QLanners Shared Journal Entry Week 1

1. When I hear computer science I think of the utilization of the processing power of computers to make every-day tasks easier, more effective, and more affordable. I think of the creative but incredibly precise and logical mindset needed to write commands that serve this purpose. 2. I think older relatives, focusing on those who are not specifically specialized in computer science, are often overwhelmed and intimidated by the words computer science. Several of my older relatives have a hard time navigating the simple dashboards of several software applications, so when they try to think of the interworking behind these dashboards, they probably only think of lines of incoherent words and symbols that have no meaning to them. 3. Younger relatives seem to be more excited at the prospect of the possibilities that computer science holds. Having grown up always surrounded by technology, the younger generation is very technologically literate and is often very willing to learn how to harness computer science to its fullest abilities.

1. When I hear the term biology, I think of the living world and the science behind how everything in the world interacts. I think of the importance of current hot topics in today’s society such as global warming and pollution and how we can use technology with the findings from biology to help the living planet. 2. While I am pursuing a biochemistry minor, and have taken several biology courses, I wouldn’t consider myself a biologist. I am more interested in working with biologists to use technology to solve the problems that they find.

1. The purpose of these readings was to give a holistic introduction to both computing and biology. More specifically, both readings tried to combat the stereotypical view that each subject carries with it. The articles went beyond the ignorant views that people outside of each field have of each of them, and outlined the depth of each subject. The computer science article laid a foundation of the several different aspects that make up computer science, going beyond the typical view that computer science is just coding, to highlight all the possibilities one has in the subject. The biology article focused on articulating how a biologist has a moral inclination to discover the world. It also touched on technology’s place in biology, and the role we all can have as “amateur” biologists. 2. The voice of the scientist in computing appeals to me most. I am most interested in exploring and discovering the possibilities that exist within the realm of computing. I am also very interested in making the world of computing as interdisciplinary as possible, using the power of computing to answer questions in other scientific and industrial fields. 3. The principle of computation can be observed in our everyday life in our decisions on routes to take to arrive at a desired location. Each time we have a specified destination, we quickly think through all the possible routes that we could take to arrive at that destination, and decide upon the quickest route. We are quickly able to rule out most routes, and then take more time to think through the few remaining possible routes. Furthermore, each time we take a route to a destination (say between classes), the subsequent time takes less computing power (thinking), until we become able to take the quickest route virtually without even thinking about it. 4. I was very interested in Janovy’s commentary on the importance for biologists to become technologically capable (and preferably technologically advanced). Janovy’s story of the realization of the power of technology at a University of Nebraska’s summer field program (p. 25), and his many examples of the types of biological advancements that technology have allowed for articulate this idea. In today’s world, for a biologist to be able to share his/her findings with the world, a step that is key to any academic, he/she needs to have to ability to analyze their findings in a meaningful way. And to do so, technology is necessary. This idea highlighted the reason that I am taking this course, in the idea that technology has found its way into every field, and knowing how to use the available technology at a high level will always be a skill in high demand. 5. After reading the Janovy’s On Becoming a Biologist I would have to lean towards saying that I indeed am a biologist. While I do not intend to go on and get my PhD in biology, I am an avid outdoorsmen and lover of nature. I have several memories and moral values rooted in nature and the wonders the world has to offer. While my skills and career interests align more with analytics, Janovy’s commentary on the growing trend of interdisciplinary work reminds me that I will always be able to observe the Earth through a biologist’s view and use my skills in unique ways to learn things about our planet.

References

Denning, P.J. (2007). Computing is a Natural Science. Communications of the ACM, 50(7). Retrieved from: http://delivery.acm.org/

Denning, P.J. (2008). The Profession of IT: Voices of Computing. Communications of the ACM, 51(8). Retrieved from: http://delivery.acm.org/

Janovy, J. (1996). Naturalists, On Becoming a Biologist (pp. 1-33). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

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