How have my views on science changed because of my education?

As a freshman my interest in the life sciences was shallow, I saw the field of biology as a tool to be used to enter the medical field. I wanted from my undergraduate education what any high school senior envisions on going to college- drinks in red solo cups, relaxed bonding on grassy quads, a friend with dreadlocks and an acoustic guitar. I thought I’d pound through classes as I did in high school, absorb the raw knowledge needed to move onto the next stage, and continue on my educational journey. I also wanted to go into medicine not for the people or opportunity to work closely with those you serve but for the perceived prestige of the role of a physician. Basically I thought I’d be Doctor McSteamy, tamping brow sweat away during a mid-hospital-shift basketball game against my multiracial equally unrealistically attractive coworkers, among whom there were many hot and heavy romances and dramatic comings-out. I was thinking about all of the stuff that comes with education, learning, and a job in the medical field rather than the education, learning, and position themselves.

My first classes as a freshman didn’t do much to dispel that naïve self-centered way of looking at things. General chemistry and general biology weren’t much of a challenge. My peers weren’t exactly the uber-chill drug rug wearing stoner astrophysicists and future tech CEOs I was expecting- a lot of them were just like I was: concerned with their future, unsteady in their social situations, and doubtful of their own abilities. It seemed like we all had a similar concern- when the challenge arrives, will I be ready for it? Sophomore year really showed me what the actual challenge was.

I spent two semesters taking eighteen credits of physics, organic chemistry, continued general biology, and all the associated labs for those classes. Because of my medical emphasis I spent a great deal of time outside of the classroom serving and learning as much as I could. I discovered a great disparity of access to health among rural populations, which I felt was a betrayal of some of our most culturally and economically important regions. I was just insanely busy, all the time. If my high school senior/ undergrad freshman self could see how much stuff I was engaged with, they probably would have switched to something that seemed easier.

All of this business required a level of emotional maturity I hadn’t yet mustered, and still only rarely demonstrate. I was bogged down in the details, the effects of something I couldn’t quite understand. Why was I putting all of this work and time in? How was any of this going to help anyone, including me?

I spoke to my professors and read some books on the history of science, including a great one called The People’s History of Science: Miners, Midwives, and Low Mechanicks. From this I learned that science is defended in its applications and use to humankind. That’s why congress funds it, that’s why our professors push us so hard. It’s because we will eventually use this to make the world a better place (as cheesy as that sounds). From this understanding of the greater philosophical basis- lending a use and source of a lot of the details I was absorbing- I was able to continue pushing myself to become a better student of science and researcher. I needed to return to the roots of the thing.  

As for the world science is building- I’m excited. Many resource economists believe that we can develop knowledge, technology, and logistics to the point where we live stably and sustainably on the earth. I appreciate science’s ability to actually solve issues through human ingenuity and development.

I also worry. Technological expansion, homogenization of culture under a neoliberal global setting, and reactions to these trends all hurt stability and human happiness as far as I can tell. I don’t have any evidence to support this, but it seems like the emerging monoculture made possible by mass markets, the internet, and cultural pragmatism may be less fulfilling to live and work in than the way things have been and currently are. I’m aware that I’m probably projecting and looking at the past with rose colored glasses- it’s true that I want to visit places different then my home. The Indians don’t care if I get to paint elephants on my summer break- they want medicine and sanitation. With medicine and sanitation tend to come Starbucks and short-shorts and trade deals.

So things are looking up. Human are building better lives for ourselves. I think if we maintain a sense of place and of responsibility to our past, we will do pretty well for ourselves. Not that you asked!