Class Journal Week 1

Zach Van Ysseldyk's Responses

Before Reading the Denning Articles

1. I think computer science is the science of formulating efficient and logical algorithms in order to complete a defined task. On an extremely broad scope, I think computer science is simply the science of how computation works.
2. I think that other people may think of computer science as those hackers looking at computers with 0's and 1's filling the screen. I think others may have a very "media" like interpretation when they think of computer science.
3. When my younger relatives think of computer science, I think that the first thing that comes to their minds are video games. I think that a lot of my younger relatives mesh graphics and actual coding together.

Before Reading the Janovy Chapter

1. When I think of biology, I think of how organisms work. Really the study of anything that is living.
2. I don't really consider myself a biologist by my definition because I am not actively studying any living thing.

After Reading the Denning articles and Janovy Chapter

1. I think the purposes for these readings is for us to better understand what computer science and biology really is. I think that for this class to succeed, the very first thing that we should do is define our terms - especially when it comes to the very subject that we are studying.
2. I find the computational thinker as the most appealing "voice." Solving problems cuts across all subjects at any level. It does interest me to think about how to solve problems using very different approaches - a skill that is very important in the computer science field. I can use the skills learned in various classes and apply them to different subjects.
3. The principle of automation I believe very directly correlates with macroeconomic trends. Finding patterns with various correlations can be used to accurately forecast future economic events.
4. I found the concept that true biologists find interdependency with pretty much everything especially provocative and thought provoking. I found myself thinking of the "butterfly effect" and how one change to the biological tree can effect almost everything else either directly or indirectly. Furthermore, according to the article, biologists go a step further to analyze and make observations on the relationships found.
5. After reading the article, I see a biologist as someone who "makes some kind of original observation of nature and meld them into a synthesis of understanding." By this definition, I do not see myself as a biologist for one main reason. That being that I do not believe that I have made an original observation. I think that I have made observations that nobody has explicitly told me, however I do not believe that I was the first one to make that observation. For example: tree's leaves fall in Fall. I do believe that I have synthesized a fair amount of observations into understandings, however again, I have not made an original observation therefore my synthesis of observation is also not original.
   Zvanysse

BIOL/CMSI 367-01: Biological Databases Fall 2017

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Zvanysse (talk) 14:02, 2 September 2017 (PDT)

Blair Hamilton's Response

Before reading the Denning articles

1. When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?

• When I think about computer science the first thing I think about it coding. Coding something very cool, like an app or website, to which everyday people can use and benefit from.

1. When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?

• Friends and family probably believe computer science is a scary word for strange "nerds" who sit in dark rooms coding apps or hacking into secret data.

1. When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?

• Younger relatives and friends probably believe computer science is the reason why their mom or dads iPhone is so fun, or they would only understand computer and science as individual concepts.

Before reading the Janovy chapter

1. When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?

• When I think of Biology I think of life. Biology is the study of things that are living around us, in which there is a variation of complex components within each system.

1. Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?

• No, I would consider myself a mathematician. Rather than focusing on living beings, I focus on numbers and ways to utilize those numbers to benefit others around me.

After reading the Denning articles and the Janovy chapter

1. What was the purpose of these readings?

• These readings allowed for a deeper understanding of computer science and biology. Computer Science is made up of different fields, ideas and parts, such as math, users and engineers. While biology explains the importance of understanding the world around us.

1. Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?

• Being a math major, I would say the mathematics voice appealed to me the most. One of the best things about math is its ability to be applied to anything and everything and make a huge impact. For example, in hospitals math is constantly used to decide correct doses, or for businesses what equation is the fastest way to find their return on investment. Mr. Denning describes math perfectly when he says "I love mathematics. I know mathematics sounds pretty abstract to a lot of people. It’s not for everyone." This is the epitome of being a math major and having to explain why you chose to dedicate your life to numbers and proofs. Although choosing a subject "not for everyone" the ability to be fluent in a universal language is unparalleled to any other academia.

