Oooo my goodness, this week has gone by in a blur. It's like juggling and the balls all start moving just a little too fast, and they feel like they're starting to get away from you. I have a couple of tests coming up, and I'm almost finished moving. I'll be so happy to get past those things. I think then I'll feel much more like I have a handle on things. On the up side, I'm feeling less tense about Physics which is super strange because that's one of the tests that I have coming up. I think that I'm "getting it" more than I'm giving myself credit for. We'll see when that test comes! It might actually be three tests now that I'm thinking of it. We're going to focus on finishing the SEM and interpreting the pictures for our research this semester. We're going to start a new round of co incubation with more regular sized micro plastics as well. That will give us a chance to repeat the experiment and potentially confirm our initial findings and it will also provide us with more material for FTIR testing because we really didn't have much left after SEM. I think I'll keep it short this time and get studying.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Friday, October 19, 2018
Women of Color in STEM
I've been meaning to write this post for like 2 weeks. It is time. I do not have everything that I want to show and note about it right in front of me, so I might add some stuff later, but if you're reading this, feel free to ask me whatever about it. I highly recommend it based on my experience.
First thing they did on Friday was to feed us which was unlucky for me because I had already eaten in preparation for the event, and it's just weird to be the only person not eating. I kind of stuck out the whole conference though because I was the least educated person attending. It was a little daunting, and they had breakout groups and special times scheduled just for networking, so I was feeling entirely out of my element though there were some very nice people there, I guess I just didn't understand why they would be interested in networking with an undergraduate student. Maybe a better description would be to say that I felt as though I didn't really have any peers there. After everyone was done eating, a special group of students from a program called ASPIRE from local public schools presented some of the things that they'd been learning in the program. As part of their presentation they had us compete to see which table could make a sonobe cube the fastest which was fun and a little hilarious too. I had a great table. I actually happened to sit next to one of the women presenting on another day! I thoroughly enjoyed talking to all of the women at my table. They were wonderful. After that, Stanlie M. James, PhD was the keynote speaker. She talked about a variety of issues surrounding women and women of color in general. It was a great opening to the conference because unfortunately you still have to explain to some people why you need programs to support gender and racial equality. If I ever have any free time again, she has some books and published material that I'd like to look at.
The second day, I made sure not to eat. Lol. They had coffee and muffins and all that, and someone that I knew in passing was actually there! It was nice to see a friendly face. The keynote speaker was Coral Evans, the mayor of Flagstaff. She was assertive and strong, and she talked about having a GED and still going on to complete her master's degree and just being very confident in addition to some different things that she's done to give back and benefit her community. I really admire her. We did breakout sessions and I went to Turning Your Research into Evidence-based Policymaking. I don't remember exactly all the reasons that I chose that one when there were so many available, but it probably had to do with my conviction that good public communication about science is SO important. Dr Nicol Turner-Lee was absolutely fantabulous. I'd say that I aspire to accomplish some of the things that she's done, but she's accomplished so much and so many amazing things that I can't even imagine. She's currently working with the Brookings Institute. (I don't know the significance of that, but they talked about it like they're only letting the best of the best in and she says that everyone there has written a book so now she has to write a book. I'm glad that she's going to write a book because her book sounds super interesting!) She's going to write a book about people who are invisible and are becoming more invisible because they don't have access to technology and/or the internet, so data isn't being collected about them and they aren't being represented in large portions of society. It really has the potential to be an "insult to injury" situation in low income and rural communities. Again I have notes if you're interested in more. Then we did lunch followed by a question panel with Coral Evans and Dr Nicol Turner-Lee and then another breakout session. I think that I must have been super exhausted and nervous about having no peers at this point because for that session I chose Starting or Growing You Own Small Business. I have absolutely zero interesting in starting a business. They talked about a program that is absolutely free that will help you navigate everything. The program was designed to empower women all over the world and give them the tools that they need to take care of their families. (It was kind of interesting that they said there were studies that said that if you wanted to truly take care of communities and empower families, you do the most good helping the women as opposed to helping the men.) The program is designed for women, but it is free and accessible to absolutely anyone including men. I'll put some pictures below. If you were think or know someone that is thinking about owning a business, you should definitely check it out. Did I mention that IT'S FREE. It will basically make your business plan for you and help you learn how to get startup capital.
