Biomedicine, society and professional development

The PRBB Intervals Programme offers PRBB residents a break from their normal day to day work, to step back and reflect on the world in which they are embedded and to discuss and learn from each other by sharing ideas.

The PRBB Intervals Programme is founded on the idea that the culture and practice of science today is demanding, stressful and rarely allows an opportunity for quiet reflection and dialogue on the most pressing topics of acute relevance to the scientific enterprise. Scientists, engulfed in the constant pursuit of grants, publications and conference presentations have little opportunity to consider and much less to discuss, the meaning and implications of their work in a multidisciplinary environment where different perspectives can be shared. Equally, scientists’ careers follow paths that prioritise the honing of their scientific and techical expertise but which give little opportunity for broadening their skillset to include personal and professional effectiveness, management and team work.

The activities of the 2008 programme will centre on two main themes:




Courses currently open:



“In a public forum at The Aspen Institute some years ago, Isaac Stern faced an unusual question. “I know lots of violinists”, said a voice from the audience, “and they all play the notes in the same order you do. How come most of them don't sound anything like as good as you sound?” The great musician was momentarily nonplussed; he scratched his head, thinking hard, then came forth with an obviously unrehearsed reply: “But it isn't the notes that are important”, he objected. “It's the intervals between the notes”. I thought then, and still think, that his reply was a solvent generalization about what is too often missing in formal education. The highest wisdom is often found by making creative connections between the fields of knowledge.”

Harlan Cleveland. The Global Century. Futures 31 (1999) 887-95.