QBIC is an, an acronym for Quantifying Biology in the Classroom. It is a pilot program within the Biological Sciences Department. The blueprint for this program was developed over a 2-year period, beginning in 2004, by 12 faculty members in biological sciences, mathematics, statistics, chemistry, physics, computer science and biomedical engineering). What we are doing is exposing QBIC scholars to a more rigorous curriculum in biology that is both interdisciplinary and quantitative.

Faculty in biological sciences, statistics, mathematics, etc. have agonized over the limited quantitative sciences in the Biology curriculum and the isolated way in which natural sciences, physical sciences, statistics and mathematics are taught. We have longed for a funded, structured mechanism, and opportunity to proactively correct this situation. As well, evidence from another program at FIU, Freshman Interest Groups (FIGS), shows that smaller classes and/or a mechanism that provides for smaller groups of students resulted in these students being more effectively challenged and more successful as Biological Sciences majors. QBIC will facilitate learning in small groups. We also know from experience that students learn better when connected together and students learn better when connected to the subject.

It is important for you to know that as faculty who care about the welfare of our students, QBIC is our response to a report entitled: “BIO 2010-Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists”. This report was generated from a major study on undergraduate biology education conducted by the National Research Council of the National Academies. The primary recommendation of the report is that biology education should use an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates a strong basis in mathematics and physical sciences. (you may like to take a look at this important document which may be read online free from the National Academies website - http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309085357).

We are responding to this recommendation with enormous enthusiasm. At the same time, it is no secret and comes as no surprise that FIU is also laying the groundwork for developing exceptionally qualified biological sciences scholars. And, as framers of QBIC, it is our hope that in time, this interdisciplinary and quantitative curriculum will be a signature format of biological sciences education at FIU.

We want to raise the quality of our students who apply to and enter Biological Sciences or Behavioral Sciences Graduate Programs.

Our long-range goal is to provide a curriculum for our students that is exciting to the extent that scholars will want to enroll in the courses offered. We wish to provide our students (most especially those who might be interested in a research career) an interdisciplinary Biological Sciences curriculum that recognizes, by its integrative approach, the relevance of other sciences when studying biological questions. We want our students to know that an integrative/interdisciplinary approach will open their eyes to the possibilities for productive collaborative work. Overall, we want to create an environment that promotes learning by keeping students stimulated enough to persist, to progress academically, and to graduate.