UW-Madison has demonstrated leadership in all these areas. However, there has not been any natural way to bring people and ideas together to span the boundaries of individual disciplines in the area of quantitative reasoning in biology and evolution. A Sewall Wright Symposium was held in Spring 1996 with William Provine and William Hill as speakers. Few of these fit neatly into one department or program. Instead, researchers collaborate across these artificial but useful boundaries, forming individual relationships.
Students take courses across disciplines, often putting together individualized programs.
For more information, see the section on the unique nature of SWI . The training program will include undergraduates, graduates and postdoctoral associates, providing a focal point to attract and bring together students interested in quantitative reasoning in the biological sciences. Students would work on interdisciplinary research within the context of one of many existing degree programs, and have the opportunity to interact with other students without regard to departmental or program boundaries. This institute is not proposing another degree program, but rather a focus for attracting students and to serve as a bridge among disciplines. Symposia provide an annual opportunity to highlight important aspects of quantitative biology with one or more visitors.