Welcome to the Integrated Bioscience Program

What is Integrated Bioscience?

Studies of gecko foot pads have provided the inspiration for the development of artificial adhesives

Biological problems rank among the most pressing that face our society by virtue of their scientific importance and because of their consequences for national health, the economy, and environmental stability. Although reductionist biology has been successful in dissecting the diversity of life, most major advances in understanding complex systems have been made by interpreting results across levels of biological organization (molecular to ecosystem levels) and crossing the boundaries of disciplines. Importantly, the major discoveries and new products and solutions in bioscience became possible because of recent advances in other related sciences and math. The study of complex biological systems is best approached by incorporating many perspectives, bringing together a diversity of complementary disciplines to unravel the complexity that is biology. Therefore, the 21st century will likely be known as the era of integrated science, engineering, and innovative technology (Good 2002).

A message from Dr. Peter H. Niewiarowski

Welcome to the Integrated Bioscience website. I am new to the program as interim director, but have been an ardent supporter and participant since the earliest phases of the program's development. Over the next year I plan to build on strengths and success realized over the first two years of life of the program. I invite you to explore the program website and to anticipate new content that will provide, in the very near future, an ongoing view of Integrated Bioscience research at the University of Akron. I hope that by becoming familiar with ongoing work in IB, you will see a new opportunity to pursue or a novel challenge to tackle that will help build our IB program into an international model for the education and training of a new breed of bioscientist.

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