Week 1: Two Cultures

[Figure 1] (Avik Das, Arpita Misra, Swati Rathor) 
Times of India: Why Tech Companies are Hiring People with Humanities Degrees 2020 

    

    Hi, I am Elise Zur and I am graduating this June with a degree in Cognitive Science with a Specialization in Computing. My academic journey began in community college as a computer science major, a foundation that significantly shaped my mindset once transferring to UCLA. Despite UCLA’s north-south campus divide, my confidence to thrive as a STEM student remained strong, fueled by my excitement to begin exploring cognitive and social psychology. Although I sometimes wish the Cognitive Science program leaned more towards the “science” side, my technical skills with technology combined with my deep interest in connecting with people have directed me towards a future in UX Research and Product Design – a field perfectly encapsulating the merge between science and design. 

[Figure 2] 

Cognitive Science as Interdisciplinary Study 2021

    In exploring the disciplines that make up Cognitive Science, I found myself connecting to ideas described by Vesna, CP Snow, and Pinker. Each perspective is delivered in slightly different ways, however each highlights the importance of bridging the gap between the sciences and humanities. In doing so, we can create a more integrated and innovative approach to understanding and solving complex problems. Vesna’s piece of writing mentions that merging between disciplinary boundaries is a “subversive undertaking since it is likely to violate the sanctuaries of accepted ways of perceiving” (Vesna, 123). This truly highlights the stubborn nature of the systems we currently have in place, and sheds light to my personal insight as I have noticed older generations have a tough time grasping the concept of Cognitive Science. Although this was once the case, Pinker specifically notes that science is evolving towards a more collaborative approach across disciplines, reflecting a cultural paradigm shift (Pinker, 4:05-4:12). I found it fascinating to consider this paradigm shift from the perspective of how different generations view the merging of disciplines – it appears that newer generations desire and accept this shift while older generations seem to be confused by it. CP Snow’s ideas similarly highlight this desire for a more holistic approach to education as he mentions the idea of the “clashing point” between disciplines “ought to produce creative chances” (CP Snow, 17). Snow can see the potential for innovation and creativity that lies in the intersection of these disciplines. These ideas illustrate the pioneering role that Cognitive Science has by bridging the two cultures, and allows me to have a more personal and significant experience by relating to these concepts. 

[Figure 3] (Sebastian, Justin Aria)
Why It’s Tricky to Talk Tech With Older Generations 2023

Works Cited

Rathor, Avik DasArpita Misra, Swati. “Why Tech Companies Are Hiring People With Humanities Degrees.” The Times of India, 26 Mar. 2020, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/why-tech-companies-are-hiring-people-with-humanities-degrees/articleshow/74828373.cms.

RSA Animate. Changing Education Paradigms. YouTube, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

Sebastian, Justin Aria. “Why It’s Tricky to Talk Tech With Older Generations.” Medium, 8 Nov. 2023, medium.com/@JustinAria/why-its-tricky-to-talk-tech-with-older-generations-2628ea578b86.

“Seedmagazine.com Two Cultures Steven Pinker.” YouTube, 18 May 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BUbVc7qVpg.

Snow, Charles C., and R. Smoluchowski. “The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Physics Today, vol. 14, no. 9, Sept. 1961, pp. 62–63. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3057748.

UC Online. “TwoCultures Part1.” YouTube, 30 Mar. 2012, 

            www.youtube.com/watchv=VNI7dF3DIAM.

VectorMine. “Cognitive Science as Interdisciplinary Study of Mind Outline Collection Set.” Dreamstime, 10 Sept. 2021, www.dreamstime.com/cognitive-science-as-interdisciplinary-study-mind-outline-collection-set-cognitive-science-as-interdisciplinary-study-mind-image229491006.

Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between.” Leonardo (Oxford), vol. 34, no.

            2, Apr. 2001, pp. 121–25. https://doi.org/10.1162/002409401750184672.