Counterpoint in Science: Power of Tandem talks at the Interfaces between Physics and Biology

HFSP–Unistra Symposium available online featuring Eric Wieschaus and William Bialek, Anthony Hyman and Frank Jülicher, Donatas Zigmantas and Thomas Renger, musical duo from the Philharmonic Orchestra of Strasbourg and more

Daniel Riveline,¹ Karsten Kruse,² Mukund Thattai,³ Guntram Bauer⁴

Scientific communication was pioneered in the 17^th century (Ref. 1). Scientists were called ‘sçavans’ and had to embrace the humanities and the sciences to present their discoveries with clarity. These achievements are difficult nowadays, with the detailed technical knowledge involved in biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics research. In this context, it is challenging to present the depth of each side of an interdisciplinary scientific question, and often one field is featured more prominently, to the detriment of the other. To address this issue, we organised a Symposium in which presentations were given as tandem talks, with participants from biology and physics or from chemistry and biology. Topics ranged from cell positioning in the embryo (Eric Wieschaus and William Bialek), to liquid condensates (Anthony Hyman and Frank Jülicher), to the physics of photosynthesis (Donatas Zigmantas and Thomas Renger). We found this tandem format to be extremely successful (see Symposium online Ref. 2). Concepts from physics, biology and chemistry were explained in accessible yet informative language, and the audience could see how interdisciplinary engagements developed. Importantly, the speakers highlighted active points of debate and articulated unresolved issues, leaving space for new breakthroughs and scientific directions. As a metaphor for collaboration, a musical duo on the violin and cello illustrated how each voice in a partnership could be heard. Using a Bach counterpoint as the paradigm, the musicians from the Philharmonic Orchestra of Strasbourg explained how their pieces were harmonious only with shared and alternating voices.

References:

1- A History of Scientific Journals, Aileen Fyfe, Noah Moxham, Julie McDougall-Waters, Camilla Mørk Røstvik, UCL Press London (2022) https://www.uclpress.co.uk/products/187262

2- Frontier Science at the Interface of Physics and Biology 2024, HFSP-Unistra Symposium online https://www.canalc2.tv/video/16553

Affiliations:

1- Laboratory of Cell Physics, IGBMC, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France, riveline@unistra.fr

2- Departments of Biochemistry and Theoretical Physics, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, Karsten.Kruse@unige.ch

3- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, India, thattai@ncbs.res.in

4- The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization, 12 Quai Saint-Jean, 67080 Strasbourg, France, gbauer@hfsp.org

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