Anyway, that's they really big stuff about the conference. This post is already way, way too long. I have notes if anyone wants more information just ask.
First thing they did on Friday was to feed us which was unlucky for me because I had already eaten in preparation for the event, and it's just weird to be the only person not eating. I kind of stuck out the whole conference though because I was the least educated person attending. It was a little daunting, and they had breakout groups and special times scheduled just for networking, so I was feeling entirely out of my element though there were some very nice people there, I guess I just didn't understand why they would be interested in networking with an undergraduate student. Maybe a better description would be to say that I felt as though I didn't really have any peers there. After everyone was done eating, a special group of students from a program called ASPIRE from local public schools presented some of the things that they'd been learning in the program. As part of their presentation they had us compete to see which table could make a sonobe cube the fastest which was fun and a little hilarious too. I had a great table. I actually happened to sit next to one of the women presenting on another day! I thoroughly enjoyed talking to all of the women at my table. They were wonderful. After that, Stanlie M. James, PhD was the keynote speaker. She talked about a variety of issues surrounding women and women of color in general. It was a great opening to the conference because unfortunately you still have to explain to some people why you need programs to support gender and racial equality. If I ever have any free time again, she has some books and published material that I'd like to look at.
The second day, I made sure not to eat. Lol. They had coffee and muffins and all that, and someone that I knew in passing was actually there! It was nice to see a friendly face. The keynote speaker was Coral Evans, the mayor of Flagstaff. She was assertive and strong, and she talked about having a GED and still going on to complete her master's degree and just being very confident in addition to some different things that she's done to give back and benefit her community. I really admire her. We did breakout sessions and I went to Turning Your Research into Evidence-based Policymaking. I don't remember exactly all the reasons that I chose that one when there were so many available, but it probably had to do with my conviction that good public communication about science is SO important. Dr Nicol Turner-Lee was absolutely fantabulous. I'd say that I aspire to accomplish some of the things that she's done, but she's accomplished so much and so many amazing things that I can't even imagine. She's currently working with the Brookings Institute. (I don't know the significance of that, but they talked about it like they're only letting the best of the best in and she says that everyone there has written a book so now she has to write a book. I'm glad that she's going to write a book because her book sounds super interesting!) She's going to write a book about people who are invisible and are becoming more invisible because they don't have access to technology and/or the internet, so data isn't being collected about them and they aren't being represented in large portions of society. It really has the potential to be an "insult to injury" situation in low income and rural communities. Again I have notes if you're interested in more. Then we did lunch followed by a question panel with Coral Evans and Dr Nicol Turner-Lee and then another breakout session. I think that I must have been super exhausted and nervous about having no peers at this point because for that session I chose Starting or Growing You Own Small Business. I have absolutely zero interesting in starting a business. They talked about a program that is absolutely free that will help you navigate everything. The program was designed to empower women all over the world and give them the tools that they need to take care of their families. (It was kind of interesting that they said there were studies that said that if you wanted to truly take care of communities and empower families, you do the most good helping the women as opposed to helping the men.) The program is designed for women, but it is free and accessible to absolutely anyone including men. I'll put some pictures below. If you were think or know someone that is thinking about owning a business, you should definitely check it out. Did I mention that IT'S FREE. It will basically make your business plan for you and help you learn how to get startup capital.
