BIOL368/S20:Class Journal Week 1
Christina Dominguez
Before reading the Denning articles (on your honor), answer the following questions;
When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
When I hear 'computer science', I think of the different programs and databases that run behind the scenes of the interface we see today with different technologies.
When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
They most likely think of it as the way that technology runs in the background of computers and programs.
When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
When younger relatives think of computer science, I imagine that they would think of coding for programs such as video games. I think that this is the format that is most available to younger relatives and friends.
Before reading the Janovy chapter (on your honor), answer the following questions;
When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
When I hear the term 'biology', I think of the complex system of all living things and environments around them that sustain life.
Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
Yes, I would now consider myself a biologist. As a graduating senior, I believe I have acquired a lot of knowledge in the different spheres of biology to have a well-rounded concept of biology as well as know the intimate details.
After reading the Denning articles and the Janovy chapter, answer the following questions:
What was the purpose of these readings?
The purpose of these readings was to have different perspectives and fresh outlooks on what computer science and biology mean. They can take many different forms and outlooks and do not have a singular definition.
Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
"The Scientist" seemed to appeal to me the most. It emphasized discovery, which I find important in my educational pursuit as a student. I love to learn about new things that become a part of the whole system and network.
Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
Hierarchical Aggregation (Design) reminded me of the office that I work at. We all have a key role to play that involves very different jobs, but together we make a whole that accomplishes an overall single purpose or goal.
What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
I found the ending interesting that suggested incorporating the study of art into a biologist's life. I like that this perspective takes into account other fields and outlooks in order to get the most out of biology and discoveries in biology.
What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
To be a biologist would mean to have a natural curiosity that leads one to discoveries and new ideas in the field of biology. However, the application of these ideas into bigger networks and understanding is key to its application.I would consider myself a starting biologist as I think there is more potential for me to grow into a biologist that can be more initiative into new discoveries.
Cdominguez (talk) 20:46, 19 January 2020 (PST)
Maya Paniagua
Before reading the Denning articles (on your honor) answer the following questions;
- When you hear the term computer science what comes to mind?
When I hear the term computer science, the first thing that comes to mind is coding
- When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
When my older relatives hear the term computer science I believe they think of the science that makes computers run, function, and organize information properly
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
When younger relatives and friends hear the term computer science, I think they think of a daunting branch of science that is hard to understand
Before reading the Janovy chapter (on your honor), answer the following questions;
- When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
When I hear the term biology, I think of the last 2.5 years of college and how biology has so many different areas of focus that can help us understand ourselves and the world.
- Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
Yes, I consider myself a biologist. I consider myself a biologist because it has been my main area of focus in my studies for the last 2.5 years.
After reading the Denning articles and the Janovy chapter answer the following questions:
- What was the purpose of these readings?
The purpose of these readings was to give a broader view of what computer science and biology can encompass.
- Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
The voice that appeals to me the most is the User, though at the moment I have no interest in pursuing computer science as a career, I appreciate the tools that technology has given me to organize data, school work, and even day to day life.
- Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as non- computer-science-y as possible, either from other subject or your daily life?
The principle I chose was compression (communication), in my daily life I tend to store information away in my brain and only when it is needed or when I am in a familiar setting to where I first learned the information can I recall it.
- What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
The section I found most interesting from this reading was when Janovy was discussing teaching nonmajors science and that if they come out of a class with just information and not the desire to learn more and question things, investigate, and observe it is a disservice to them because they will not have the skillset to make informed decisions on choices regarding life of us and other species.
- What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
To be a biologist means to live in a world of investigations, to make your own observations about the world around you and organize it into an original understanding. I still consider myself a biologist, because I strive to answer questions that I formulated when observing nature; however, I can still work on being more observant and more creative in the questions I do ask. Mpaniag1 (talk) 15:31, 20 January 2020 (PST)
Jenny Chua
Before reading the Denning articles (on your honor), answer the following questions:
When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
When I hear the term computer science, the first thing that comes to mind is coding and running and maintaining websites, databases, or programs that companies use electronically or digitally.
When older relatives or freinds hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to mind?
If I could imagine what my older relatives or friends think of when they hear "computer science," I believe they would think of someone who works at Google or Apple who comes up with the code behind the technologies they use on a daily basis.
When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to mind? Younger relatives or friends might think of someone who fixes or works on computers to make them run smoothly.
Before reading the Janovy chapter (on your honor), answer the following questions:
When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
When I think of biology, I think of how life maintains itself, reproduces, grows, and deteriorates, as well as the various interactions between all organisms on Earth.
Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
After almost four years of studying biology, I definitely think I can call myself a biologist. In a more professional sense, I have learned techniques, problem-solving skills, and a well-rounded education in the field of biological sciences to help me pursue a graduate degree and pay it forward as a teacher.
After reading the Denning articles and the Janovy chapter, answer the following questions:
What was the purpose of these readings?
The purpose of these readings was to help articulate that there is no one definition of what a biologist or computer scientist does. Like many professions in the STEM world, categories and topics intersect, and one is not limited to just studying medicine, for example, if they choose to pursue a degree in biology.
Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing articles seem to appeal to you the most?
Fittingly enough, I appeal the most to The Scientist. One of the reasons why I want to be a teacher is because I love helping others make discoveries either individually or jointly, and personally, I always love finding new fun facts or findings in either classes or labs.
Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
Search (Automation) involves finding organization in what might seem to be overwhelming chaos. Last semester I took General Physiology, and we learned a lot of material in one lecture, let alone the entire semester. When I found out the final was cumulative, my brain went into Automation mode trying to find out how I could organize my notes into a streamlined and easier to nagivate format.
What did you find most interesting or provacative about the Janovy reading?
I appreciate how Janovy, on pages 11 and 12, talks bluntly about how a lot of college freshmen choose their majors based on the advice of one or a few high school counselors and how their career interests are mostly money-motivated. I was actually having this discussion with a few friends the other night about how we would've loved to have seen a more comprehensive and detailed list of what college majors are and what courses are like rather than just taking a personality test, for example, and having someone tell me what they think I am good at. I do appreciate biology and I don't regret my decision to pursue it at all, but I know plenty of people who would have switched to something they were actually interested and curious about had they had the chance to do so.
What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
Biologists are individuals who study life and their relationships to their environment. Biologists are, in a sense, trying to figure out a puzzle of the relationships organisms depend on to survive, both with living and non-living species. I do consider myself to be a biologist as stated earlier because of my interst in studying how life works and the experience I have had over the last almost four years at LMU.
Jennymchua (talk) 13:27, 22 January 2020 (PST)
Madeleine King
Denning articles: pre-reading questions
- When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
- When I hear the term computer science, I think about coding, making websites, and applications. It’s basically the behind the scenes behind processing and function. I imagine scientists designing and determining how to make digital information into programs and computers.
- When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- When my older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, I think they have a similar answer as me. Making computers, websites, and programs, which involves some coding.
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, I think they describe it as coding 1’s and 0’s, and the language behind making games and applications.
Janovy chapter: pre-reading questions
- When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- When I hear the term biology, I think of the study of life. Even though it is the literal translation, I think it explains it all. It explains why everything is the way it is, the processes behind it, and starting from something small and working its way up.
- Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
- I think I consider myself a biologist, because I do study life. I study different processes, I carry out experiments where I can observe these processes, and ask myself real life questions about biology and strive to figure out the answer. It may seem unusual to call myself a biologist because I am still studying biology in school, but in a literal sense, I believe that I am a biologist.
Post Reading Questions
- What was the purpose of these readings?
- The purpose of the Denning articles is to understand how computer science has been limited by the public eye, and it is more than just coding and making computers. It’s an interdisciplinary field that strives to replicate natural processes into our own. The purpose of the Jenovy chapter was to better understand what a biologist is. It isn’t simply doing experiments in a lab, memorizing a lot of information, nor how many degrees you have. It’s about a natural curiosity one has to wonder about life’s processes and wanting to discover them.
- Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
- The Scientist voice appealed to me the most due to their biological background. It has never occurred to me to think that a computer scientist would study biology and then apply it to computer. It makes sense though that a biologist would help manage artificial intelligence: replicating human life into computers.
- Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
- One of the seven principles from the article that can be applied to everyday life is hierarchical aggregation. It basically means larger things are composed of smaller ones. For example, 7 days a week, multiple weeks become a month, months make years, etc. It has a design to it that we stick to as time goes on.
- What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
- I thought the topic about paradigms is interesting. It shows some of the limits of learning in the scientific world and how new ideas and discoveries arise: by denying the traditional foundation. It seems contradictory to learn a bunch of information in lectures, but then challenge it and strive to make new ideas.
- What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- In simplest terms, to be a biologist, Janovy says, is to “see complexity upon uniformity”(19),such as biological processes and to observe how everything in life is connected and interdependent to each other. Biologists are basically aware of the things hidden in plain sight that other people may fail to recognize or understand. He also says that a biologist must be interdisciplinary between different fields and maintain their curiosity and wonder for the natural world. I would consider myself a biologist because I am always curious about things I observe in the world and want to try to understand them.
Mking44 (talk) 14:37, 22 January 2020 (PST)
Annika Dinulos
When you hear the word computer science what comes to mind?
- When I hear the word computer science I think of coding, making applications, websites and other internet resources. I think of characters on TV shows that are into hacking, like Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds. Computer science to me seems complicated and like it requires a lot of training and work to be proficient.
When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- When older relatives hear the term computer science I believe that they might think of something extremely complicated and abstract. The internet is still quite new relative to other inventions, so older relatives might think that computer science is a field that only highly intelligent, young people enter. They might think of coding, website making, but may also not be sure what computer science involves.
When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- I think that when younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, I think they think more about cell phone apps, coding, and video/computer games. A lot of younger kids or students spend a lot of time on the internet and using technology, so they might think of things they use a lot, their phones, computers, gaming consoles and the like.
When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- When I hear the term biology, I think of life, and how almost everything around us is alive. I think of all that I've learned at LMU, including plant life, genetics, comparative anatomy and developmental biology. I think about future careers like doctors, researchers, and professors.
Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- In the most basic sense, I do. I would never claim to be a professional, but I have the amazing opportunity to study aspects of life here at LMU, which makes me proud to say I am a biologist.
What was the purpose of these readings?
- The purpose of these readings was to offer a widespread view of what computer science and being a biologist is. Oftentimes, people's views of these fields are skewed to be very specific, but both are involved with other fields. Both computer science and biology are linked to a number of different fields, professions, and include people of all skill levels.
Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
- I liked the voice of The Scientist in the Voices of Computing article. It reminded me of how I'm learning a little bit of computer science in my current neuroscience research. While I haven't made any big accomplishments like The Scientist voice mentioned, it is nice to think about how I am integrating some computer science into a research project that I love working on.
Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
- I can apply the Search (Automation) principle in my daily life when I think about planning my weekly meetings and commitments. The article states that Search is like finding a pattern among many possibilities, which is something that I do when signing up for classes. I look for a good pattern or routine that fits with my lifestyle. Then, I try to build another pattern or routine to fit in my weekly service commitment at St. Columbkille, my research meetings, work, study time, and free time. It's a long process every week, but I try to find the best configuration that works with my goals.
What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
- I liked how the Janovy reading mentioned that in order for science to advance, and for revolutions to occur, old models are "overthrown" and new questions have to be asked. I think a lot of people think of science and biology as hard facts, and while many things are facts, science is always evolving and biologists work hard to keep discovering more, and asking more questions, especially since life is never so concrete.
What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- To be a biologist broadly means to study life. A biologist would seek to answer questions about processes and make connections between life in order to better understand environmental observations. Janovy discusses that biology is intertwined with many aspects of life that are not traditionally thought of. I consider myself to be a biologist because I study, learn, and ask questions about life in order to better understand the world.
Adinulos (talk) 16:35, 22 January 2020 (PST)
Nathan On
Pre-Reading Questions
When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
The first thing that comes to mind is coding and scripting.
When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
I asked my grandmother and the first thing she thought about was hacking, as she often sees in criminal-procedural television shows.
When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
My younger sister also first thought about coding. She also said computer science people were "nerds."
When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
Biology is the study of all forms of life.
Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
Instinctively, my answer would be no because I am still in school learning about biology. To me, a biologist is someone who has reached the level of education and/or work experience and gets paid for their work in practicing biology.
Post-Reading Questions
What was the purpose of these readings?
The purpose of the Denning readings dispute a notion that computing is completely distinct from the "real" sciences like biology or physics. Instead, Denning promotes the notion computing has become deeply ingrained as an essential part of all sciences. The 'Voices of Computing' article gives some specific examples of how computing has been used to help scientists in their work. The Janovy article gave perspective on what it means exactly to be a biologist, which was influenced the people that he saw as mentors.
Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
'The User' was the voice that appealed to me the most. While I love computers and use them for hours daily, I do not see myself ever utilizing them in the same vein as a computer scientist or a programmer. To me, computers are mainly a way to find entertainment and pleasure, while occasionally being used for school work.
Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
Hierarchical aggregation can be seen in all corporations and businesses. 'Αlphabet Inc.' is composed of many subsidiaries most notably Google. Google itself also has dozens of its own subsidiaries. At the base level, all of the individual subsidiaries are made up of their own employees.
What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
I thought it was interesting how he talked about the value of a biologist's work to society. In a society that revolves around man-made institutions, it can be hard to appreciate the importance of the natural world. This perspective is exemplified by the world's general passivity to climate change, as many are not willing to change up their lives if it means sacrificing things like money or convenience.
What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
A biologist is someone who looks at the life around us and wants to learn and understand how it works. In that sense, I am a biologist. However, it is hard for me to shake the personal label that a biologist is someone who has progressed to a certain level of education, which I feel I do not have. Also, the title of biologist for me symbolizes a job (and thus getting paid) which I currently do not have.
Non (talk) 19:36, 22 January 2020 (PST)
Jack Menzagopian
Before reading Denning
- I think of coding and some of the common languages like C++ and Java.
- I think a lot of older relatives think of computers but not much else, however I have some older friends and relatives who studied or are studying computer science so they probably think of all there is to think about the subject.
- I think a lot of younger relatives and friends think of computers and maybe video games, but some of the older ones of the lot might think about coding as well.
Before reading Janovy
- I think of cells, plants, animals, life, school, and probably a lot more things, but these sum it up for the most part.
- I have not really thought about it until I had to answer this question, but I would say I am a biologist since I am one who studies biology, and I have a better understanding of the subject than most people I know (unless they are studying biology as well).
After reading Denning and Janovy
- The purpose of the readings was to better develop our ideas of what a biologist and computer scientist are.
- The voice of the scientist appeals to me the most because it describes how I think. Just like the speaker, I love discovering and learning things, not just about biology, and using what I learned in one subject to better understand, explain, and expand upon things I learned from other subjects excites me.
- Hierarchical Aggregation reminds of many organizations like businesses and governments that have many sub-committees with the hopes that it will increase efficiency. For example, even though it might not be the most efficient example I could have thought of, Congress is split into two houses and each of those houses have many committees.
- I found Janovy's discussion about students majoring in biology to be interesting, specifically when he wrote about how not many biology majors could discuss values and how many biologists try to leave things that aren't taught in science classes to those studying humanities because they don't think it is important. I have always tried to learn about the humanities as much as I learn about biology and to find a way to incorporate what I learned from them into my life, so I enjoyed reading Janovy support the idea that a biologist is more that just biology, but that a biologist is also the values that guide them.
- A biologist is someone who has a zeal for learning about the natural world and craves to understand it. I consider myself to be a biologist because I enjoy learning and try to learn as much as I can, especially about how life functions and how it can be influenced for the purpose of being made better.
Nicholas Yeo
Before Reading the Denning Articles
- When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
- When I hear the term computer science, the first thing that comes to mind is an area of study that works with programs that use digital information.
- When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- If an older person were to hear this same term, I think that they would say that it is the application of science that maintains and grows the internet.
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- When a younger person hears the term, he or she would most likely think about general technology, or people who make computers.
Before Reading the Janovy Chapter
- When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- When I hear the term biology, I think about the study of complex systems that make up the world around us, from a very microscopic level all the way up to a very macroscopic level.
- Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
- I do consider myself a biologist because biology is the main focus of my major. Furthermore, I believe that the classes I have taken not only provided me the information that a biologist may need to do his or her work, but also taught me how to think like a scientist.
After Reading the Denning Articles and Janovy Chapter
- What was the purpose of these readings?
- The purpose of theses readings was to elucidate the scope of the fields of biology and computer science in order to show their potentials.
- Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
- Although I relate to the scientist the most, I feel like the user appeals to me the most because it encompasses the majority of people in the world, especially the younger generation. This makes it an especially interesting point of view, but not necessarily a good one.
- Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
- I can apply search(automation) to conscience, because life is full of possibilities and we have the power to find the patterns within it to help us. This can be as simple as catching on to tendencies of a person to determine if he or she has romantic interest.
- What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
- I was very interested in the section of the article that discussed how college students choose their majors. I wonder how many kids actually delve deep within themselves to find out which major and career best suits them. Many are swayed by a conversation, or even are motivated by the money. I have family in medicine and many times, I asked myself if Biology was really what I wanted to major in, but over time I could not see myself doing anything else and I enjoyed it more and more as I began to find connections between the scientific disciplines.
- What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- To be a biologist means to strive to understand the relationships between non-living and living things in the world. A biologist is always curious and is questioning the world around them in order to gain better understanding. They notice what others do not and maintain interest by constantly learning, as the field is never static. I would consider myself a biologist because my education has trained me to think like one, and my interests largely align with what is discussed in the reading.
Sahil Patel
Reflection Questions
- When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
- I think of coding and working in the IT field.
- When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- I think older relatives think of technology and how it has advanced so much in the past couple decades.
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- Younger relatives tend to think of video game design and phone applications.
- When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- I think of all the classes I have taken where I learned that biology is the study of life on day one.
- Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
- I do consider myself a biologist because I know more about the field of biology than a majority of the world.
- What was the purpose of these readings?
- These reading show how narrow the scope of the public is on both these fields. Biology as well as computer science are interdisciplinary, utilizing many thought processes and methods derived from other departments of academia. Janovy and Denning seek to widen the perspective on both these fields and increase the interest that both demand.
- Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
- The user definitely appeals to me the most because I love having the tools to troubleshoot and problem solve as I seek to explore the vast amount of information and tools given to me by the internet.
- Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
- What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
- What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
Sahil Patel (talk) 21:58, 22 January 2020 (PST)
Drew Cartmel
When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
- What comes to mind when I hear the term computer science is the process of using technology to code for and create the various resources and tools that can be found online.
When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science what doe you think comes to their minds?
- When older relatives or friends heart the term computer science, what might come to their minds is the process behind how computers work and how they are made.
When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what might come to their minds is how certain aspects of computers, such as video games and other online experiences, are programmed or how particular websites are created.
When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- When I hear the term biology, what comes to mind is the study of life and how living things survive and interact with the environments around them.
Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- Yes, I do consider myself a biologist because I know that I have more experience and knowledge of biology than most of the general population of people in society due to the amount of time I have dedicated in college to studying the subject.
What was the purpose of these readings?
- The purpose of these readings was to discredit the false, previously conceived notions about what the field of computer science is about. These readings also serve to prove the fact that the filed of computer science has made very significant contributions to the scientific community.
Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
- The voice of the scientist appeals to me the most because it mentions the use of experimental methods and the application of scientific principles to address aspects of everyday life and solve problems that may be encountered. This voice appeals to me because I think that I conduct my life in very similar ways to this perspective.
Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from outside subjects or your daily life.
- The principle of Hierarchical Aggregation (Design) can be applied to the concept of cells in the field of biology. For example, an animal cell is made up of many different small organelles that are critical to proper cellular function and survival. Without these smaller organelles, the larger cell as a whole would not survive. This relates to the idea of Hierarchical Aggregation because it a large object being made of many small objects.
What do you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
- What I found to be the most interesting about the Janovy reading was how it mentioned that humans have been only one of the many species of organisms to exist on the planet during the last couple billion years. I found this to be interesting because it puts into perspective that the study of only human beings can be somewhat insignificant when when you consider all of the life that has existed in the past and it also emphasizes the importance of studying all aspects of life in biology.
What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- What it means to be a biologist is to be able to recognize and appreciate the relationships that organisms in our surroundings have with other organisms and their particular environments. Also, to be a biologist, one must be able to integrate the viewpoints of multiple fields of science in order to truly understand the biological phenomena that surrounds them in their environments. Yes, I do consider myself a biologist because I think I have developed the ability to appreciate the underlying mechanisms and explanations behind the biological phenomena that I encounter and perceive in my everyday life. Also, I know that I have the ability to use the information I have learned from the different fields of science to gain deeper understandings of certain biological aspects that I encounter in my life.
Karina Vescio
Questions Before the Readings
- When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
- I think of programing software, the study of computers.
- When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science what do you think comes to their minds?
- I think the older generations think of computer engineering, and how computers work in general.
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- I think the younger generation tends to think of programing.
- When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- I think of the study of life, living organisms, evolution.
- Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
- I am not sure if I consider myself a Biologist yet. Maybe I will once I get my degree. However, I do recognize that I am more knowledgable on the subject than most.
Questions After the Readings
- What was the purpose of these readings?
- I think the purpose of these readings was to explain how important computer science is for all of society, and to explain how all different types of people benefit.
- Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
- The Scientist spoke to me the most because it was the person I could relate to best. I also like how the person described how they were able to communicate with friends in different fields of science and learn from them. It is great that scientists can share data and communicate well.
- Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
- I apply choosing (coordination) to my life because I am extremely busy and constantly have to make sacrifice to make more time for others. I have to choose what is most important to me and my growth as an individual, and manage my time very well. I also think it is important to make choices that will balance my life, and incorporate work and fun in a healthy way.
