Ian Rogers, a passionate biology major at Ursinus College, shares his journey from aspiring life scientist to content writing intern at BioBuzz, highlighting his fascination with innovations in drug development and sustainability in agriculture.
How did you get here?
I have always had a passion for the life sciences. When I was younger, I looked up to my mother, who worked as a nurse at a psychiatric hospital. I quickly learned how important innovations in science shape our world and can change peoples’ lives for the better. Pharmaceuticals were magic to me, treating people just by swallowing a pill. As I progressed through high school, I knew I wanted to be involved in these innovations and make a better future for science. After high school, I ultimately attended Ursinus College as a biology major. Delving deeper into life sciences only made me more excited, about developments in Alzheimer’s treatments, Click chemistry, RNA therapies, etc. Now, I am thrilled to be working with BioBuzz as a content writing intern. Having the privilege to write about some amazing projects in the industry and help connect the talent to realize novel ideas is a dream come true.
What is currently blowing your mind right now?
What is not blowing my mind? We live in a time when the next breakthrough is right around the corner. Developments in artificial intelligence have astounded everyone, me included. AI is a powerful tool that has implications in every industry. Within data sciences alone, it has already parsed data and identified patterns and correlations that would have taken humans decades or been missed altogether. Drug development is burgeoning due to AI discoveries, personalized medicine is becoming more accessible, it’s all amazing. I just learned about Microsoft’s deal that could reopen Three Mile Island to meet AI energy demands. This could be the start of revitalizing nuclear as a premier source of clean energy. Three Mile Island, a place that has created so much fear and mistrust of nuclear power, is the perfect setting to flip expectations on their head and prove that nuclear energy is clean and safe. This also allows us to take AI a step further, as the development of better AI shouldn’t be prohibited by a lack of energy.
I have been taking some ecology classes this semester, and I have been blown away by the importance of soil, especially in the agriculture industry. I think that the future of farming lies not only in finding more efficient and cost-effective farming techniques but also in conservation. There is a great book called, “Dirt” by David R. Montgomery that was eye-opening for me in this regard. Soil is in many ways a limited resource, and civilizations fall when soil runs out. Along with soil, climate change solutions and innovation in agriculture will define this century.
If you could explain yourself right now in only emojis, what would those be?
These emojis most concisely explain me and where I am at right now. The heart and flame emojis represent my passion. I believe that if you’re not passionate about what you are doing, you shouldn’t be doing it. Not only does embracing your passions improve your mental health, but also leaves you more fulfilled. To stay on top of Maslow’s hierarchy, passion is key. The runner and the disc embody my drive to live an active lifestyle. Running is a natural therapy for me and helps me stay sane and feel good. I especially love to get out on a hiking trail! Team sports like Ultimate Frisbee help me stay connected and build lasting bonds, helping me to stay active socially and physically. The American flag is important to me as a proud citizen of this great country, albeit not without room for improvement. I feel so fortunate to have been born in America and would love to spend the rest of my life striving to improve it. The book and microscope represent my intellectual curiosity and interest. If I am not learning, I am not thriving.
If you could travel into the future… what does your LinkedIn Headline say?
I wish I knew! Everything in the life sciences is so interesting! I hope to find more opportunities like this internship in the future till I find the right fit for me. For all I know, in the futureI’m a content writer! This internship is going to be very influential in the direction of my future. While everything is a little uncertain for me, I am excited to see what the future holds and see what opportunities I can find!
What is your favorite quote and why?
“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow” – William G. Pollard.
I think that everyone can learn from this quote. I think it embodies a lot of ideas that are critical for the future. One can’t simply be content with the status quo, you can’t quit while you’re ahead, and never stop learning. I believe that we as a community on this pale blue dot always have to be questioning our understanding of the world around us and never accept something just because it is “standard practice” or because something has “always worked”. If we let our ideas become stagnant and sit idly by, we are squandering our potential and wasting our time. Technology has always been about not accepting life as it is. What would life be like if Mesopotamians were content with walking everywhere? We would never have had the wheel! In summary, keep learning and always look to the future.
