Open book examination to be completed and returned by 12:00 noon Monday, June 15 1987. You may use any available references or your notes, but do not collaborate with other students or staff regarding questions or answers.
The principal part of the (take home) Biophysics 5157 final exam this year is the preparation of a paper of the sort that might appear in Scientific American, American Scientist, Science, Nature or other similar broad range scientific journal.
The theme, for which you will undoubtedly devise your own catchy title, is an overview summing up the present mainstreams of Biophysical Science as we have explored them in the past months.
Obviously you must be selective, as this topic could easily produce a large book of one or more volumes, while a good journal article generally runs from five to ten pages.
Emphasize strengths and weaknesses, especially where insight could provide guidance toward academic, public and governmental policy.
Taking a target date at the end of this century (and incidentally this millenium), develop a sort of mission statement as to where Biophysical Science (and Biomimetic Science and Technology) should direct its major efforts for realization within this time frame.
Not necessarily as sections of your paper but for reminders of prime topics for consideration, recall the broad separation of Biophysics into 1) Biostatics - how life systems are constituted, structured and put together, 2) Biodynamic - how life systems function, and 3) how life systems are organized for function, growth, communication and control and finally, for perceptive consciousness and goal seeking.
Remember that academically the Biophysical Sciences must support four endeavors. 1) Theoretical Biophysical and Biomimetic Science to provide mathematical and figure of thought models along with conventional and ad hoc created computing systems to support them for fuelling the other branches of Biophysical effort. 2) A research and development section to develop, test and communicate new Biophysics. 3) An Applied Biophysics and/or Biomimetic science and technology, essentially Bioengineering to bring human benefits from this science, and finally 4) the production of “Breeding Stock” - excellent students, undergraduate, graduate and post graduate fit to repopulate the field and produce a new generation of even more enlightened candidates for the branches of Biophysical Science.
The State of Minnesota, with its special University medical, computer, Industrial and Governmental features, makes a fine playpen around which to build a scenario for the coming decade.
Remember to turn in your result and calculations leading to a value for the “turnover frequency” for room temperature mammalian saline.
Because I must participate in the Minnesota Inventors Congress in Redwood Falls next weekend, take advantage of the extra time and consider noon Monday, June 15th, as the deadline for handing in this report.