Education in Systems Biology 2022

To question and explore the natural world is an exercise we have all performed as children. Systems Biology takes those same “big-life” questions we asked and explores them through the use of systematic mathematical and computational approaches and integrating them with experimentation. Currently, there is a disconnect between the questions being asked and the way in which a systems biology approach to mathematics can help to answer them. On a deeper level, there is a need to foster systems thinking in the form of proper mathematical reasoning and modeling in order to leverage the full potential of systems biology.
Here, we discuss methods and approaches to educate and train people of all ages and backgrounds in how to think in a systematic biological and mathematical way. This topic will act as a resource for principal investigators, lab managers, supervisors, educators, researchers, and the wider community within Systems Biology for the education and training of early-stage researchers.

In this Research Topic, we welcome manuscripts that help to address some of the following important questions:
A. What are effective didactic methods for teaching students how math and computation can be applied to study, understand, and manipulate a biological system?
B. What software tools are available and accessible for helping to teach learners at different educational levels and backgrounds about (and how to carry out) Systems Biology research?
C. What are the “best practices” for teaching students with different backgrounds and interests how to carry out Systems Biology research?
D. What are the core concepts of systems science and how can they be taught and learned to serve in the context of Systems Biology?
E. What are the fundamental mathematical tools required for Systems reasoning.

We welcome contributions in the form of original research, review, mini review, case report, hypothesis and theory, perspective, and experimental studies that cover, but are not limited to, following themes:

1. Didactic methods in systems biology
2. Systems concepts and applications to systems biology
3. Theory and application of mathematical modelling in biology
4. Experimental practicals in Systems biology, such as the construction and modelling of gene circuits on up to whole-organism biology
5. Transdisciplinary thinking and approaches for systems biology
6. Development and implementation of network tools to systems biology

We encourage authors to make available data and tools that can be used for educational purposes.

Keywords: Education, Systems Biology, Systems Thinking, Early-Stage Researcher

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.