We are endlessly exposed to the end-products of scientific and technological developments and in many cases we have to make informed decisions. So understanding science—its origins, the way it changes and is changed by the environment continues to be an essential necessity aat both individual and public level. For example, the life sciences have stood at the crossroads of many of the most debated public issues, including the theory of evolution by natural selection, or the legality of embryonic stem-cell research. Concepts in the physical sciences also underlie a number of issues that affect societies across the globe, including reliance on fossil fuels, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and climate change. A contemporary case in point is the smart phone which uses electromagnetic waves, quantum electronics, and even Einstein’s theory of relativity to provide us global communication and navigation abilities. The goal of the SCIE courses is to enhance the conceptual perception of the physical universe and the living systems pertaining to different space, time and energy scales, for the students to approach critically, evaluate analtically and respond rationally and ethically when faced with the outcomes of the scientific and technological developments.