Introduction

Hi there! My name is Megan, and I’m a senior Computer Science and Chinese double major at Notre Dame. I’m studying CS because I think it is one of the most important skills to have in today’s world, and I enjoy the way studying computer science topics challenges me to think and approach problems in new ways. Plus, learning how to communicate and interact with computers by using different “languages” is a super cool concept – and one that can be used to change the world.

Outside of class, I am active in several diverse roles on campus, including being the Cadet Commander of Air Force ROTC, playing the trumpet in University of Notre Dame Marching Band, and leading tours as a tour guide for the University. Last summer, I worked with an Americorps conservation corps for 10 weeks doing trail work in Colorado. This year, I have the opportunity to be a part of the McNeill Leadership Fellows Program through the Center for Social Concerns, through which I hope to integrate my summer experiences with my ROTC leadership training and Notre Dame experiences in order to connect more deeply with the community – locally, nationally, and internationally – through service and education.

While I do enjoy studying computer science and think that it is important in the world we live in, I don’t think it is the single thing that makes the world go ’round – and in my opinion, this is currently the most pressing problem within the computer science community. Computer science is NOT the only way to change the world; in fact, I think that the products of computer science skills can sometimes even inhibit change, relationship building, and human connection and understanding. It bothers me how much divisiveness, disconnectedness, and manipulation can result from the use of computer science skills and jobs; the most obvious examples of this come from social media, marketing tactics, etc. How can we personalize what we code so that it actually improves human relationships, social inequality, etc.?

In the scope of how the world operates, how can we view computer science skills, and the products that result from them, as one tool we can use to accomplish change, rather than the ONLY option or tool to use? How do we ensure that we are using technology for the common good, as a tool to serve the whole population, rather than to benefit those of privilege? At the same time, how do we use technology for our benefit, while also retaining some of the good old fashioned hard work and struggle that is, in my opinion, a critical part of the process of working towards a goal or objective. These are some of the questions I hope to explore over the course of this semester.

At the end of the day, while computer science skills can be used to affect change, it is important to remember that coding is just one tool in our collective toolbox for making this happen – it is NOT the end-all-be-all of how each of us can work to make the world a better place.