Science Spotlight: UTK Debate is STEM Major Friendly

UTK Debate
Aug 25, 2017 · 6 min read

When one thinks of a collegiate debate team, they likely think of a collection of individuals who major in the arts, business, or communication. The stigma is mostly true, as both UTK Debate and collegiate debate teams across the nation are comprised of members who most popularly focus their studies in areas such as Political Science, Philosophy, Business, Economics, etc. However, UTK Debate is unique in this regard. As a team, we take pride in our status as a major-inclusive society, and we encourage those from STEM-focused areas to join our team. Currently, our team’s intellectual database ranges from members who chose to focus their studies in Astrophysics, Computer Science, Animal Science, and Civil Engineering.

Our team lauds our intellectual diversity as a strength for several reasons. First, in the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) teams are able to prepare cases together, and knowledge-sharing is key to preparing a winning case for an IPDA debate round. In IPDA, the topic of the round in which one strikes could be completely unbeknownst to them until striking. Instead of spending valuable case-prep time researching a topic simply to learn the basics, that debater can consult with one of his or her teammates who is an student in that field which greatly increases the chances of crafting a winning argument. The ability of our team to share expertise in a wide variety of topics has lent us an innumerable amount of victorious rounds.

Secondly, the realm of opportunities becomes broadened when we increase our team’s collective academic interest, as it increases alliances with myriad student organizations with whom we can mutually benefit. UTK Debate benefits immensely from having the opportunity to not only work with per se “conventional” organizations, such as political organizations on our campus, but also per se “non-conventional” debate organizations, such as the partnership our team created with UTK’s e-Sports Club in Spring 2017.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, each member of our team benefits from the broadening of perspectives, concepts, and experiences with individuals from a plethora of academic focuses within our team. For example, on UTK Debate, a Political Science major can ask an Astrophysicist why NASA funding is or isn’t vital to our nation’s ability to explore the solar system. Conversely, an Astrophysics major can inquire the steps necessary to politically maneuver more funding for NASA of a Political Science major. Our intellectual diversity allows each member to orient themselves with the processes of endeavors with which they may not be familiar, and this acquisition of knowledge is useful to the workforce, future job opportunities, debate rounds, and simply daily life.

From a team aspect, the collective obviously benefits from intellectual diversity. Also, on an individual aspect, the members of our team who are in STEM concentrated majors benefit equally as much as those who major in fields within the arts. As previously mentioned, each debater must develop a case for every debate round. That case includes extemporaneous research, which is prevalent in any university’s studies in any field of study. Also, a debater must present his or her case against an opponent and in front of a judge, which puts the peer-review process into practice. As a debater, one must argue a case, cross-examine the opponent, and offer rebuttal. Furthermore, all of these details must be completed within a limited speaking timeframe, and in a public setting. As a scientist, copious research, effective argumentation, data analysis and linkage, and engaging presentation of finding are prevalent in most occupations within the field, and debate can be an invaluable tool to achieving future scientific goals.

Now, it is time to shift focus to three members of UTK Debate who have channeled their academic focus into majors within the STEM-field. These three members, current team Secretary Symantha Gregorash, junior member Andrew Chapman, and former team President and current co-Senior Advisor Denizhan Pak, have all taken the time to expound upon why they believe their experience with the Tennessee Speech and Debate Society has been useful to them:

“When regularly participating in debate, logical reasoning and explanation becomes a mental practice. As a major in astrophysics and a minor in religious studies, I’ve seen these practices help me in my performance and my understanding of material. Not only do those skills help me to understand material more comprehensively, they also help me to verbalize important ideas to my professors. I’ve seen an increase in comfort and personal skill in important presentations to my classes. Altogether, debate has aided in my comprehension and verbalization of ideals in STEM and humanity fields.”

— Symantha Gregorash, Sophomore, Astrophysics Major

“When you think of someone who debates, likely the last thing you will think of is an animal science major or a pre-vet concentration. Well I would tell you that debate is not only for potential lawyers or political science majors. My major in animal science is very beneficial to UT’s Debate team for my knowledge of agriculture. Topics about the environment and animal ethics pops up often in debate and having an animal science major is a necessity for any debate team to be successful. An animal science major like myself has knowledge of animals and agriculture that is not commonly known which is great when it comes to researching. The knowledge that is in the mind of an “Ag kid” will save time during extensive research so the debaters can create stronger cases.”

— Andrew Chapman, Junior, Animal Science major

“Usually when I tell people I’m a debater they act surprised. They assume as a person with a technical major like computer science, I wouldn’t be interested in an activity like debate. However, out of all the extracurricular activities I’ve been involved in — many of which were technical — debate has contributed to my life the most. Debate is all about communicating and analyzing complex ideas, which as a scientist is crucial. Through my years in debate I have learned how to look at any argument to find the assumptions being made, then analyze the value and the effects of those assumptions. As a researcher, the critical thinking skills I learned in debate have made me better suited to understand the complexities of my field of study by broadening my point of view. I’ve also improved my ability to communicate across disciplines: debate has taught how to breakdown and explain very complex concepts to people with no background on a given topic- a skill that has again and again been crucial in my working and academic career. Debate has made me a better communicator, better thinker and better scientist.”

— Denizhan Pak, Senior, Computer Science Major

In conclusion, UTK Debate is major-inclusive, and we taut the intellectual diversity of our members as one of our greatest strengths. The benefits of debate extend to anyone in any field of study, so the time is always right to join!

If you are a student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and would like to know more about how you can join the team, please come visit our booth at the Student Engagement Fair on PED Walkway from 7:30pm-9:00pm on Friday, August 25th, 2017. We can’t wait to see you there!

Want to keep up with the happenings at UTK Debate? Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to never miss an update.

Want to join UTK Debate? Like us on Facebook and send us a DM, and we will always respond to your message!

Don’t go to UTK but want to debate? Email us at utkdebateteam@gmail.com and we will help you find a team in your area (high school and up only).

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UTK Debate

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