Reflections: 9 Years on from Science One
In my first year at UBC, I joined the Science One program. It’s a truly interdisciplinary program based on integrating biology, physics, chemistry, and math concepts. It is also unofficially known for its huge work load and intellectually demanding environment. In my year (and probably every year), Science One was filled with students who were exceptional at what I would now call “hard core” science. My fellow learners were great at abstract thinking. They had the drive and discipline that characteriszes scientists who enjoy years and years of lab research. I, on the other hand, was in many ways opposite of that, even today. I like science and learning applied to concrete problems with immediate impact which helps people. I only get fired up about “hacking” a problem when I’m really interested in it. I like to run around outside in nature, in cities, seeing the world.
That being said, I loved my time in SciOne, even though it truly embodied what our director told us on the first day: “Learning Through Suffering” (in Greek — Pathei Mathos or πάθει μάθος — no less).
Recently, a good friend from SciOne was asked to talk to the new graduating class about life after SciOne. My friend asked if I had any thoughts. So here they are:
If I had a chance, I (might) tell myself after graduating from SciOne that…
- there are an infinite number of ways to “work in science,” so try putting on explore mode. After SciOne, I studied agriculture and economic science with the aim of working in developing countries. After 6 jobs in 5 years, I can’t say I work fully in agriculture or economics or SciOne style science, but all of my academic training has come in very handy at different points. I never thought my career would have been possible when I graduated from SciOne, but it just revealed itself one step at a time, with my academic training helping me through. Let your interests and instincts lead you to a path that combines what you love, what the world needs, what you’re good at, and what will pay you.
- what I learned from SciOne was a mindset, above all. A bit embarrassingly, while I remember many concepts, I barely remember any actual physics equations, chemistry reactions, or mathematically derived movements of bacteria. (Biology, on the other hand, helped me grow as an environmentalist.) I was also definitely a mediocre SciOne student at best, as my friends and professors can attest :). At first, after all those sleepless nights “sacrificed” for SciOne, it seemed like I didn’t get much out of it in concrete science skills. But I was wrong. The interdisciplinary way you learn to learn, the way you approach hard problems bit by bit, the way you work in teams, and the way you teach yourself whatever new skills necessary to solve a problem, are actually my biggest takeaways from SciOne. Those mindsets came in very handy from when I was running a large social science randomized control trial in rural Tanzania to working out if my job with a farmer economic empowerment project actually harmed the environment overall.
- I encourage you to reflect on what you learned and experienced this year. Write it down. It helps when you’re looking back. I also bet you learnt way more than you think.
At the start, I said I might tell my younger self because, honestly, I’m happy with all the “detours”, “extra” miles, “mistakes”, rests and stops I’ve had since then. If sharing what I learnt meant I would have avoided the learning, it defeats the point. The detours make life interesting! So listen or not at your own choice :)
Lastly, I’m actually going to be teaching a short online course on how to start a career in international development/humanitarian aid work. Science Oners! If you’re interested in finding out more, send me an email at tiffany@
GRSers, you’re very welcome too!
