2003 Fifth Annual Beckman Scholars Symposium

"Education in Response to the New Biology"

Henry E. Riggs
President
Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences
Claremont, CA

The opportunities for and challenges of modern biology, with key roles played by computation and a variety of other disciplines in both discovery and application, demand new approaches to educational preparation. The bioscience industries, a promising and rapidly growing segment of the world economy, demand new and different aptitudes and skills than other “high-tech” industries. The U.S. academic establishment has been slow to respond to the evolving needs of both students and employers. The answer is not solely the traditional Ph.D. degree program. This presentation will describe the features of an rationale for a professional (rather than a research) degree, which is gathering strong industry and National Academy endorsement.

Henry E. Riggs is the founding president of Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, a member of The Claremont Colleges and the nation’s first graduate school dedicated solely to preparing students for professional careers in life science-based organizations. He has an unusual mix of industrial, academic, and administrative experience. After 15 years in engineering and executive positions with technology-based companies, he spent 14 years at Stanford University, first as a faculty member, then as chair of the industrial engineering department, and subsequently as vice president for university-wide development. In 1988, he became president of Harvey Mudd College. He created Keck Graduate Institute in 1997.

Mr. Riggs holds an M.B.A. (with high distinction) from Harvard University, and a B. S. (with distinction) in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University. His areas of academic specialization include management of technology, technical strategy, new venture management, financial analysis and control. He is the author of three books, including Managing High-Technology Companies and Financial and Cost Analysis for Engineering and Technology Management.