My mentor, Ben, likes to joke about providing us with an “authentic research experience;” which includes many highs and lows. This week featured a (multiple) mad dash(es) to find enough lab supplies for a time sensitive operation, 4 rides with the Duke Vans, and lots of mixed liquor (don’t get excited, that’s WWTP talk for poop and bacteria).
I am knee deep in my experiment at the moment (not literally thank goodness!). I am calling it PINTs (Pints of Icky Nanosilver and Toxins). I have water samples from 4 different stages of the wastewater treatment process in nifty pint containers, and I have dosed them with high concentrations of nanosilver. For three days I will monitor the particle size distribution and concentration. Pretty simple, huh? (Answer: No).
I learned several valuable lessons this past week:
- Order supplies way ahead of time. I was so busy with other lab projects, I neglected to make sure I had what I needed for upcoming steps.
- Everything takes longer than you expect it to – at least the first time. But I’m getting faster!
- Science is tough, but worth it. After spending the weekend with this funky machine (see this post), I got numbers! Fancy, scientific numbers that no one has ever collected in the same way before! (Of course, I only have a vague idea what these numbers might mean, but I’m working on it . . . )
Only two weeks left, and they are going to be hectic! For SCIENCE!!!
P.S. I spent a lot of time in the lab this weekend, so naturally I made a video presentation of my ‘work.’ Enjoy this short, light-hearted video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRlM5MWdaBI
