Peking University, Beijing, May 28, 2010:  This semester, Zhang Boran, undergraduate student majoring in paleobiology of Yuanpei College, Peking University (PKU), is busy applying to studying abroad. As the first student in a interdisciplinary undergraduate major in China, his development has attracted much attention. PKU has promoted the training of interdisciplinary talents through majors’ innovation in recent years.

Zhang Boran told the reporter that the integration of different methods from various disciplines has benefited him. Paleobiology combines the methods and findings of natural science biology with the methods and findings of earth science paleontology, which covers the knowledge of biology, earth science, and environment. In the past, this major could not be set up due to restrictions on major settings at PKU. In 2008, using the experience of foreign top universities on interdisciplinary major construction for reference, Yuanpei College has set up the major of paleobiology, which is the first attempt to build an interdisciplinary major in China.

Prof. Liu Jianbo, the tutor of Zhang Boran from Department of Geology of School of Earth and Space Sciences, said that it needs more time, spirit, and funding to train interdisciplinary students compared to training normal major ones. He pointed out that the teachers of interdisciplinary majors must invest more time and energy to help the students expand their professional developing space with an attitude of elite education.

At the vary beginning, Zhang Boran was the only student being matriculated in major of paleobiology. Two years later, more students were taking part in this major. Moreover, the second interdisciplinary undergraduate major–“philosophy, politics, and economics” has already admitted 23 students.

Prof. Lu Xiaodong, Vice-Dean of Yuanpei College, told the reporter that the “philosophy, politics, and economics” covers three fields which are extremely important to the development of society. Philosophy is related to the formation of views on life and values; the economy is the lifeblood of the development of society; and politics is important to people’s relations. Students with the knowledge of these three fields are better at dealing complex issues than the ones with only one kind of knowledge, and can play a leaders role more easily in related fields after their graduation.

Recently, the construction of interdisciplinary majors at PKU has been on its way. The teaching plan for the major “foreign language and foreign history” has already finished. The majors of “bioinformatics” and “biophysics” have been prepared to set up. “There is no limitation to the combination of different disciplines, which could provide an unlimited stage to the innovating talents”, said Prof. Lu Xiaodong. He also expressed that the unique knowledge structure and distinctive ways of thinking of the interdisciplinary talents will help them to grow up as top creative talents.

Edited by: Connie Chang
Translated by: Su Juan
Source: PKU news (Chinese)