Interdisciplinary Courses

In the SMU Department of Physics we have several courses and instructors who routinely use interdisciplinary methods to teach physics and general science. Whether it's connecting biology, chemistry, and physics for Pre-Med or Pre-Dental students, connecting fundamental physics concepts to computation, mechanical and electrical engineering issues, or learning science as a key way of knowing, we have a course for you! See a partial list of courses below where interdisciplinary methods are used to engage students in physics.
  • PHY 1105, 1106, 1303, 1304: Learn experimental methods in our laboratory courses (1105, 1106) while applying mathematics and problem solving. Connect electrical and mechanical engineering and mathematics to physical concepts and the natural world in 1303 and 1304.
  • PHY 1105, 1106, 1307, 1308: Learn experimental methods in our laboratory courses (1105, 1106) while applying mathematics and problem solving. Connect biology, chemistry, medicine, and physics in 1307 and 1308.
  • CFB/PHY 3333: Learn the scientific method and critical thinking, logic, and information gathering and assessment. Learn how to write a research paper. Learn how to recognize and debunk pseudoscience and antiscience. We routinely engage in timely topics in medicine, propaganda, the law, and the science classroom while bringing in outside speakers from diverse fields like Biology, Anthropology, Religious Studies, the Law School, and even the Secret Service!

Interdisciplinary Events

Below are links to media (audio, video, slides, etc.) from various interdisciplinary events that cross boundaries, including math, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, computation, geology, and history.

Interdisciplinary Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Forum on Research and Computation (April 30, 2012).
Hear from Professors Dan Reynolds (Mathematics), Dieter Cremer (Chemistry), John Wise (Biology), and Stephen Sekula (Physics) about the interface of mathematics, chemistry, biology, medicine, physics, and computation.

Mapping the Great Lakes, 1680-1820: Climate, History, and Visual Analysis

In his seminar, Professor Robert Markley described his collaboration with experts in computation to determine if historical maps of the Great Lakes hold clues to the effects of past climate on the lakes themselves. The discussion that followed then attempted to find new avenues of investigation to expand the scope of the study.

This interdisciplinary event was held on Friday, Feb. 24th, at 1:30 in Fondren Science 157. Professor Robert Markley, the speaker, is the W.D. and Sara E. Trowbridge professor of English, Writing Studies, and Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. This talk was followed by a general discussion amongst the audience members, led by Robert Markley, Neil Tabor (Earth Sciences), and Stephen Sekula (Physics).


The event was organized by Dennis Foster (SMU English) and Dr. Markley was hosted by Rajani Sudan (SMU English).



Download the MP3 file
The Future of High-Performance Computing

In his seminar, Professor Thom Dunning (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) discussed the challenges to the current and next generation of high-performance computing. He cited examples of needs for next-generation computing from chemistry to weather modeling.

This interdisciplinary event was held on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 4:00pm in Room 131 of the Dedman Life Sciences Building. Professor Dunning is the director of the Institute for Advanced Computing Applications and Technologies and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also holds an endowed position as Distinguished Chair for Research Excellence in Chemistry and he is Professor at the Department of Chemistry. He was honored with the American Chemical Society's Computers in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research Award in March 2011. This event was hosted by SMU Chemistry and Prof. Dunning was introduced by the Chair of the SMU Department of Chemistry, Professor Elfi Kraka.



Download the MP3 file