From beginning to end, the day could be described by the word productive. First thing Cameron and I met with a man named Lynn. Lynn specializes in LEDs, mostly working with variables like durability, color, brightness, construction, etc. HE even described a new technology innovating the light industry: phones. Now phones will be able to control lighting in a way never seen before. In cities with high crime rates it can be possible to install audio devices in outdoor light fixtures to detect gun shots and alert authorities. He also took the time to get to know Cameron and I and talk about the college process and a typical day in his position. After the meeting I got to meet Michelle, Cameron’s scientist, and she explained the devices they are working on to measure the amount of harmful particles created by cooking stoves in impoverished countries. After this, I spent a good part of the day cleaning the lab before the big conference call. During my awesome cleaning experience, Phil introduced me to polymers – a plastic with a low melting point which makes it easily melted and molded. When the plastic hardens, however, it becomes very durable and solid. We melted some of our own polymer in hot water and I scupted it into a ring . Next came the more serious part of the day! The “conference call” was really a high profile meeting explaining the outcomes of the testing (on the HIV project) to major donors. We watched the presentation on a projector and listened to the conversation (in case Phil had to be called on to explain a part of the research), while simultaneously running tests for the HIV project. At one point I observed plastic under a microscope to view the individual crystals. I also got to do much of the tests (yay pipetting!) on my own today. Nothing like science and a movie to end the day (or a conference call and some testing is good too)!

Polymer!