Peking University, Nov.26, 2011: Peking University's (PKU's) first Biological Interdisciplinary Academic Forum was held in the conference hall of Jin Guang Building of Life Sciences on November 26.

Through PKU's centennial history, it has always been puttiing academic research top on its agenda, sticking to its motto of comprehensiveness and open-mindedness. Amid the trend of interdisciplinary research development, PKU's School of Life Sciences, together with that of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering College, College of Engineering, and Industrial Association of Life Sciences, organized this forum.

Professor Wang Yanglin, Executive Vice President of PKU's Graduate School, gave the opening address, saying that the 21st century was an age for life sciences, with biological interdisciplinary study being the center of its development and infusing fresh vigor into it. He also noted that this forum was instrumental to the the development of life sciences, for it set up a sound platform for the exchange of ideas.

Prof. Wang giving his opening speech

This forum invited many world-renowned scholars who had contributed founding work in the field of biological interdisciplinary research. In their speeches, they shared recent breakthroughs in this area. They also introduced many fields of interdisciplinary research such as computational biology and quantitative biology. The application of integrated methods, including fields such as physics, mathematics, computer, engineering, in the research of life sciences was also talked about. The common belief was that the new theories and new applications brought by interdisciplinary research would give fresh impetus to progress in fields such as life science, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, etc. 

Written by: Li Yang
Edited by: Liu Lu
Source: PKU News (Chinese)