1. 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.

• The Search or Automation principle can be applied to the idea of Sorority recruitment. As a potential new member, someone can be provided with lots of information such as sorority life, philanthropies, sisterhood and numbers like dues or national chapters. Being able to take in this information and condense it into an organized list of pros and cons, likes and dislikes with any sorority allow a new member to find a pattern that align best with their values and/or goals.

1. What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?

• Janovy discusses the idea that social climate is an important factor no matter the time period, including during Darwin's time. The idea that not only are biologists worried about learning and discovering new beings, diseases, cures, etc. but also need to account for outside forces, such as politics or religion. Janovy describes how although biology is described as a neutral field of study, outside forces always affect the outcome. For example, although medicine is quite advanced it's ability to adjust and/or predict modern medical calamities is insufficient and therefore requires social climate to allow it to progress.

1. What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?

• To be a biologist means to have a drive to learn about the world around us. Studying living beings causes a spark and fascination to learn more and understand how that being functions and survives. By this definition, I would say I am not a biologist as my drive to learn about living things does not steam from intellectual curiosity. Rather, my drive is directed towards preconceived ideas and processes, and figuring out how to apply those to everyday life.
  
  Bhamilton18 (talk) 14:58, 4 September 2017 (PDT)

Qlanners Responses

Before Reading

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.

After Reading

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.

Mary Balducci's Responses

Before reading the Denning articles:

1. When I hear the term computer science I think of exploring the many things that can be done with computers. I think of writing programs that can do almost anything. I think computer science is really interesting, and very expansive. It's not something I know much about, but I am really interested with everything that can be done in the field.
2. In general, when my older friends and relatives hear the term computer science, I think they feel overwhelmed. I think they do not understand a lot of it, and are not really used to computers being so advanced, because the world they grew up in was nothing like that.
3. When my younger friends and relatives hear the term computer science, I think they get excited. They are used to computers and they have grown up knowing how to use them, so they understand all the things computers have the potential to do.

Before reading the Janovy chapter:

1. When I hear the term biology, I think of all living things. I think of biology as figuring out how living things work, and using that information in various ways, for example creating medicine that can accurately target and fight a diseItalic textase in the body.
2. I consider myself a biologist. I am majoring in biology so the classes I've taken have given me information that other people wouldn't know. That said, there's still a lot that I don't know about biology.

After reading the Denning articles and Janovy chapter:

1. The purpose of these readings was to make me reflect about how I think of computer science and biology, and to take in new information and new views on both subjects. Both sets of readings explain their subjects with perspectives I had not known about before. Especially as a biology major, the articles on computers science served the purpose of giving me a better understanding of what computer science is.
2. In the Voices of Computing article, I think the User's voice appealed to me the most. It was the one I could relate tot he most. I've never done anything on the programming/ creating side of computer science before, but I have definitely used computers and love exploring all the things they can do.
3. I thought that the Janovy chapter was provocative in saying that often times biology teachers and curriculums have no interest in explaining why biology is studied, but instead just study it. He said that in biology classes, no one ever reflected on why they were biologists, or what made them that way. Instead, the focus on actually being biologists, and studying. This was interesting because the two are so closely related, the answer to why people become biologists has to do with biology, yet that is not talked about.
4. To me, being a biologist means to be immersed in the study of the living world, whether or not that is what your job is. I consider myself a biologist because I study the living world even when not in class. it's something I've always loved to do and been really interested in.

Mbalducc (talk) 16:11, 4 September 2017 (PDT)

Emma Tyrnauer's Responses

Before Reading the Denning Articles

1. When I hear the term computer science I think of coding, making programs, software, websites, etc. I know very little about computer science in general, however recently I feel as though there has been a lot of buzz surrounding artificial intelligence.
2. When older relatives hear the term computer science I think they might be more familiar with the coding aspect and less so with artificial intelligence.

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