Being an SGC scholar has helped me understand scientific practices to explore evidence, causes, and implications of global change in a unique manner. This course has been beneficial due to the level of intuitive thinking and discussion based activities. For example, rather than simply sitting through a lecture on alternatives to current technologies, we brainstormed in groups and physically designed a new technology method to enhance the environmental state of the planet through the Visions of the Future assignment. I gain so much more when I am encouraged to think creatively and solve a problem. Over the past few years, SGC has pushed me to think outside the box and consider the greater good when addressing an issue. Additionally, SGC emphasizes the importance of facts, and developing opinions after looking at all the evidence. This is incredibly valuable, especially for the youth, since many times we blindly believe in ideologies without considering all of the data. This practice encourages me to make informed decisions and develop values that are true. SGC is a unique opportunity to explore and be curious, which many other courses do not offer. For example, other courses place high pressure on performance and academics, which often distracts me from being interested in what I am learning. SGC is the perfect environment for me to truly absorb knowledge and question the things I am being taught. I can also easily envision things I am learning in the classroom being applied to my daily life, which most intense, core classes do not accomplish. Overall, SGC encourages me to push myself and be intentional when learning about science, as well as developing skills when analyzing evidence and using scientific knowledge.
Throughout the course, we have covered many sets of topics. However, one that really interested me was the topic on mad scientists. Personally, I really value ethics and analyzing the morality of events in society. This topic defied every moral argument to exist. But, it truly reminded me of how much I value ethics. This topic is directly related to my major of bioengineering. Within the field of bioengineering, there are a lot of ethical arguments that have risen. For example, is it ethical to conduct gene editing? To one day choose which genetic qualities your child has? Bioengineering has the potential to unlock this technology, but where is the line? This topic encouraged me to think about ethical arguments within bioengineering and reinforced my ideas surrounding morality. Although mad scientists such as Sigmund Rascher, discussed in colloquium, were extremely unethical with their experiments by testing on humans, I considered my values when experimenting on another life. I have been a strict vegetarian my whole life, where I would never want to hurt another living being, even as small as an ant. This topic helped me realize I do not want to conduct animal testing in this field, although it is prominent in bioengineering. I have concluded I do not want to pursue research in my future career, and would rather work in manufacturing a product and working with customers receiving the product. This position would still allow me to help people in terms of medicine. In conclusion, this topic has truly shown me what I want to pursue within bioengineering in the future.
This past summer, I interned at the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) within the NIH. This opportunity is also my practicum due to the similar skillset we discussed in colloquium that I employed throughout the internship. At NIAID, I was tasked with designing and conducting an experiment in order to optimize transient production of cells to mass produce antibodies to manufacture vaccines. This process correlated to the hypothetico-deductive method of science. For example, I began by observing and researching current protocols of optimizing transient production of cells. I learned about the contributing factors and what has and has not worked. I eventually was able to consolidate those finding and design my own experiment. Once I gained my results, I had to intently analyze my results and understand the various patterns I saw within the data. This is how I was able to draw my conclusion and verify my hypotheses. Although I was not observing nature, I was observing the behaviors of cells and attempting to explain why the cells were producing more antibodies in certain conditions. Science is so vast, and there are so many things to explore, so this method of discovery allows for more in-depth conclusions.
As I mentioned before, I am an active learner when working in collaborative environments. I truly value discussion-based activities and gain more from bouncing ideas off of other people. Specifically, the Visions of the Future assignment was beneficial. I was able to work with my group and design a potential vision of what life might be like in fifty years. This was a unique opportunity to think deeply and project various situations of what the world could like. When we were suggesting technologies that could be implemented in future society, I was able to play Devil's advocate and suggest counterarguments to our potential solutions. This encouraged intense collaboration and ensured we were being thorough when suggesting potential technological development.
I feel like I have had a tremendous impact on SGC by being a Scholars Peer Mentor this year. This unique position has allowed me to communicate with mentees and prepare them to be successful in Scholars and their academic career. I have been able to host fun and useful events, such as virtual game night and a study tips session. I have enjoyed bonding with my mentees and talking to them informally. Being able to guide them and answer their questions brings a smile to my face, knowing I have a direct impact on their success. Additionally, I have been able to ask questions and learn thoroughly on SGC excursions. For example, last year I visited the Phillip Merrill Environmental Research Center, where I learned many interesting ways to be sustainable and recycle "waste." I actively participated by asking intuitive questions and chasing my curiosity.
Honestly, throughout my time in Scholars, I have not encountered many people who have challenged my beliefs or opinions. This may be due to the fact that the majority of people in the colloquium are of similar demographics as me, such as being a college student and an engineering major. Also, many discussions we have had in this class have correlated to a greater issue of the future of the planet, rather than personal beliefs or standpoints. In the future, I would like to have more personal discussions and understand other people's perspectives that may challenge mine. Overtime, I think people's opinions have become more similar as we learn more about the state of the environment through this course.
Scholars will certainly have a lasting impact on my undergraduate experience. I have learned a lot of skills, beyond science that will apply to future endeavors. For example, in this program, we encountered a lot of problem solving techniques, which will be prominent in my career as an engineering major. Additionally, we discussed the importance of evidence and how easy it is to draw faulty claims. Throughout college, I will continue working with people the way I did in Scholars. In post-undergraduate education and my professional career, I will remember how to apply my beliefs into science and ensure I am being ethical. Furthermore, I will be able to develop solutions to climate change and work towards saving the planet through bioengineering.