Lets break it down…shall we…

Up close and Personal: Pictured above are two polymer films under a microscope 

Today was all about polymers, which directly translated means many things. And they are not wrong, polymers are actually a combination of hundreds, thousands even, of molecule chains. This makes them easy to melt, easy to mold, and most importantly easy to work with. Some even go as far as to call it “hobby plastic”, because of its eclectic properties. A material scientist I met today, Stephanie, taught me how to make the polymer films used in the HIV prevention devices. I even made the solution using the calculations attached (thank you Mr.Rushin for making this possible)! Then she showed me two different films under a microscope. The polymer itself is a peachy color and the crystals actually refract light, making some pretty awesome rainbows. On the computer, however, the lens is black and white so the colors don’t really show.

Cameron and I also got to talk to several different scientists today as well. First we were introduced to  Jeff, who is an aerosol specialists focused on preventing harmful contaminates and particles from being inhaled into the lungs. He is currently working on a project to create small measuring devices that can be worn by people with potentially hazardous exposures. Not only is his work interesting, but he was more than willing to give us life advice as well. He emphasized the importance of introspection and self-reflection when thinking about possible choices –  whether it be college decisions or career paths. We also met with Sarah and Jeff, both are scientist specializing in polymers. They both shared their experience in the science field and how they got where they are today. They too encouraged us to take opportunities in college and to get to do as many internships and research as possible.

Calculations: Amount of PCL to use