A SGC topic that helped me enhance my attitude and approach to my major is the mad scientist lecture. That may sound slightly strange but it allowed me to learn more about rare times where some scientists take their research to the extreme and ignore ethics. My major is cell biology and genetics and I plan to enter the research field with this degree. It is important to learn about the ethics of research so in the future, I can conduct research that ensures the safety and understanding of everyone involved. The lecture about mad scientists allowed me to see that there are people that wrongly use human lives and try to justify it under the title of science. It is important to remember these events so no part of them is ever repeated by yourself or any fellow scientists. An example that was discussed in both SGC colloquium and BSCI151 was the Tuskegee Syphilis study where the researchers’ negligence and disregard for their participants’ well-being led to the unnecessary suffering and deaths of many of the participants. This specific study led to the formation of many ethics regulations and review boards, like Institutional Review Boards, that ensure research studies and experiments adhere to the policies. Outside of SGC colloquium, I remember seeing news articles with headlines about how the year, season, month, or day is hottest on record. For example, recently, I saw an article with a headline that claimed 2023 is the hottest year on record. SGC has enhanced my understanding of this topic as we frequently talk about climate change. I remember discussing in colloquium about how (for example) September 2023 is going to be the coldest we ever experience September from here on out. Every year into the future, there will be articles with the headline 2024, 2025, 2026, etc. is the hottest year on record. If we continue with the business-as-usual model that we seemed to be most on track for, the global temperature will only increase. Discussed in both SGC colloquium and BSCI160, carbon will only continue to be trapped in the atmosphere, resulting in increasing temperatures yearly. If we make efforts to reduce our emissions, especially with carbon, then we can prevent higher global temperature increases. At this rate, we will probably have an increase in at least 1॰C by 2050 but to prevent anything higher than 2॰C, we have to act now. We have to implement strategies like carbon neutral technology and alternative energy. In freshman year, I lived in Centreville Hall which was where most of the SGC scholars who lived on campus resided. I did not come in with a pre-planned roommate so I had left my fate up to the five question survey that I filled out in the UMD housing portal prior to moving in. Luckily for me and due to the living-learning program, my roommate was also a SGC scholar. This allowed me to enter SGC with someone that I already felt comfortable with when we started the program. Both my roommate and I made friends with other SGC scholars from colloquium but mostly due to the fact we all lived on the same floor of Centreville Hall. This aided in my learning as I had fellow scholars that I felt comfortable with. I was more open to asking questions and discussing topics with them during colloquium or during other SGC events. Two of my SGC friends are also biology majors which means that we have multiple classes together. This aided me in my learning in classes outside of SGC as I had people that I could collaborate and study with for my major-required classes. This is extremely helpful as my classes get increasingly difficult. Personally, I do not think I have had a large impact on SGC. I did not have a leadership role which means I only participated in SGC through my designated colloquium and during the field trips. I like to think I had some impact though as I participated in the past three complete semesters. I showed up for all the colloquiums and participated in the projects that we had. I also went on multiple excursions like service day at the Kenilworth gardens and to the Museum of Natural History in New York City. I interacted with many of my fellow SGC scholars in colloquium and at those events which I hope will result in a lasting connection. This will also help all of us leave an impression on SGC. Many of the topics we discussed in SGC colloquium made me reflect on my opinions and beliefs. One of them was making sure to be open minded and to not form bias beforehand. During that lecture, I realized that I often subconsciously do that which restricts me from fully understanding other people’s opinions and beliefs. That is unfair as I assume that I already know what they will say when I definitely do not. To be a good scientist is to be open to new ideas as that will lead to new research and then to possible new important discoveries. I need to become conscious of when I begin to form a bias beforehand so I can stop myself and maintain an open mind to others’ opinions and beliefs. In the future, I will remember the importance of acting on climate change so we can prevent the worst-case scenarios. I will utilize this information by telling others (outside of SGC) about what I have learned and what must be done to prevent worsening climate change. Hopefully, I will be able to help prevent climate change by participating in developing or implementing solutions in my future profession. I hope I also can use my knowledge of logical fallacies to give valid arguments. I want to be able to call people out when they are trying to use a logical fallacy to support their argument. This can help both sides build solid points that will allow listeners to form their own opinions.