The second semester (my freshman spring semester) of SGC colloquium titled, “Welcome to the Anthropocene: Causes and Impacts of the Climate Crisis" was the most effective in the way I approached my major. We discussed the core issues and causes surrounding climate change. In the beginning of the semester, it made me uncomfortable and a little hopeless at the state of the world’s climate. This is when I found out this is how most of society feels, and is why efforts have not been strong enough. The more I learned about the status of climate change, the more discouraged I felt about any resolution being made. It caused me to be passionate and more aware after no longer being ignorant to the science behind climate change. I looked into things I could do in my career field that related to climate change efforts. A lot of the time people limit bioengineering to medical fields, but the amount of opportunity outside of medicine is immense. I discovered environmental engineering and how there is research catered to creating types of bugs that will help depollute the ocean. This was the first I had heard of bioengineering having an agricultural/ecological aspect. This is definitely something I would want to pursue and it got rid of any doubts I had about staying within the major. I feel very passionate about this cause and feel it is too important to ignore (especially at this point). This semester was followed by the third semester, which was primarily focused on solutions to these issues, and instilled a lot of excitement to continue this work.
The most prominent example of climate change in the news was when I was watching the Republican presidential debate. The topic of climate change was presented and as expected, all candidates denied its existence in relation to humans. I think their general consensus now is that climate change exists but is not caused by humans and is not a human's problem. In SGC, we had already talked about climate change deniers and why people choose to ignore the science, so I was well versed on it already. Even after going on an excursion to the National Museum of Natural History, there were portions of the exhibit that de-emphasized society’s role in this warming climate. This debate candidate was in favor of fracking, and increasing the burning of coal, which is extremely horrible for society’s carbon footprint. It would also set back climate change efforts that have been made to salvage the intense climate issues we currently face. After learning about all the different causes and aspects of climate change it was really interesting to see that people still deny the facts of the matter. It was a wake up call to me that although I have advanced in my education on the topic, the world has somewhat stayed the same on these issues. As I continue to learn more about the issues surrounding climate change, it becomes clearer and clearer that education is the main thing that is lacking here. There are a lot of opinions and different perspectives but a lot of them are from people that do not know the facts of the situation. It gives me a new perspective on social issues as a whole and makes me more cautious about who I listen to.
My learning outside of class was greatly improved when I worked with SGC peers. To start, most SGC scholars lived in the same building their freshman year, so it was nice to have that community building throughout our first year. When we would go on excursions or have group assignments, it was a lot of fun to get to know different people each time we had a new task. I found that everyone in this program had a unique perspective on the subjects we were learning and it opened my eyes to more than just how I processed the information. I believe it gave me more of a well rounded understanding, and helped me become more open to seeing topics through a different lens.
I think I contributed greatly to the scholars community. After my first semester in SGC, I realized how great of an opportunity it was to be in the scholars program and I wanted to get more involved. I applied to be the peer mentor captain for SGC so I could help new students adjust to the program and hopefully find as much value in it as I did. Throughout this past semester in SGC I have worked with other mentors in the program to support and guide freshman SGC students in their first semesters in college. We keep them engaged by hosting events and keeping in touch with them throughout the months. I also like to participate in the excursions SGC has for us. I have gone on the New York trip, to the National Zoo, and to the Natural History Museum in DC. I tried to do something different every semester and I think it was really helpful in keeping me involved.
I would say my opinions and beliefs were challenged in the sense of how hard I had thought about them before. I would see environmental friendliness as recycling and not littering. Looking back, I think that’s a pretty limited way to view proactivity in fighting climate change. This course challenged me to think harder about what I as an individual could do to further climate change efforts. It broadened the scope of how much we do, actually affects the climate. I didn’t even think about it enough to consider how much energy I waste, or how the food I eat is not carbon friendly. I am more conscious about choosing public transportation or walking over Ubering or other unproductive means of travel, and buy a lot more eco friendly, natural products.
I am looking forward to continuing my journey of learning about the topic of global change as a whole. I like that it has a more sociological dimension than what my major classes normally cater to. In being a part of this program, I realize I am not meant to do behind the scenes work, but I really enjoy helping solve major problems, and helping do that work hands-on and directly. It also really taught me how to consume information in a correct and effective manner. You cannot simply believe something because it comes from (what some may deem) a reputable source. It is still important to do your own research no matter what.