Trinity One Science Streams

A scientific experiment of its own, that will continue to grow on its on throughout
the next few years. Dr Michael Ratcliffe, the current dean of Arts and Science at
Trinity College, excitedly explains in his office. He is referring to the new Trinity One
science programs that will be introduced next year that he along with other
administrative staff envisioned and designed.

Next year, for the first time, two science based Trinity One streams will run
alongside the existing public policy, international relations and ethics streams, that
have been a draw to the men and women of college in past years.

Dr. Ratcliffe excitedly goes on to explain his motivation for creating this particular
course, and why the demand for the course has grown in recent years for life science
students at Trinity.

Why life science students in particular? In fact its not for life sciences in particular,
but why historically Trinity has never done anything for life science students,
considering they make up 1/3 of the undergraduate community. This is simply
taking advantage of an opportunity to provide life sciences with these exciting
classes which other students have been provided with in the other Trin One
streams. Its a truly untapped opportunity for these students.

Continuing on with his motivation for the course, Dr. Ratcliffe explains his
frustration that exists with the standard science-teaching model. Coming from a
science background with a PhD in immunology as well as a current professor in the
immunology department he understand first hand, the difficulties that life science
students face first year at U of T.

The (Trin) Ones has been an extremely successful model. Providing small classes,
opportunity to write, express, interacts with Profs. Typically life science students
spend their time in classes with multiple choice exams, no opportunity to interact
with faculty, only get time to interact with TAs.

When asked to explain the organization surrounding the streams, and the different
aspects that each stream focuses on, Ratcliffe explained that the division of the
streams into a science orientated and policy orientated stream were for students
focusing on different majors, but still along the way trying emphasizing the
interdisciplinary nature of the courses they take.

There was in fact, tremendous resentment to this at the start, as the administration
were frustrated as to why didnt we do anything about this before? We started to
think of these science streams for the one program. What emerged from that
discussion with the students, administration and the faculty, is two science streams

Ratcliffe quickly goes on to explain how the courses simply seemed to develop
naturally from there on in.

What struck me was not the quality of the one streams, but the way the streams
interacted with each other. When I started to think about the Health Science
streams, I didnt want to end up in the situation where the existing streams were
independent of this new stream. That led me to thinking of creating two streams for
the Trin One Science programs

In particular, Dr. Racliffes enthusiasm is piqued, when asked about the novel ways
of learning in the science courses that will focus on the real world approaches that
the science researchers will face.

Take students through the entire research learning progress. How do you come up
with a grant? What happens when you have written up a grant, well then the grant
needs to be peer reviewed. So we instruct the members of the class to peer review
the articles. Then what? Well you have to have a budget, and the proposal has to be
reviewed and seen if it is feasibly. Then we can have the students in the class discuss
each others proposals and vote on the their favorites

Closing off our talk with Dr. Ratcliffe, he explains finally that these Trin one
programs are simply the continuation of the great work that Trinity has started in
the past.

I am truly excited to see where this program will be in the future, already we have
seen such a demand for this course this year, and it will be very promising to see
where we can go from here

Along with the talking to Dr. Ratcliffe, The Saltaerre also talked with Dr. Joy
Fitzgibbon, a current professor at U of T, who will be teaching one of the courses in
the Health in Science and Society Stream

When asked about the specific motivation for her course, Dr. Fitzgibbon,
immediately talks for length about the contextualization to real world impacts that
her course will give.

Global health is a question of emerging importance politically. With the millennium
goals, and the funding by the Gates foundation, it has become even more significant
recently

She goes on to explain the context that the students in the class will be
evaluating the global health problems, and how the connection between science and
health leads to different health priorities being set by local governments.

How do we evaluate the effectiveness of our health care policies? Prescriptions for
future reform. World health organization, ministries of health, private organizations,
how they all interact with each other. How do they organize themselves around
these health problems? That is what my course will be trying to convey to the
students.

The course in particular is in the fortunate position, to attract students with
different interests at Trinity college, and gain a truly interdisplinary area of study.

We are writing it for students with interest in politics and global health. Writing it
in such a way to engage with students in both the science and IR majors. Its a
specific interdisplinary work. Ensuring that both of the students in these
communities are split. Making sure that the science students find a real resonance in
the home with it, leading them to seek leadership position after their undergraduate
years.

Going on to explain the different events that the courses will have, Dr. Fitzgibbon is
thrilled to talk about this opportunities that will be presented to the students.

We have these co-curricular lunch events, and there are two avenues within that
will be effective. We can take advantage of all the great researchers within Toronto.
We can also do intersciplinary talks. Talks that link the science and health science
people, with the policy students. There are a lot of issues that stand at the
intersection at the health and policy stream. Beyond that, we can see that we ensure
the cross pollination is fruitful.

In terms of both of the science streams, that we can position Trinity College has a
place of interdisciplinary global health. This can be a location where minds of
politics, global health, and science researchers can meet and discuss. Trinity College
can be a safe space for cross pollination for all these great ideas.

When asked about how to structure the interdisciplinary approach of the course, Dr.
Fitzgibbon was adamant about the different areas of focus that the students should
be exposed to.

In order to do my PhD, I had to do courses in the faculty of global health. Statistics,
global health among other courses, and I did this to get particular tools for my own
specific research. I am going to look at the specific role of medical studies, the
different randomized control tests and to specifically talk about how they play a role
in shaping global health policy. Policy advocacy, debate, policy talks in the
community. all will be discussed. How does that engage with the politics in a certain
country, will be the main talking points of the course.

Owing to the science nature, and discussion-based nature of the class, Dr. Fitzgibbon
goes on to explain some of the class work that will go on in her courses in future
years.

Reading medical journals, public health reports, data from different international
institutes, and papers from other articles and papers on specific governance.
Targeted at looking at specific health conditions in countries all around the world.

Quickly giving a pitch to future students at Trinity to engage in these new programs,
Dr. Fitz sums up the new streams and explains why they will be effective teaching
tools for students.

Shrink the size of the university for you, engage the students in this discussion
based learning. Everything from public speaking skills, to listening to your
colleagues, and reasoning with others, will improve you as a student and lead you to
new avenues of success as you grow older with these new science courses.