Over the last three semesters, I have been apart of the Science and Global Change scholars program. I have had the opportunity to gain critical insight on the science of nature and the nature of science. The program has allowed me to explore past and present global change, along with being able to plan for future resilience in global change.
The hypothetico-deductive method of science is a theory where direct observations and experimentation will lead to hypothesis that can then be directly verified or disproved by evidence from additional experiments. In my BIOE 121 laboratory, I was able to use previous labs and experimental data, to create my own lab and study science beyond the lab manual. This experience of formulating a lab was aided by my knowledge of the hypothetic-deductive method which I learned in scholars. Additionally, this semester I am taking the organic chemistry laboratory. In these labs, there is a direct observation that leads to additional testing and experimenting. I was able to perform chromatography, distillation, reflux, separation, and extraction techniques; all of which enabled me to come to certain conclusions and even conduct additional testing after I either verified or disproved the theory. This connection between theory and actual laboratory results and data has allowed me to expand my knowledge of the hypothetico-deductive method of science. Furthermore, in my internship at the national institute of health, I was able to create my own experiments from scratch, studying protein regulators of endoplasmic reticulum exodosis. After completing a high throughput screening, I was able to pinpoint certain proteins that may contribute to the knockdown of genes that have disease bearing transcription factors. Therefore, by identifying specific regulators of endoplasmic reticulum exodosis, I was able to pick and experiment with the TALK1 protein, to see if the results matched the theory. This entire process perfectly outlines the hypothetico-deductive method and how it can be used to verify or disprove theory. Now, next semester I will use this knowledge to complete a project with Dr. Jay, where I will be looking at induced pluripotent stem cell-derived exosomes.
One interesting article that I came across recently was about how emission reductions from the global pandemic have had positive, unexpected effects on the atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere changed somewhat dramatically due to the reduction in emissions, showing how closely tied global climate warming is to air pollution. This addressed some logical fallacies that are proposed by climate change deniers, as this clear linkage between air pollution and the atmosphere shows us that reductions will make a difference, and anthropogenic causes of climate change are clearly the majority of the reason behind warming.
As a result of scholars, I was able to meet one of my new best friends, Gavin Bramble. We have gone through the scholars program together, completing team projects together and discussing important scholars topics with one another. As a bioengineer, I have a perspective on engineering that revolves around medicine and biology. Gavin is an aerospace engineer and has given me a new perspective on engineering and aerospace in general. In our second semester, we completed the same excursion together, which was a zoom talk about a new and novel comet. He helped introduce me to aerospace and for a brief moment, I was considering switching majors to aerospace engineering. Additionally, using scholars as a platform has allowed me to be in study groups with other pre-med students, seeing SGC scholars in a majority of my classes. Furthermore, scholars as a whole has introduced me to new friends in other scholars programs, and has allowed me to gain a unique perspective from their scholars classes. For example, Nathan Blanken, who is in ETE, has become a close friend who has given me a new perspective on computer science and his own experiences in ETE.
Being apart of the scholars program has allowed me to come into contact with people who have had a variety of different believes, sometimes different than my own. This has challenged by previous opinions and believes in a positive manner, allowing me to grow as a person. My concept of diversity and its role in advancing science has been changed for the better as a result of the scholars program. I have had the opportunity to discuss important topics with many people from different backgrounds, including different races, ethnicities, genders, socioeconomic standing. This is particularly evident in the different breakout room discussions, as well as small group discussions and projects. I have been able to gain a new perspective that has helped me to become a more well-rounded individual.
One thing that I wish I had done more of as a scholars student was actively contribute. In my first semester, I was at home, so it was difficult to be active in events because the pandemic shut down most of them. Then, when I was on campus in the spring, I still felt like there were not a lot of opportunities, and the opportunities that were available I was not necessarily interested in. Then, this fall, I wish I would have been able to go on an SGC field trip, but the dates never aligned with my availability. Furthermore, the Hawaii trip was one of the main reasons that I decided to go through with joining the scholars program. We were supposed to have the opportunity to go to Hawaii this winter, but due to the pandemic the trip was shut down. I would have really liked the opportunity to go and was sad to hear that we would not be able to have the trip. As far as colloquium projects, I was always an active contributor, completing the project to the best of my ability while also being apart of the group discussion.
After undergrad, I want to go med school to get an MD/PhD in order to become a research doctor. In my future line of work, I will need to be able to identify pseudoscience from real science, point out logical fallacies, and employ the hypothetico-deductive method of science. The SGC courses and supporting courses have allowed me to develop critical thinking skills that I will carry throughout the rest of undergrad and into med school.