It is interesting to see how the courses available to us have changed so significantly over the years. Today, chemistry is a huge department with many different types open to our enrollment. The languages we can take have also expanded greatly, with various African and Asian languages now available to us. This academic expansion is probably a result of increased funding for the university's academic programs, a huge increase in the university's student and faculty population, changing national and global values, growing and forming fields, and much more. I think this change greatly reflects how much the world has learned over the past two centuries and how much our values have changed.

I am not sure what can be classified as one of the "learned sciences." I tried to look find more information on this classification online, but my brief search found no success. Assuming it can be any field of science - biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc - I find myself intrigued by this line. Science affects our everyday lives and has an overwhelming importance in today's society. Even before science and technology's influence became as prominent as it is today, science was important. I don't think society needs to know every detail pertaining to each scientific field, but I do feel as though having a slight understanding of scientific studies, vocabulary, and processes are important to having a multicolored perspective in today's world. With self medication, concern about Global Warming, fear of genetically modified foods, and much more becoming very common, it is important society has a basic understanding of science and how things work. I think taking a few science courses throughout high school and college is one of the most efficient ways to achieve this understanding. (Of course, I may be biased because I am a science major.)

In my Engaging Differences class, Debating Islam, we discussed the ideologies of al-Banna, bin Laden, and various leaders of ISIS. I found it interesting to see how ideologies can differ throughout similar groups. Before taking this class, I would have wondered why ideology is important enough for an entire course to be dedicated to it. However, I now see how the ideology of political and economic groups is often stereotyped and misinterpreted - and why understanding ideology is important.

In today's world and the world that existed 200 years ago, little value is and was placed on science. Many people believe that to be an "informed citizen," understanding of the current political, economic, and social atmospheres are important. However, little value is placed on knowledge of scientific progress. As proof, political and economic television networks have greater influence than scientific channels and forms of media. This is important because today, there is a huge gap between science and society. For example, an overwhelming majority of scientists believe in the existence of global warming, but a huge portion of society does not acknowledge its existence. I personally believe this gap is influenced by a number of things, but one of the most significant being society's lack of involvement in and value for science.

On a more positive note, I am happy to see the New College Curriculum require students to take an Empirical and Scientific Engagement. I hope this will increase our involvement in science, promote "citizen science," and do a little to help bridge the gap between science and society.