- What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
- I loved how he spoke about his childhood with his grandfather, and then discussed how childhood development, environment, shapes who we become as individuals. It got me thinking about my childhood and at what point I became interested in biology and the medical field.
- What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- To be a biologist is to constantly observe the world around, and ask questions. A biologist is someone who is open minded and able to evolve with the field. I do consider myself a biologist now because I do always have a desire to learn more about the world around me, and I constantly am. I study many fields of biology and have a vast knowledge in the subject that is only increasing.
Carolyn Egekeze
Pre-Reading Questions
- When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
- When I hear the term computer science, things that come to mind include people sitting at a computer creating software programs for computers to use. I also think of big tech companies (ex. Facebook, Microsoft, Google) and the development of algorithms and artificial intelligence.
- When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- I think that when older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, they are likely to think about companies like Apple or Microsoft and the people who did all of the software creations for those companies.
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- I think that when younger friends or relatives hear the term computer science, they might think of it in terms of technology based start-up companies, think of activities that involve computer science, like hacking or coding, or associate it with the companies behind social media platforms.
- When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- When I hear the term biology, things that come to mind are images of researchers out in the field collecting data on animals and plants. Besides fieldwork, I also think of researchers in the lab working with DNA, cells, and other components associated with life. I picture these people as trying to increase our understanding about how life works through their research.
- Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
- I do not really consider myself a biologist because I feel that despite my years of learning about biology through my undergraduate career, my understanding and the information that I’ve retained is not that great. That is why I don’t really feel super confident when my friends refer to me as a “biologist” because I feel like I would really need to understand at least the basics before calling myself that.
Post-Reading Questions
- What was the purpose of these readings?
- The purpose of these readings was to get me to think about what computer science and biology actually mean outside of what popular media or my experience leads me to believe. It is also to help show that the two fields are not as separated as one might be lead to believe and can be integrated to accomplish new tasks.
- Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
- The voice that appeals to me most from the Voices of Computing article is the Computational Thinker. Denning writes that this voice enjoys figuring out how to apply algorithms to solve problems people did not realize are solvable (Denning 2008). I think that appeals to my interest because I enjoy solving problems and part of my interest in computer science is figuring out how it can be used to develop tools to solve currently unsolvable problems.
- Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
- One of the principles listed in the article Computing is a Natural Science is the principle of Hierarchical Aggregation, which the author summarizes as many smaller entities forming larger entities (Denning 2007). I think this principle is useful for me in thinking about one of the organizations that I help to oversee called Umoja. Umoja consists of all RSOs oriented around black students at LMU. Each RSO is in turn made up of many individual members that join together to form the organization. So while each individual is a small entity, when they join in successively larger groups they are able to form entities that can have a meaningful function.
- What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
- The most interesting thing I found about the Janovy reading was that he takes a very expansive view on what it means to be a biologist that goes beyond just studying the “science”-related parts of biology. For example, he talks about how it is not necessary for someone to become a professional in order to be a biologist and that biologists consider things like interdependency and relationships among life (Janovy 2004). With so many people confused and sometimes fearful about science, I think that helping people to respect those with formal education but also realize biology is accessible to them is really important.
- What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- After reading Janovy, I think being a biologist means having a desire to truly understand and investigate the life present in the world around you, and to be willing to occasionally take what may seem like an unconventional approach to do so. In that sense, I do consider myself to be a biologist because gaining a deeper understanding of life and how it works is reflected in my career goals and desire to learn more about the world.
Lizzy Urbina
- Before reading the Denning articles (on your honor), answer the following questions;
- When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
- A lot of coding and programing to make programs run, videogames, and social platforms.
- When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- Probably a lot of numbers and video games.
- When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
- Programing, application and hacking.
- When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
- Before reading the Janovy chapter (on your honor), answer the following questions;
- When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- The study of life, and everything that surrounds u.
- Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
- I don’t think I am a biologist yet, I still need to learn more about the foundations of it to then contribute with my own analysis and questions.
- When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
- After reading the Denning articles and the Janovy chapter, answer the following questions:
- What was the purpose of these readings?
- To have a better understanding of what it is computer science, the origin, and where is going. Additionally, how it can of benefit depending on the area we are focusing on.
- Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
- The scientist, because it talk about how to apply different concepts of different fields.
- Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
- Hierarchical Aggregation, I can apply this to achieve goals, and how “small” victories are building up to form the bigger picture.
- What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
- What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
- What was the purpose of these readings?
