The ecology of time: Beyond efficiency and outcomes in medical education- reclaiming temporal diversity
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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
Published on: January 19, 2018
Junji Haruta1,2
1Medical Education Center, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Contemporary medical education is increasingly dominated by the imperatives of efficiency, measurable outcomes, and technological optimization. While these frameworks aim to improve educational quality, they risk marginalizing essential but non-linear learning experiences. This commentary introduces the concept of "temporal diversity" as a necessary ecological shift in curriculum design. By situating the obsession with efficiency within the broader context of New Public Management and social acceleration, we argue for legitimizing "slow time"-relational, reflective, and unstructured moments. Reclaiming temporal diversity is vital for fostering professional identity formation, preventing burnout, and ensuring a humane foundation for medical education.
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