These three semesters have really gone fast. When I got accepted into scholars I really didn't know what to think, I had not previously heard of it, had no friends coming into the same program, and up until these classes had not put a large importance on future global change. Throughout these past three semesters however, I have developed knowledge, and skills that will certainly impact my approach to global change and decision making in the future. I have already encountered multiple different scenarios in which things I have learned in SGC have influenced my approach.
One major thing I learned in SGC that I frequently apply to classes and even personal projects is the hypothetico-deductive method. Before Science and Global change, I had vaguely heard of the hypothetico-deductive method but the way SGC presented this topic, thoroughly went through it, and gave applicable examples took my understanding to a whole new level. I didn't expect to use this as frequently as I do now. I am currently working on and off with clinical data from my father that we frequently formulate hypotheses and theories about how well the models we are making will predict specific outcomes. With the things about hypothesis development we learned in class, I found that even If I am not using the full hypothetico-deductive method, I am formulating clearer and more scientific theories and hypotheses. Another instance that I found myself pulling from the hypothetico-deductive method was in a class that I'm taking this semester. In STAT 400, we have many problems that prompt us to work out if a hypothesis is true or not, or even write a hypothesis on our own given a specific goal. Here, I feel like I had a slight advantage over the other students since I had previous experience in formulating hypotheses and found it very easy to translate the steps of the hypothetico-deductive method I had learned in SGC colloquium into the new topic. Overall, SGC has very effectively taught me the hypothetico-deductive method and it has aided me inside and outside of the classroom more than I originally expected.
Another significant thing that I learned in Science and Global change is how to more easily spot issues in critical thinking. Even before college and the SGC program, I was aware of and able to call out errors in critical thinking. However, after learning all about logical fallacies, and the science toolbox I am able to go much further into diagnosing these errors. One example of this was in my philosophy 100 class last semester. In the discussion section we were looking at the classic mind body connection topic. A few of my peers were attempting to make claims that they thought would help make some guidelines for differentiating between mind and body. However, their claims often had extreme gaps between the first part to the second part of the argument with no real path in-between. With the knowledge I gained in SGC about logical fallacies I was quickly able to analyze what they were saying and contribute to the class discussion by recognizing slippery slopes, hasty generalizations, and countless examples of red-herrings. One specific example I remember is when one of my classmates said I can imagine myself moving in my mind, therefore the mind and body are connected since I can move. Here my classmate made a very hasty generalization, and I made the point that I could imagine myself flying but I cannot fly in the same vain. SGC has introduced me to many aspects of critical thinking that I find myself frequently referring back to.
I can imagine myself moving in my mind, therefore the mind and body are connected since I can move
In supporting courses of SGC there are a couple of instances where I used things I learned in SGC. For one, in my computer science class I have found myself applying critical thinking skills that I had developed in first semester SGC. These skills in multiple instances have helped me think through long word problems, structure how I approach large projects and more. Another instance where I found myself applying things I learned in SGC was very recently. We have been talking about cellular evolution over time in my biology class which in part connects with our evolution unit in SGC. I found that since I knew about the basics of evolution from SGC, it is easier to make connections and understand how environmental factors and changing needs impact how cells develop and evolve. Overall I have not found too many instances where SGC has connected with its supporting courses, but that may be due to the fact that I took CMSC, MATH, and BSCI classes instead of the more global change oriented ones.
When I first got to the University, I hardly knew anybody. I was one of very few from my high-school to go to UMD which initially made me think that it would be somewhat difficult to make friends and connections the first semester. Being in a living-learning community was much more helpful in this regard than I expected. Within the first few weeks of school I met way more people than I expected, in and out of my major. Throughout the semester, I remember thinking how fortunate I was to have people I could contact if I needed help on any number of subjects because scholar's students are so diverse. One particular example of this back in second semester was when I was stuck on my computer science classwork for CMSC 132. I was able to find a couple of CS majors in our scholar's programs, and we were able to help each other through the project. Also, in the classroom I found interacting with fellow SGC'ers to be quite helpful. I remember back in first semester colloquium we were working on a logical fallacies worksheet in groups. I was not the best at detecting these fallacies at that point and I was able to ask my group for clarification that improved my learning of these fallacies substantially. Overall, interacting with the people in our cohort has proved very helpful in learning in and out of the classroom.
Throughout these past three semesters, I aimed to actively contribute to SGC. My contribution for the most part has been inside the classroom or during field trips rather than contribution to the Scholars community as a whole. During every colloquium discussion and project, I gave it my best and actively participated in all scenarios. I remember in one colloquium, we were discussing a group project analyzing climate change graphs and some impacts of climate change. Nobody was stepping up to take charge on the project, so I stepped up and made sure we discussed the problems as a group and that everyone was understanding everything along the way. Also, during our most recent field trip, the metro scavenger hunt, I was very active in finding the places we needed to go and what was the best way to go about it. Overall, I feel that I have contributed a lot to SGC both inside the classroom and during our field trips.
Scholars and Global change course material has made me revise a few of my beliefs about the impacts of previous climate change in human history. Before second semester colloquium, I had really never heard of such a large connection between climate change and disease and thought they were pretty disjoint. Learning how climate can impact how diseases spread, and how with a changing climate the diseases can survive in places that it previously couldn't was eye opening to me. Overall, the content in SGC has only made me rethink a few beliefs here or there, and I have not run into many people that made me rethink beliefs that I had.
The scholars' experience will certainly inform my future. The computer science track at the university does not require that I take any courses about global change, and knowing what I know now, that's a shame. I am sure that I will use the lessons about the scientific method, logical thinking, and the differences between science and the media time and time again in my future even outside the university. Also, knowing what I know now about climate change, even If I don't encounter similar topics in my career, it will help me process news and be prepared for personal conversations that I would not be otherwise. The Science and Global change program has taught me information and skills that have impacted my approach to global change and decision making and in turn have made me into a more rounded student.
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