An example of news-related item I encountered outside of SGC was Nuclear Fusion. Nuclear fusion is a potential source for sustainable energy production, and I researched it in an engineering elective I took. In my own research I learned the how fusion works, how reactors are built, and why fusion energy production is so difficult to achieve. Although I learned a lot about the technologies from my own research, SGC showed how the technologies actuallymake a difference in the world. In SGC we did a "Search for Solutions" project where students grouped up, researched, and presented potential solutions to help counter climate change. One of those solutions was nuclear fusion, but even though I knew a lot from my research, I learned about the sustainability of nuclear fusion. I understood the chemistry/physics behind the fusion process, but what I didn't realize was that if nuclear fusion was able to be used reliably, all it would take is hydrogen to fuel it. Hydrogen which is the most abundant element in the universe is extremely accessable would overtake fossil fuels and help put a halt on carbon emissions. SGC really enhanced my understanding of nuclear fusion and how impactful it could be. The topic that helped me decide my major was whenever we talked about different technologies in class. Freshman year I was an undecided engineering major and was stuck between choosing Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. During some of the lectures, I was truly inspired to do something about climate change. By do something about climate change, I mean set myself up to be able to do something. There were other reasons, but I didn't want to be too specialized in aerospace and not be able to have as many options in terms of jobs. As a mechanical engineer I could potentially make an impact on sustainable technology and potentially help contribute to some of the grand challenges of engineering. In SGC we've talked a lot about different future technologies that could help fix the issues causing climate change, and I want to be able to be apart of those future technologies. Phys260, one of my supporting classes, was a tough class, but I learned a lot. This class cover thermodynamics, waves, electric fields, and circuits which aren't directly connected to resolving climate change, but certainly are the basis of lots of complicated technology. The topics covered in this class are the basis of my understanding of the physical world and will help me in my future of engineering. I've actually enjoyed learning Phys260 and the different topics that aren't as tangeble as previous classes. Being able to calculate how much potential energy an electron has in a certain system and relating that to how much velocity it would result in if it displaced a certain distance is so cool. Understanding how sound waves travel and the math behind music is also so cool. This class is helpful to my future, but also amazing by itself. Chem135, another supporting course, was an introduction to chemistry for engineers and covered most of the general chemistry knowledge that engineers would need. This class taught me all about what the world is made up of and how it can be manipulated to achieve what seems like magic. Chemistry was never my thing in highschool, but after taking this class I've learned to appreciate it and realized how much it contributes to my arsenal of knowledge. The living learning community of scholars has been great. I've made many friends that are similar to me in interest and in majors. It was great because we really were living and learning together since we all shared similar courses(not just CPSG). If I ever needed help understanding a class, I had my friends just down the hall. It started with Math241 where Jack Capps helped teach me Matlab. There was also Chem135 which a lot of SGC students were in and we all studied together. My fellow SGC scholars have turned out to be great friends and I'm now living with Michael Deffinbaugh the King of SGC or something. I have contributed to SGC by being a helpful friend to my SGC peers. I mentioned Jack Capps taught me Matlab. The next semester I ended up teaching it to Ruben Rodriguez and Adarsh Gadagkar. I also have helped Adarsh, Ruben, and Austin Turner in explaining Phys160 topics. I also am not super talkative in the Colloquium discussion, but when the room is quiet and the answer is obvious, Merck just looks at me and I say it. I've put considerable effort into the in class projects and try to make it fun for my partners. I came from a very conservative town and highschool so "belief" in climate change wasn't very popular. Coming into SGC it was a little bit of a culture shock. I learned so much about climate change and how important it is to make a change. I wasn't planning on being in SGC, but I'm really glad I was put in it. I now want to make a difference and use the knowledge I've gained from SGC to do something. Like I've mentioned earlier, I was really inspired by the technology solutions and the lectures revolving around that. I really want to be apart of the future technologies that save our Earth. I don't know which technological solution I want to do yet, but I do want to make a difference. I hope to be able to make it part of my professional career, but if not I still will use my Scholars experience in my everyday life.