The Overview My experiences as a Science and Global Change Scholar helped in understanding how to plan for resilience in a future of global change due to the various experiences that were provided and encouraged through the program and the knowledge that came from the numerous informative lectures throughout the three semesters in the Science and Global Change program.
I am currently a double major in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science and Environmental Science and Technology with a focus in Ecological Design. The Science and Global Change program in Scholars perfectly connects to my major due to its concentration in exploring the foundations of science and using that knowledge in effectively being able to communicate scientific information for the future. One of the reasons I actually wanted to pursue my current majors was because I wanted to be apart of the global change in climate change and discover research that could one day help not just our environment, but also society as well.
The Science and Global Change program has perfectly encapsulated my ambitions through various reasons. Without this program, I wouldn't have been pushed to find internships that sparked my current interest in research and working in the lab. Because of the program, I was able to work with an amazing group of people in the summer and research the role of methane transportation through the stomata of submerged-aquatic vegetation in a wetland setting. Because a practicum is required for this program, I wanted to look for an opportunity that would not only fulfill this requirement, but also involve a topic that I was personally interested in. Through this experience, I was able to work in a group of people, collecting physical samples in order to analyze the results that would stem from our research. Not only was I able to do this, but I was also able to participate in a symposium where I was able to physically present my research to other scholars. Because of SGC, I was able to gain an understanding what working in a lab setting with other people would be like, but also how presenting research that I was directly involved in would be like. Little did I know, this experience really opened my eyes to the world of research and what it would actually be like, and I found myself wanting to be in that lab setting again.
In addition to this experience, I find that the lectures from Dr. Merck and Dr. Holtz were directly related to climate change and the many aspects of it. Through these lectures, I was able to further understand how important climate change is and how climate change is not only an issue for the environment, but also as a society as well. Before these lectures, I never knew how important the role of people played within the fight against climate change. The social and political aspects of climate change were covered vigorously through this course, and I realized how important these factors of climate change were. SGC has not only enhanced my love towards my majors, but also my motivations in why I am currently pursuing my specific majors. I personally want to be able to help educate people throughout the world and inform of the importance of working through this environmental crisis together as a society.
Specifically, this semester I took an ecology and evolution lab course that required me to conduct my own small research on the role of light on algae. Through this process I would have to be able to come up with my own hypothesis and experiment in order to test this hypothesis. In many of my STEM courses, falsifiable hypothesis were not deeply highlighted, so I never understood the importance of being able to have a hypothesis that followed this model. Because of SGC, I was able to go into this experiment with a deeper understanding of why having a falsifiable hypothesis is so important. Because of SGC, I felt more confident in going into making my own experiment because of the background knowledge from the numerous lectures involving the significant aspects in forming a proper process and method.
Through the SGC Scholars program, I was able to meet so many other individuals that were interested in similar topics as me. Personally, it felt as though SGC was a community of like-minded individuals that were all passionate and willing to help one another. It was reassuring going into my freshmen year and meeting so many others like me, thus making me realize that I was not alone in this entirely new setting of life. In being able to meet others, I actually met my current roommate through the SGC scholars program! I was able to study with her and others for various courses, allowing the transition into university education become smoother. By interacting with other scholars, I was able to make learning into a more positive experience and actually enjoy university without being too stressed or anxious about exams.
I believe that I was able to make an active contribution to the larger scholars community by building relationships with others in this community and actively listen to the lectures. Throughout the in-class projects, field trips, and other activities, I was able to meet so many people that I had built a relationship with through working through these activities together. By working as a community, I realized that science is all about community and working together. While I may not have had the greatest contribution in SGC, I believe that being an active member of the SGC community, I was able to contribute.
In life, there will always be people that may disagree with another due to their opinions not being entirely aligned. While I did not see many challenges to my personal beliefs and opinions, I was able to see other sides of various issues, including climate change and politics. In being exposed to these other opinions, I feel like I was able to recognize that my own opinion may not necessarily be the "correct" opinion. This is extremely important throughout not only science, but also life because there are going to be so many interactions with other people that may result in two different opinions, which is okay. Specifically, in lecture, Dr. Holtz covered the role of anti-climate change protesters. While I do not agree with anything they say, being able to be exposed to this opinion made me realize why certain people may think like this and how every idea may have various opinions associated with it. I intend to implement this knowledge throughout my life and stay open-minded when faced with another belief that I may not necessarily agree with.
One thing I definitely know is that my experience with Scholars will be taken with me for the rest of my life. Not only will I apply this experience with the rest of my university education, but I will take this with my future careers and higher post-university education. The experience, opportunities, and friendships made throughout the Science and Global Change Program has impacted my life in the most positive and incredible way any program could have. I hope that future students also carry their experiences with them because it has been such an inspiring and wonderful three semesters.
Thank you to Dr. Merck and Dr. Holtz for the three amazing semesters and for being incredible professors and mentors throughout my two years of university!