Maths vs. Biology - What's the issue?

AcceleratorX

Youngling
I thought it would be an interesting debate to start in an education forum such as this one. Often we see people saying you take either PCM or PCB but there are rarely any people pursuing Medicine or Engineering who have had both (unless you are talking about lower-demand branches).

Even in higher education and across the world, the gulf between Maths and Biology is very evident. A lot of biologists simply don't have mathematical knowledge and vice versa.

In my engineering course, the medical elective was not offered to us because of unwillingness from students and faculty to teach a subject that requires extensive knowledge of biology.

In jobs too this is evident. There are very few engineers in hospitals in India because no engineer has a significant background in biology.

If students were able to mold themselves into answering machines for PCM/PCB to join the respective courses, why can't they go the extra mile and learn the other way too?

Engineers do need doctors and Doctors also need engineers.

I am the only engineer in my entire class who displays a sound knowledge and interest in human anatomy and general biology. Most in my class never studied biology.

Does it have to be this way? Aren't we ignoring a significant need by doing such a thing? Why are most students inclined one way or another - someone who's good at maths generally doesn't want anything to do with biology even if he has it as a compulsory subject. The same applies with a good biologist, they want nothing to do with mathematical analysis.
 

whitestar_999

Super Moderator
Staff member
specialization usually means a specific field.someone very good in maths thinks in a certain way which may not be suitable for being good in biology.being interested in multiple things is one thing but being a master in those fields is a different thing altogether.most super specialist doctor have just a working knowledge of maths & similarly most top mathematicians don't know much about biology.you have a limited mind & it can be used only to master 1-2 fields depending on your aptitude.
 
OP
A

AcceleratorX

Youngling
omg this is scary who engineers all those devices in hospitals?

The medical devices are generally handled by instrumentation companies. In India they just import and market the devices, there is no good base for maintenance, repair or R&D for such devices. This is a big reason why maintenance of medical equipment is very costly, because people with adequate training are not available.

These may be electrical or mechanical devices but proper protocol still needs to be used in their upkeep (sterilization, using bio-compatible materials, etc.). A huge problem arises because there is a lack of knowledge from both the engineer and the doctor for this purpose. Ever hear of diseases transmitted through devices that give glucose in your blood or extract blood? Yeah, someone forgot to sterilize that tube. Ever saw your doctor take a look at your ECG/EKG readings and infer you may have had a cardiac episode when you're quite sure it never happened? Yeah, someone calibrated the instrument wrong....(see below article)

*www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/08/01/hlsb0802.htm

Many times if something goes bad a lot of hospitals just buy a new device which is wasteful in terms of money. We need a better solution fast.

Sometimes, there are people who are "good" in everything and "not the best" in anything. Unfortunately interdisciplinary thinking and skills is not recognized much anywhere.

But I'm saying it's not impossible because I, for example, am pretty good with Biology as well as Maths (not the best in either though). If I can do it then surely there must be ten thousand other people too?

To be honest, a lot of incentive should be given for interdisciplinary education but it just doesn't happen. Foreign countries are taking an initiative but here we are just twiddling our thumbs. In some cases it is even actively discouraged - I mean, why should someone not have Medical Electronics as part of an ECE course because it uses Biology? Why can you not teach Electronics to a Chemist or Biologist? At least the basics in Electronics are not so tough that they can't learn it...By actively limiting their skills, all you do is limit their job potential. It's not good for anyone no matter how people think about it.
 
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whitestar_999

Super Moderator
Staff member
i think you are confusing core areas of a field with peripheral/general usages.upkeep of electronics instruments does not require knowledge of electronics(just like pc in homes) & neither does correctly reading ECG/EKG readings(basics of calibration are there in 10th:vernier caliper experiment).doctors & engineers are supposed to be specialized in core areas of their field as usually they are doing critical work.

But I'm saying it's not impossible because I, for example, am pretty good with Biology as well as Maths (not the best in either though). If I can do it then surely there must be ten thousand other people too?
no offence but again when areas like medicine/technology are concerned one should proclaim his/her level only after doing graduation from a reputed university & not based on 10th/12th results.there is a good reason why doctors & engineers find each other's field difficult even if they had same subjects till 12th/before graduation.the population of world is ~7 billion & you would be lucky to find even 10000 persons capable of achieving "good" level in both biology & maths at advance level.
 

techiemaharaj

--> Techie - Maharaj
Even me, Took Biology in Class XII, scored 96. Gave many Medical Entrance tests...finally currently in 3rd year Computer Engg. !!
 
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