The Inherent Interdependence

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It's why it's Science Village, and not separate divisions called Biology Village, Physics Village, etc. Many academic programs advertise their "interdisciplinary approaches" as if it is a unique thing to them. It's not. The study of any branch of science requires knowledge of the others to some degree. Ecology is an easy example, almost as easy as biogeochemistry, but some areas are a little harder to figure although the scientific study interdependence is still there. Chemistry and physics are very seldom in separate departments. Any high school or college freshman biology class begins with a unit called "The Chemistry of Life". Biology, Chemistry, and Physics are easy to package. Geography, Chemistry, and Physics are also easy to package. It gets trickier when mixing life and earth sciences. How do you involve meteorology with biology? How do you involve molecular or cell biology with any earth sciences? The best thing would be the nitrogen cycle, I guess.

Here's an example! Let's say you're studying bird flight. A lot of factors need to be considered. What altitude and air pressure can this bird handle? Biology, physics, and geography. How breathable is the air? Biology and chemistry. How long can the bird fly before getting too tired? Biology, chemistry, and physics. What is the air quality at this altitude in this particular climate? Chemistry, physics, and geography.

Wasn't that fun? It works with a lot of things. I do it with every article for every issue. And it is quite fun! That's why I do this. Whether you're a biologist, a physicist, an oceanographer, a meteorologist, or what, we're all just picking out something natural in this world, or occasionally beyond it, and trying to figure out what it is and how it works.