Anyway, that's they really big stuff about the conference. This post is already way, way too long. I have notes if anyone wants more information just ask.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Still a bit behind
It's a little exhausting constantly thinking that you're behind. I love all the stuff that I'm doing, and in general, I'm doing very well at all the things that I'm doing. I can't help but thinking that I would be doing even better if I weren't behind and feeling so rushed. I'm actually moving this month though, so that makes the time crunch even more real. My baby goes back to school this week and that will help get us back on schedule. My research group is Still working on putting together our protocols for FTIR, but SEM actually went completely smoothly this week! It was amazing. The first sample wouldn't seem to focus, and I was beginning to have the sinking feeling that this week would be a repeat of our previous sessions where something different slowed us down every freaking time. Dr Ong helped us through a bit and then we flew through the rest of the session. He's teaching a class that includes an SEM portion along with some other equipment and techniques that I really want to take in the spring called Micro-Nano technology (MNT201). If I remember correctly, he said that it will certify you for some type of tech position. It sounds kind of awesome. Our pictures were good. Dr Hamdan said that it's very normal to be ready to get work and get a bunch of things done and then something happens to sabotage it all and you get Nothing. She's so calm and helpful about everything. Awww, we have such great professors. I love Phoenix College. Anyway, maybe SEM was a sign of things to come and everything will go super smoothly and I will be completely caught up. lol smh We'll see. I'm going to post some of the stuff about the conference next. Promise.
MNT201
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Late! Everything is late!
Hmm, so I'm going to try to focus on this whole week as a learning experience. I obviously did NOT plan ahead well enough. Last week ended with my research mates, super busy with presentations and what not which I was kind of grateful for because that meant that they didn't need me. I've never voluntarily presented anything of an academic nature in front of anyone with an academic background in the field in my life. Dr Cotter assures me that this is coming. I have thoroughly freaked myself out about this eventuality, so perhaps when the time comes, my only embarrassment will be my lack of education and expertise and not my stunning awkwardness from nerves. Doubtful. I'm sure that I will be better with practice. I'm just not hopping up and down to jump into that. Anyway, then my son had all this stuff at school, then my alternator DIED (cars do not work without alternators much to my dismay), then I had two tests. Oh my goodness, I can't help but think that if I had planned ahead better that I wouldn't have stumbled through the whole mess so clumsily.
I also managed to continue to collect some background research on the use of FTIR. I can't wait to take organic chemistry and start in on biochemistry. The last time we did SEM was a little disappointing because I had hoped to get more accomplished but there were all these delays because the machine was acting finicky because of one tiny freaking ring being a little out of place on the sample mount. Sigh. The pictures we got did seem to be really indicative of biodegradation. They were incredibly rough and cracked compared to the alcohol treated plastics. That was exciting at least.
I finished my background paper, but it was late. I hate being late, but I really had a problem turning in something that I thought could have easily been better if I only put a few more hours into it, so I waited to finish it until I had the few hours. I'm still deciding if that was the best decision. I've heard that it's common for researchers to turn in papers that aren't their best because it's more important to them to meet the deadline, so I wonder if I'm being outside the norms of a field that I hope to participate in. I understand that it's a balance and that the paper didn't have to be perfect, but I just knew that it could have easily been better. This blog post is late as well.
On the upside, I went to 2 of the 3 days of the Women of Color in STEM conference at the ASU Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology. It was amazing and also daunting. I'll tell you all about it next week. :-P
I also managed to continue to collect some background research on the use of FTIR. I can't wait to take organic chemistry and start in on biochemistry. The last time we did SEM was a little disappointing because I had hoped to get more accomplished but there were all these delays because the machine was acting finicky because of one tiny freaking ring being a little out of place on the sample mount. Sigh. The pictures we got did seem to be really indicative of biodegradation. They were incredibly rough and cracked compared to the alcohol treated plastics. That was exciting at least.
I finished my background paper, but it was late. I hate being late, but I really had a problem turning in something that I thought could have easily been better if I only put a few more hours into it, so I waited to finish it until I had the few hours. I'm still deciding if that was the best decision. I've heard that it's common for researchers to turn in papers that aren't their best because it's more important to them to meet the deadline, so I wonder if I'm being outside the norms of a field that I hope to participate in. I understand that it's a balance and that the paper didn't have to be perfect, but I just knew that it could have easily been better. This blog post is late as well.
On the upside, I went to 2 of the 3 days of the Women of Color in STEM conference at the ASU Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology. It was amazing and also daunting. I'll tell you all about it next week. :-P
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