Polymathic Scholars

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...a creativity engineer. A person who can take seemingly dissimilar pieces of a puzzle and make them fit together perfectly by looking at them through a unique perspective-changing lens – their own eyes."
Jonathon Richarme | Major: Neuroscience | Field: The Basis of Humor
...someone who sees patterns, connects seemingly unrelated ideas, thinks beyond what meets the eye, and has an intellectual curiosity that drives them to pursue her passions, whatever they might be!"
Mayra Sharma | Major: Neuroscience; Plan II | Field: Emotional Intelligence
...someone who is unconfined by the bounds of one discipline and embraces a wide range of intellectual interests."
Kavya Yeruva | Major: Neuroscience | Field: Recidivism and the American Penal System
...one who has strong inclinations, aptitudes, and abilities in different fields, and chooses to capitalize on their skills in a variety of ways."
Meg Ashby | Major: Mathematics | Field: to be determined
...a person who seeks to see the world from all possible angles and leave no gap in their knowledge."
Devin Wehle | Major: Neuroscience | Field: Inclusion in Special Education in America
...a scholar who is capable of integrating ideas from multiple areas of study to come up with creative and effective solutions to some of our world's most important problems."
Bronwyn Scott | Majors: Biochemistry and Plan II (Liberal Arts) | Field: Chronic Diseases and Communication: Prevention Through Persuasion
...a bridge builder, spanning the gaps that separate disciplines and catalyzing innovative and constructive discourse between them."
Christian Lumley | Major: Physics and Biology | Field: to be determined
...Given how unique, innovative, interesting, and motivated polymaths are, maybe it is easier to describe what we are not: boring."
Nina Ignatchenko | Major: Mathematics | Field: The Fourth Dimension in Modern Art
...someone who understands the value of different perspectives and actively seeks new ways to look at the world."
Jake Maeker | Major: Physics and Chemistry | Field: to be determined
...an unbiased learner, able to acquire and integrate knowledge across a variety of disciplines."
Emily Ma | Major: Chemistry | Field: Art Conservation: Modern Materials and Methods
...someone whose studies are not bound by one traditional field. Rather, we explore innovative subjects that bridge many disciplines and defy the expectations of what science majors do."
Savannah Troy | Major: Biology | Field: Applying Ethnobotany to Sustainability
...an intellectual rebel – someone who refuses to let their curiosity be shunted by a conventional education."
Benjamin Solder | Major: Neuroscience | Field: Teaching Emotional Intelligence
...someone who uses knowledge drawn from an array of interests to supplement their chosen field of study. They are not limited by specialization because they are able to solve problems from a broad range of perspectives. They are critical thinkers, they are innovators, and they are the future."
Naszrin Arani | Major: Biochemistry | Field: The Epidemiology of Cancer
...an infinitely curious explorer, one who is in open-mouthed awe of the surrounding world. Polymaths are insatiable in learning and actively pursue their interests with imagination, passion, and vigor, entering new realms of learning and developing their own paths."
Amy Ong | Major: Biology and Plan II (Liberal Arts) | Field: Once Upon A Story
...someone whose various interests, passions, and questions drive them beyond one specific subject toward a unique and diverse kind of learning."
Nalleli Garcia | Major: Biochemistry | Field: The Oppression of Women in Mexico

It's not about math.

A polymath is someone with multiple interests. The Polymathic Scholars Honors Program is for science majors with multidisciplinary interests beyond or within the sciences. They are the Renaissance people in the College of Natural Sciences and, like the prototypical polymath, Leonardo Da Vinci, their signature trait is curiosity. Three elements distinguish the program.

ORIGINALITY

The best scientists learn to approach problems in original ways. Polymaths begin their studies with "Originality in the Arts and Sciences," a course that emphasizes authentic, creative research. For Polymaths, the emphasis on originality continues throughout their time at UT-Austin. In their second year, with guidance from faculty, they design a field of study shaped by their own questions. They discover who's working on those questions and begin developing the knowledge and skills to answer them.

communication

Polymaths practice writing and presenting their work before groups large and small. During both semesters of their first-year program seminar, they're directed to seek out talks of interest on campus and report back to the class on what they learned. In their second year, they draft a written proposal that describes their field of study, workshop the document with peers and their instructor, and defend their proposal before a faculty panel. Their studies culminate during their last year in a substantial research thesis and presentation at the annual Honors Symposium. It's no accident that several Polymaths have been hired to work as consultants at the University Writing Center.

community

Polymathic Scholars are an intellectually diverse lot. What unites them is a drive to ask and to answer interesting questions. Each May we ask the graduating class what they most valued about their time in Polymathic. One answer leads all: the community.

Polymathic Scholars pursue a wide range of career paths. Our graduates go on to medical school, graduate school, law school, research, industry, and more.

Don't let the name confuse you. If you're curious, love science, and want to be surrounded by people excited to learn, Polymathic Scholars may be the community for you. You can meet some current Polymaths and learn more about the program at the student-run site.

Sana Saboowala, BSA Honors Biology; BA Anthropology-Departmental Honors, Class of 2018. Read more about Sana.

Nick Walker, BSA Honors Computer Science, Class of 2018. Read more about Nick.