Self Portrait: Karan Pol

Majors: Economics (AB/MA); Political Science

    1. In high school, I took a two-year intensive physics course that went through the topics covered within the initial courses that one would take in a physics major along with an additional focus on climate change science, understanding the greenhouse effect and factors that exacerbate it along with concepts of fuel efficiency.
      Furthermore, last semester, I took a class titled Forestry and Natural Resource Conservation, which went through summarily various concepts in conservation science, ranging from soil, to wildlife preservation, and more.
    2. I particularly enjoyed my high school physics class, as it took concepts that I was already interested in from a political perspective and provided background knowledge that solidified my viewpoints and made me a more critical thinker, specifically in regards to climate change science.
  1. In taking this course I would like to diversify my courses of study, seeing as my major (Economics) lends to a more mathematical and political degree, discounting many concepts that would be integral to any occupation going forward with my degree, particularly as I hope to work within the realm of public policy.
  2. Questions on antibiotics in soil or composting:
    1. What methods are used to identify antibiotics in soil? What tools are necessary for doing so?
    2. Is there a standardized list that outlines what goods are to be composted, and why are these instructions not provided either in a classroom setting already or by compost bins?
    3. How prevalent is the discussion of soil and composting in the political realm of policy and legislation?
  3. Composting is an issue that seems to be the most relatable to my generation of students, seeing as many elementary schools (depending on location), would focus deeply on teaching responsible recycling methods to young children. Composting serves as an extension of these teachings and as such, should be easily adoptable as a field of study.
  4. This course highly values outreach in the community which, while discussed in high school, is not something that is often valued for students, as education and income are the primary goals. Through this class, hopefully, I can find ease in civic engagement as well as enjoyment, so as to bypass the priorities that I currently have for myself and give back to the community as much as I can.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *