Workshop (Cheryl)
LeAP PBL Summer workshop
RSC: PBL development (Dylan)

6. Key Features

7. Key Features
• Research based learning
A scaffolded PBL approach with teaching shared
systematically between teaching fellows, academic staff, & TAs
Problem
• Electronic delivery of
Reading, Academic
materials and marking Group
discussion
Expert
sessions
staff
• Sequential core modules Teaching
Fellows
• Keller plan (competency
Facilitated
Tutorials
Discussion
based) Mathematics support Exercises

8. The IScience modules: structure and progression
SCALE
Year Prophets and Science of the Braining IT Biosphere Near Space
D Powers Invisible
1
E Earth and
The Origins Atoms, Neurons and
P Computation Ecology Sun
of Molecules
T
Science and Cells
H
Year Time and Energy Molecules by CSI Man and Habitable
Design Leicester Machines Worlds
2
Dynamics Organic The
and Chemistry Forensic Biophysics & Universe
Thermo- Science Physiology and Life
dynamics
Year Nanoscience Communication Earth
Science through
3 Time
Materials Electromagnetic
and & chemical Evolution Climate
Organelles signalling
In each year the module topics range over scales from microscopic to macrocosmic.
Each year takes these topics to a deeper level.

9. The IScience modules – discipline topics
Yr Water in biology Cell structure Neuro- Ecology Atmospheric
Main group Biological physiology chemistry
1 chemistry molecules Spectroscopy
Minerals Chemical Quantisation –
Astronomy bonding Vibrational
Forces Solid state & energy levels
Radioactivity Organic Earth’s interior
chemistry Computability Radiation
Thermal Physics Magnetic fields
Yr Chemical Enzymes Genetics Physiology Molecular biol.
kinetics Organic Analytical Metabolism Biochemistry
2 thermodynamics Synthesis chemistry Planetary
Rigid body evolution
Newtonian Chemical Electrostatics dynamics
dynamics characterisation Optics Fluid flow Gravity
Diffusion Stellar evolution
Yr Cell molecular Cell signalling Population genetics Stratigraphy
biology Sensory Human evolution Paleoclimate
3 Nanochemistry physiology Developmental
Earth systems
Quantum physics Biochemistry biology
Solid state Electromagnetic Palaeontology Chemical
Magnetic waves, Optics markers
materials
The topics in each discipline fit together to form a coherent programme in scope and level.

10. A (not quite)Typical Week
9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00
Mon
Computing Workshop Skills Workshop
Tue
Maths Core
Core Workshop
Tutorial Lecture
Wed
Laboratory Session extracurricular activities
Thu
Core Maths Core
Lecture Workshop Workshop
Fri
Core
Elective Workshop
Tutorial

11. The Outcomes

12. The Academic Review
In Dec 2011 IScience was subject to academic review as a
separate entity.
The main recommendations of the review were:
• The Centre for Interdisciplinary Science to be separated
from Physics as a Centre within the College
• Expansion of the programme as an elite programme to
compete with Natural Sciences programmes in comparable
institutions
• Change of name of the degree (but not the Centre) to
Natural Sciences
• The Centre to aim to achieve a research capacity

13. • Student numbers
• Programme
• Outreach
• Projects
• McMaster Exchange Programme
• Careers

14. Student Numbers
50
45 46 46
44
40 42
35
student numbers
30 31
27
25
Yearly intake
20 17 17 19 Cumulative student numbers
17 16
15
13 12
10 13
8
5 5 4
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Year

15. Programme enhancements
• Advanced study: additional options for discipline
-based study
• Science in Context: the student internet research
journal
• Computing: R and Python
• Iscience Research seminars
IScience Society Research
Seminars

16. Outreach 1
1. How to build a solar system
- physics, chemistry, geology, biology
Developed by Caterina Fernandez & Rebecca Wilson with an HESTEM grant
In year 1: 1880 students, 303 teachers, 550 public (ex National Big Bang event)
Natural Sciences & Physics
60 -70 students a year
4 days of workshops, projects, labs and
lectures

17. Outreach 2
An evening with….
A novel approach to public outreach talks
… provides a unique opportunity to meet distinguished University
of Leicester scientists answering questions about their research. The sessions will
take the form of an illustrated interview with most of the questions coming from the
audience. The topics range from space science to nanotechnology. Questions can
range from historical and technical issues to applications and career opportunities.
Primarily designed for teachers to find out more about current science, the sessions
will also be of interest to sixth form students thinking of a career in science.

18. Conferences, Invited Talks
HEA STEM (London) Iscience at the AAAS
HE STEM, Birmingham
IOP London
PHEC + Variety in Chemistry, Edinburgh
Society for Experimental Biology learning / teaching /
research symposium 2012
Consultancy
Simon Fraser University, Vancouver
National University of Ireland, Galway Teaching the Key Points of
University of New South Wales Integration
Interdisciplinary Science
Interdisciplinary Science represented at an invited panel
Hosts an International discussion during the AAAS
Conference on Open annual meeting Feb 2012
Questions on the Origin of Vancouver
Life, John Foster Hall, May
2012

19. Projects
Publications from undergraduate projects:
Sea ice extent and seasonality for the Early Pliocene northern Weddell Sea
Mark Williams, Jan Zalasiewicz, Daniel R. Jarram, et al.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 292 (1–2), 2010, 306–318
2011
The Effect of Lifestyle, Gender and Ethnicity on the Fingerprint Sweat Corrosion
of Brass
2012
A Database Of Apoptosis Gene Mutations: The Development of a Locus Specific
Database Comprising Variants of Four Trail Receptors
The Effect of Temperature on the Visibility of Fingerprint Deposits on Metal
Using Digital Colour Mapping

20. Exchange and Kenya project
McMaster Exchange Students spend a semester or a year in the ISci program
at one of North America’s leading Universities as part of
their degree
McMaster students in Leicester:
2011-12: 1 full year; 2 x one semester
2012-13: 3 x one semester
Leicester students in McMaster
2012-13: 1 x semester; 3 x full year
Sustainable Livelihoods field project
Vacation project work in Kenya

21. Thank you