Physics departments have long been providing service courses for premedical students and biology majors. But in the past few decades, the life sciences have grown explosively as new techniques, new instruments, and a growing understanding of biological mechanisms have enabled biologists to better understand the physiochemical processes of life at all scales, from the molecular to the ecological. Quantitative measurements and modeling are emerging as key biological tools. As a result, biologists are demanding more effective and relevant undergraduate service classes in math, chemistry, and physics to help prepare students for the new, more quantitative life sciences.
Introductory physics for life sciences classes should support biology students in the exciting work that they will do, yet many IPLS courses fall short of the mark. The stage for that lost opportunity was set decades ago. To judge from older textbooks, the IPLS course was created by stripping calculus from a course...
