Week 1 Blog -- Two Cultures -- Phoebe Nguyen

My name is Phoebe Nguyen and I am a Public Affairs and Sociology double major with a minor in Community Engagement and Social Change. In relation to C.P. Snow’s discussion of the “Two Cultures”, I find Public Affairs to be especially interesting as it is interdisciplinary. It combines certain aspects of the humanities/arts such as the creative thinking process of creating unique policy proposals while also emphasizing the importance of statistical data to better visualize and support claims on why a specific policy should be implemented. For instance, if a policymaker is addressing healthcare policy, it is important to work with experts in other fields to further understand the topic, supporting Steven Pinker’s emphasis on “...interrelativity of both sides of culture to maximize insight” (Seed Magazine 1:50). How can policy solutions be made if we do not understand the problem at hand? 


As UCLA is split into North and South campus, many students from one part of campus have likely never stepped foot on the other side. However, as a North campus major, I find the scientific mind is similar in its approach to those in policy, as it is “...open to asking a question, considering a variety of evidence for solving a problem and engaging in constructive analysis…to find the best possible answer…” (Pierce 2013). 


Public Affairs uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods to develop proposals that address pressing societal issues. Qualitative methods allow insight on the people themselves – allowing you to see who will be impacted by the proposals. 




On the other hand, quantitative methods allow for numerical insight on the degree of certain factors influencing the target population.



The combination of methods allow for policymakers to complete formal policy write-ups that are reviewed by legislative officials. 




Rather than creating a societal divide through upholding stereotypes of the arts versus natural sciences, we could work together to bridge the different strengths that each culture brings about to maximize intellectual power (Vesna 4:26). Snow described how our “...school education is too specialized”, which contributes to the greater gap between the two cultures (Snow 19), but I feel that interdisciplinary fields of study such as Public Affairs are helping to move our mindsets away from two separate cultures and into a more unified one where we can “function and communicate effectively…in various disciplines” (Vesna 122). 


References:

Pierce, Margo. “The Intersection of Science and Public Policy.” American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 22 Jan. 2013, https://www.aaas.org/intersection-science-and-public-policy.  

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

Snow, C.P. “The Two Cultures and The Scientific Revolution.” The Rede Lecture. The Rede Lecture, Accessed 2023, Cambridge University. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between.” Leonardo, vol. 34, no. 2, 2001, pp. 121–25. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1577014. Accessed 6 Apr. 2023.

Vesna, Victoria. “Twocultures part1.” Youtube, UC Online, 30 Mar. 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNI7dF3DIAM&t=1s.  


Images:

DeChants, Jonah, et al. “Rates of Past or Current Housing Instability by Racial/Ethnic Identity.” The Trevor Project, 2021, https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/homelessness-and-housing-instability-among-lgbtq-youth-feb-2022/. Accessed 6 Apr. 2023. 

Nguyen, Phoebe. Regression Analysis of Contributing Factors on Income of Professors. UCLA Luskin, 2023. Accessed 6 Apr. 2023. 

Sanderson, Michael. “Progress Tracker: Council President Scott's Legislative and Policy Proposal, 2019-2020.” Maryland Association of Counties , 12 Sept. 2019, https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/2019/09/12/council-president-scott-unveils-tracker-for-policy-proposals/. Accessed 6 Apr. 2023.

Comments

  1. Tessia CartyApril 15, 2023 at 5:56 PM

    Hi Phoebe! Sorry I'm commenting late on your Blog Post 1, I wasn't added to a section until a few days ago so I didn't have access! Anyway, I really enjoyed reading your article! i'm a student at UCSB taking this online class, but I have also noticed the separation of stem buildings from arts building on our campus. I agree that it would also be beneficial to all scholars and students to stop this divide of fields and come together to bring strengths from all types of studies to solve world issues. Awesome job!

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