Over the last three semesters, my experience as a Science & Global Change Scholar has been an insightful exploration of science as a whole. The program is focused on the foundations of scientific practice, the evidence, causes, and implications of global change, and the use of scientific knowledge in decision-making. This knowledge could help me in the future and has impacted my academic and personal growth.
The SGC experience has significantly enhanced my understanding of global change compared to what I might have received outside the program. One example being a news report discussing the Canadian wildfires caught my attention. This was during late summer, where we here at Maryland would get haze and poor downwind from Canada. This issue connected with my knowledge from SGC, where I gained an understanding of the connections between climate change and extreme events with their environmental repercussions. The program helped me to interpret the complexities of global change but also helped to improve my critical thinking skills, allowing me to approach the news with discernment. I overheard and saw some people online blaming the wildfires on completely illogical reasons, and after reading more with knowledge from the program, I was able to conclude from reliable news sources that the wildfires worsened nearly twice as much because of climate change. By emphasizing effective communication of scientific knowledge, SGC helped me to contribute meaningfully to discussions on the climate crisis, whether it be simple conversations with friends and family or in a complex discussion in an essay. Overall, encountering this news item served as a practical application of my SGC knowledge, showing the program's relevance in understanding urgent global challenges.
Additionally, I remember a time where me and my friends were discussing various topics, and we had a conversation where some logical fallacies were brought up. I proceeded to use some critical thinking skills emphasized in class. I actively participated in the discussion, helping someone understand a certain fallacy in the current discussion, which led to a more nuanced and evidence-based exchange of thoughts. During this conversation, I realized that I also had employed some logical fallacies, which really helped me to rethink my thought process on certain matters. This discussion helped me to further identify and understand logical fallacies but also heightened my awareness of the significance of evidence-driven discourse in everyday conversations. The emphasis on critical thinking in the SGC program has not only impacted my academic engagements but has also empowered me to navigate discussions within social circles with a new perspective.
I find the subject of climate and global change to come up very often in my classes, and I feel as if my time in this program has helped me to connect with related ideas in these classes. Specifically, in my ENGL101 class, I wrote an essay on the topic of electric vehicles and their future applications in our society. I can say that my knowledge from this program helped me to write with more educated nuance in my essay, as I was able to tie in information from colloquium and our texts into my essay.
In another class, my introduction to engineering class (ENES100), our main project was to assemble a specialized vehicle to complete a task. One of the factors that could have contributed to extra credit in the class was the factor of sustainability. To achieve this extra credit, we needed to build our bot with sustainable and recycled materials, and I helped to pick out specific materials and components that could help our team reach our sustainability goal. My knowledge from this program helped me a little to select sustainable materials, and it allowed me insight into the idea and importance of sustainability, even in small things like a project bot.
Identifying a misunderstanding of the scientific method in a non-SGC class showcased how the program has empowered me to discern and correct misapplications of scientific information. This skill is invaluable, not only in academic settings but also in navigating the broader societal discourse.
Beyond CPSG classes, specific items from supporting courses have reinforced my SGC experience. For instance, in a biology class, the discussion on ecosystem resilience aligned seamlessly with SGC themes, further solidifying the interdisciplinary perspectives gained in the program.
The living-learning community within SGC did not really apply to me as much as it did to my classmates since I lived off campus during my first year here at UMD. I did feel like I was missing out on a little bit of interaction between classmates, but I still had the opportunity to connect with fellow SGC classmates throughout the semesters as our class has kept the same people from the first semester. This weekly interaction helped with my learning in the program, as during our group projects or small group discussions in colloquium, I found it easier to talk to SGC classmates compared if I was talking to other students in a different class.
Regarding active contribution, I feel like I have done an average job of contributing to the Scholars community. I have attended some excursions, specifically this last one at the National Museum of Natural History, and I have completed all of the colloquium discussions and projects. However, looking back, I felt like I should have participated in colloquium discussion more often, as during the last three semesters I can count on one hand the amount of times that I have spoken up in class.
Being in this program has exposed me to people and concepts that have somewhat challenged my existing beliefs. Going back to my previous discussion on logical fallacies, that lesson specifically helped me to reflect on my thinking, and I now hopefully can apply more critical thinking in discussions.
Looking towards the future, I can see my Scholars experience aiding any future endeavors. Lessons in scientific and critical thinking, methods of problem-solving, and the ability to navigate challenges are important skills that can definitely affect my junior and senior years, post-undergraduate education, and professional career.