Stable isotopes and unstable times: Insights from the Honors College Program

By Corinne Renshaw •

As a student in the Farquhar Honors College, I’ve found that honors courses encourage critical thinking and ethical consideration, equipping students not just to excel academically but to engage with the world in a meaningful way. The program taught me that knowledge, at its best, is a tool for positive change.

When I first enrolled in HONR 2010T The Nuclear Dilemma three years ago, I mistakenly thought it would be about nuclear energy as a power source. Instead, it explored the history of nuclear weapons and their impact on humanity. This unexpected shift in focus became one of the most transformative experiences of my undergraduate journey, framing how I approached my subsequent honors courses and life in general.

The honors program has encouraged me to look beyond technical knowledge and delve into the ethical responsibilities that come with knowledge. I often wear a T-shirt with Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s quote, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” This quote resonates deeply with what I’ve learned: meaningful change requires collaboration, often involving compromises to gain wider support. It reminds me of the atomic scientists — Curie, Einstein, Oppenheimer and others — whose groundbreaking discoveries were repurposed in ways they may never have intended, revealing the complex responsibilities that often accompany scientific achievement.

I took HONR 2020D Invasive Species Ecology and Management, and HONR 1010D Honors Seminar: Water & Sustainability. In those courses, I saw firsthand the environmental consequences of human negligence. From the zebra mussel infestations in the Great Lakes to pollutants in watersheds, the impact of invasive species and contamination on ecosystems was a stark lesson on the unintended consequences of human activity. These courses didn’t just teach me facts; they challenged me to consider the limits of policy and how environmental harm, once unleashed, is often irreversible. The question I carry forward from these experiences is: how do we inspire society to care about these issues when they become the norm?

Similarly, HONR 1000N Honors Seminar: Genetics and Genealogy, and HONR 1000W Honors Seminar: We Are All Biased: Social Stratification, further deepened my understanding of our shared history and the biases that shape it. Learning about environmental injustices, such as those in Flint, Michigan, and Love Canal, New York, underscored how the environment and social justice are intertwined. These courses pushed me to explore environmental sociology, where understanding cultural perspectives is as crucial as understanding ecological impacts. Reflecting on these courses and experiences, I would absolutely encourage students to consider joining the honors program. It’s not simply about the material you study; it’s about the perspective you gain.

The honors program didn’t just give me insights into the subjects I studied. It shaped how I see my role in the world. As Ginsburg’s quote reminds me, we must fight for what matters, in ways that inspire others to join us. It’s a legacy that’s not only personal but one I hope to share, encouraging others to bring their curiosity and passion to this program and see where it might lead them.

Corinne Renshaw is a senior double major in environmental science and marine biology.