ENR Scholars Reflection

What was the highlight of your ENR Scholars experience over these past two years?

The highlight of my ENR Scholars experience has been having the chance to be a Peer Mentor. I’ve loved getting to know the first years as well as staying involved with the program overall, with the friends I made from my first year in the program, and with the amazing advisors.

What is something you learned or gained because of ENR?

I have gained technical and factual information and new experiences about ENR Scholars, like backpacking, camping, slacklining, hammocking, the best banana boats I’ve ever had, and so much more. However, when I think about what ENR has given me, I think about the people. Like many students, finding a community or set of communities in college was a challenge at times; I came in as an Exploration major, so I tried out a lot of different classes and areas. This meant that while I was blessed to be able to look into many different avenues, I didn’t build the community of having classes with the same people. ENR Scholars filled that role; while maybe they weren’t in my calculus, theatre, sociology, or Spanish classes, they were the people I lived with, and we all walked over to Scholars seminar each week. Now that I’ve declared my major, I see many of those people around campus and in class, and many of my best friends here in college come from ENR Scholars.

For the sake of environmental impact, did you make any changes to your habits or actions over the course of the two years in the program? If so, is it something you will continue to do?  If you’re moving off campus next year, are there other actions you’re hoping to take or develop?

Because of its environmental impact, I’ve stopped using plastic cutlery/utensils. I’ve also started bringing my own reusable coffee mug around with me. ENR Scholars made these shifts easier as it was simply part of the culture; all around me, people had their own utensils and mugs, so the transition felt very natural. I absolutely plan on continuing with those actions, and as I move off campus, I’m hoping to really take a more active approach to where my food comes from. My future roommates and I have already discussed certain food sources, and I look forward to embarking on that new journey!

 

What advice would you give to the next class of incoming ENR scholars—how can they get the most out of this program?

This is a bit cliché, but it’s true: you get out of it what you put into it. ENR Scholars can be a major part of a person’s college experience, or it can play a very limited role. “Putting into it” can be as simple as attending the events, not just because you’re required, but rather going to ones that actually interest you. And when you’re there, be there. Be engaged with your fellow scholars to build that community.

 

Dr. Robyn Wilson and Change through Science and Communication

Scientific communication is vital to an informed society. Without effective communication on the part scientists and researchers, citizens, industries, governments, and societies overall cannot benefit from those research and scientific endeavors. What good are answers if they cannot be shared for the benefit of all? Often, there is a gap between what the general public knows and understands and what is agreed upon in certain scientific communities, such as with the issue of climate change. Despite the fact that 97% of climate scientists, and the majority of the scientific community overall, agree that climate change is real, the lack of clear communication of that knowledge with the public has presented challenges. This is related both to specified jargon being used when trying to convey information as well as a lack of education and understanding the nature of scientific statements and declarations.

An issue that I’m passionate is the valuation of arts and humanities (I believe the arts and humanities to be a vital part of a vibrant, growing, and developing society). Science is a tool that can be used to measure the effects of supporting and/or defunding artistic endeavors (i.e. What happens to GDP or GNH when arts are supported? What happens to the crime rate? How are our lives affected by the arts and humanities?). The scientific process gathers information that can be applied in the form of policies and action plans; it gives us an inventory of what we have so we can decide how to utilize those resources. Through research and scientific inquiry, we can decide how to best foster a creative and inspired society, perhaps with the support of arts and humanities.

I do believe that Dr. Wilson’s approach or filing a lawsuit will be impactful; the courts have been a longstanding avenue for individuals and smaller groups to make change. In the eyes of the law, everyone should have a voice. Dr. Wilson has a strong foundation for her argument, and the voice of the few should not be discounted.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead