Increasing the balance between knowledge and process

Abstract

I think a university should have a balance between a traditional and a vocational emphasis. On the traditional side, knowledge is important; but instilling in students the joy of discovery and exploring issues, thinking through concepts, and being curious, are often missing in the rush to fit everything in the curriculum. I think that there are areas that need to be strengthened to allow the creative side of science to come through, so that students realise that science requires imagination and creativity as much as any other subject: creativity in thinking, and also creativity in process and enquiry.