My Three-Semester Time Capsule Essay
Our home is on the verge of mass destruction, and it’s all our fault. I recall learning from the last lecture of CPSG 101 last semester that we should still remain hopeful for our future! Moreover, within the lecture, it was stated that we as a species “must not give in to climate despair”. Prior to being a student within the Science and Global Change (SGC) program of College Park Scholars, I was aware of the inevitable threats to the planet. I was a proactive environmentalist prior to attending the University of Maryland, College Park: most of my work was on the research aspect and elimination of jargon into concise portions of media people can consume. And so now, in my third semester as a SGC scholar, I understand that the acts I’ve done in the past are perfect examples of ways in which we may plan for resilience in a future of global change — but also more. In my astronomy class, we covered the greenhouse effect and global warming. And throughout my computer science courses, I’ve recognized the potential and current impact of computing technology on global change. As an SGC student, I’ve learned that there are ways in which things are interconnected and can work in unison.
Within the SGC program, I was able to observe a myriad of topics instead of only being able to explore the world of global warming and climate change through a microscopic lens as I had before. One of the most incredible activities that I had the opportunity to partake in was from last semester. The class was divided into four groups, with each group being assigned a likely possibility for our future: Greentocracy, Post Anthropocene, Extinction Express, and Humans Inc. And with such, I was moved. I then presented my delegated scenario, the Post-Anthropocene, to my fellow group members, and they were equally as moved too!
I’ve been using an iPad to take notes in college for the past three semesters now. Its usage peaks for mathematical and computer science-related courses like Calculus I/II, Object-Oriented Programming I/II, Discrete Mathematics, and will continue next semester when I take Applied Probability and Statistics I. I initially considered purchasing an iPad for school because of the array of YouTube videos I watched featuring an iPad or tablet of some kind for notes and its practicality. But, on the first day of class, I needed to employ the hypothetico-deductive method of science. This method of note-taking works for others, but will I be successful with such?
So, over that first semester, I experimented with this approach for each of my classes. The results of the experiment would be based on how well I did in each of these courses, as well as my level of comprehension I believe I had. Then, in my second semester, I implemented the similar approach that I had used for the previous semester, except I improved on it by taking better notes; by better, I mean less verbatim, and a clearer picture of my understanding. In conclusion, taking notes on my iPad helped a ton. I did such for the aforementioned courses, and it made me a better student. I wouldn’t say that my time within SGC prepared me to employ it, but it definitely gave me the bigger picture of the hypothetico-deductive method of science.
There were many opportunities throughout my time in the SGC program where I’ve had the opportunity to work with my peers, and it has definitely enhanced my learning! I sat with two of my friends that I met at orientation, and they also happened to live in the same building as I for the fall and spring semesters. Moreover, the wonderful realization of this was that we were all computer science majors. That we were all of similar majors within the same building meant collaboration was done with ease. Moreover, as these friends were more ahead in the major than I, to seek help wasn’t an issue at all. And, because of Scholars and their living-learning practices, I was able to create, what I hope, two long-lasting friendships.
I’ve encountered several news-related items outside of the SGC classroom that I’ve found particularly notable. And throughout this semester, I stumbled upon an episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast on Spotify featuring Dr. Bjørn Lomborg. In one of his introductory statements, he argues that most of the mass media act like fear-mongers, projecting the ideas that only enable media consumers to be alarmed of our current climate state, specifically too alarmed. Lomborg states that addressing climate risks like the abundance of carbon dioxide is an “incredibly difficult and slightly inefficient way of trying to help [us] in the future”. Rather, there should be action taken on a local level, like proper zoning laws and regulations on where one can and cannot build homes (like in flash flood areas). And after being in SGC for some time, I’d have to agree with some aspects of this argument.
I recall reading an article published by the Yale Climate Connections in class that detailed the developed “real estate bubble” throughout states in the United States like Florida, Louisiana, and California. And, this bubble was caused by the unreasonable housing development in risky places — notice how Florida and Louisiana are two states vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes. And so, SGC has led me to agree with Lomborg, while had I not been in SGC, I’d keep my original stance.
I think I’ve contributed greatly to SGC. Throughout colloquiums, particularly this semester, but also in previous semesters, I've been somewhat outspoken. And in a classroom that doesn’t feature as many questions from students as it should, I believe I’ve left a mark that has also caused my peers to think. However, I think my greatest contribution to SGC has come in the form of being a peer mentor to freshmen to the program. I was a mentee last semester, and I felt as if my peer mentor helped in some ways. So, I wanted to return the favor, instead to newcomers to the program, by becoming a peer mentor. I served as, for lack of better word, a guide for them, answering their questions, getting them more involved with the amenities on campus, and at least attempting to help them become more comfortable as a student in a community of over 40,000 students!
I believe that being in Scholars hasn’t directly led to any of my perspectives on issues being changed. I’d like to add that throughout the colloquiums thus far, its content has been rather passive and conforms to all of my beliefs. I believe that a wonderful addition to colloquium would be a “debate day”, where groups are created among students and assigned ideals along the full spectrum of climate activism. Each group will have to conduct research supporting their ideals, and then write about a single counterargument. At the end, each group will present their research, and debate will ensue. This would allow for a satellite view of the topic of global change within colloquium and may achieve what Scholars intended to allow for: diversity of thought.
My experience in Scholars so far has been okay, and I’ve learned a lot over the past three semesters. It has caused me to be even a bit more proactive in the fight against climate change. As I am a STEM major, I know that I’ll continue to use the hypothetico-deductive method of science from now on; thus, I plan on taking what I’ve learned from that short period of instruction to my later semesters. Moreover, I’ve been skeptical about pursuing graduate studies; if I do though, hat’s another area I’ll apply the method, but also what I’ve learned about scientific and technical writing. And of course, one significant lesson that I’ve learned from SGC is that it’s never too late to make a difference in the world — it’s why despite negative public opinion, I’ll be alert to growing concerns of the state of our planet Earth.