Throughout my three semesters in Science and Global Change Scholars, we have discussed many topics that have assisted in solidifying my career plans by connecting to other classes in my major. Global change is such a broad topic, referring to a plethora of different areas of study and backgrounds. Interested in chemistry? We discuss how atmospheric carbon decreases the pH in the ocean which dissolves calcium carbonate shells. How about biology? There are units on GMOs, agriculture, personal health, and more. Computer science? One of our main projects that persisted throughout all three semesters is coding based. In terms of history, we talk about science throughout the ages, specifically how it has evolved and adapted. Honestly the only subject I don’t think we’ve experienced in SGC is math, and I certainly am not complaining. As an Ecology and Evolution major aspiring to become a marine biologist, the topics and subjects in this class greatly appealed to me and enhanced my learning in my other classes. In my Principles of Ecology class, we often talk about the effects of climate change or global warming on different ecological concepts. This example is used often as it is an easy way to present change, and it is extremely relevant to our everyday lives. Many of the concepts we begin to learn in Ecology class are concepts that I’ve already been taught in SGC, which I am able to reinforce. Additionally, SGC also highly relates to my other classes, such as Policy Economics and Ecology of the Chesapeake Bay, Organic Chemistry 2, and many other past biology and chemistry classes. In fact, one of the SGC field trips involved going to the Chesapeake Bay foundation headquarters, and the content we learned there directly related to the content in my Chesapeake Bay class. I honestly impressed myself with how much I already knew, and was therefore able to reinforce. The topics and subjects we have discussed in SGC have enhanced my learning and reinforced my career path. I am now certain I am going down the path I need to take, and I don’t think I would have come to that conclusion without the guidance of Science and Global Change Scholars as well as the amazing people it represents.
I am incredibly thankful to Science and Global Change Scholars for thoroughly introducing us to the hypothetico-deductive method of science. How to properly conduct science seems like a pretty trivial and easy idea to comprehend, but once you take an in depth look its a lot more complicated than I had imagined. There are so many fallacies and falsehoods that may arise due to judgment or bias error, and being shown the proper way to eliminate these factors has greatly increased my ability to conduct proper science. For example, during my third semester I joined an undergraduate research lab which surveyed endangered bats on an island. Our goal was to prove that such endangered species are present, and therefore be able to justify legislation to prevent construction that would damage local environments and ecosystems. However, going about this is not as straightforward as I had once thought. If you go into an experiment expecting to reach a certain result, you will achieve that result. Therefore, our hypothesis and approach must be something that may have an answer we aren’t exactly looking for. It must be falsifiable. As disappointing as that may be in terms of sacrificing the possibility to save an ecosystem, it's a reality we must face as researchers, in order to conduct true and proper science. Differing opinions often get in the way of science without one even realizing, and it's our job to understand how to best go about eliminating such factors from our work.
Being in a living-learning environment creates an established set of well-known faces that can act as a valuable resource as you continue your college career. It can often be hard to get yourself settled when arriving at a new place or trying a new thing, however, in the scholars program you immediately have access to a group of like-minded individuals that can act as your roots and encourage new growth. Because we all share similar backgrounds, many of my scholars classmates were also in my other classes, giving us something to relate to and bond over. Many of my scholars classmates were at the same GSS meetings as I, which greatly enhanced my learning by creating a comfortable environment to ask questions and learn.
Science and Global Change Scholars act as an entity rather than as individuals. A contribution to scholars could simply mean helping out our peers, contributing helpful feedback or helping organization events that benefit scholars members. I’ve contributed a decent amount to the program, but there are definitely outstanding individuals that pour their soul into their work and the others around them, greatly benefiting the program and its students. Personally, most of my contribution to the program comes from helping my peers. As stated earlier, many of my SGC peers are in other classes, and I have had many opportunities to support them through understanding and learning content, and I have received the same.
I can’t personally say that scholars has introduced me to contradictions or challenges that have caused me to reevaluate my beliefs. It has however introduced me to many concepts that I have not considered in the past. There are many complicated social and political interactions that have occurred throughout the history of climate change. Contrary to what many may believe, there's more to climate change than just science. A concept that I was unaware about before being in this program is environmental justice. There have been many policies and laws in the past that have put certain groups of people at a disadvantage environmentally, meaning they may be affected by climate change effects to a higher degree. This was something I had never heard of or considered in the past, and have now decided to learn more about. In fact, I’m currently signed up to take Environmental Justice class next semester. This is only one of many topics that scholars has awoken my eyes to.
Scholars has greatly shaped my future career, and I believe it has set me up for success. I have been able to apply many concepts we have learned in other classes, and it has definitely guided my decision to sign up for specific classes based upon the topics I have enjoyed the most. My current future plans, marine biology, will definitely be affected by climate change. It is important to know what to expect in order to best approach such a career. The information I have learned from scholars will directly help me make informed decisions to best lead me down the path I would like to go down. I greatly appreciate the incredible support from Dr. Holtz and Dr. Merck throughout my time with this program, and I expect to apply much of the wisdom they have bestowed upon me.