Monday, September 27, 2010
Javelina Research Symposium
It's been a little over a month since I left the REU program. Since I have been back I have been working on a poster, with Diamond Youcum, for an upcoming Javelina Research Symposium at my parent school Texas A&M Kingsville. Its is this thursday, so I am making all the final touches. Wish us luck :) Pictures are to come!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Reflection Paper
At first glance, this program appeared like just a great opportunity to acquire research and networking skills while executing a project that fit my major. Looking back, the REU program included so much more. I modeled radioactive explosions, peered over the treacherous railings of a cement stack, and explored the diverse backgrounds and personalities of the other students in this program. Being an incoming freshman to, both, college and engineering, I really inherited a beforehand look at the skills and disciplines I need to have prior to entering college. Even more exciting, I encountered a fellow environmental engineering major from my parent school, Texas A&M University of Kingsville.
I remember the night before the REU orientation I walked through the door of where I would be staying during this program. Other than a fully furnished and decorated room, Diamond, the girl from my school, was not anywhere to be found. The only thing that spoke for her behalf was her zebra striped comforter and pink sheets. Naturally, I was curious to see what kind of person she was. I must have waited about 5 hours until she returned to the suite, but after that we hit it off. When we went to the orientation the next day, everybody had the preconception that we knew each other for an elongated period of time, and nobody believed that we had just met yesterday night. Ever since then, we have gone everywhere together and made everybody else in the program, for the longest time, think that we were out of our minds because of the way we were constantly giggling and joking around regardless of the fact that nobody knew what we were laughing about. Luckily Dr.Yazdani assigned her to my project, air dispersion modeling, as well as Ryan Landrith and Rachel Morrison.
The first few weeks of the air dispersion modeling project included Dr.Sattler, our advising professor, giving us the background information, essential to understanding the Hotspot air dispersion modeling program. Terrain, meteorology, plume height, ground shine, and the Gaussian equation comprise just a few variables that have to be accounted for while modeling. After we composed our notes, Arpita Gandhi, our graduated assistant, guided us through the entirety of the program carefully and precisely. Also, she stuck by our side, day in and day out, while we worked on our project to make sure that we had every one of our questions answered. She even cooked an Indian dish for us because she is that caring. She put up with Diamond and my joking around, and she eventually had to put up with Ryan, as well. Diamond has a way of bringing out the inner child in everyone, and that is the reason our personalities work so well together.
After many discussions, my group and I thought it best to model an explosion and fire with various radioactive substances of our choosing. Respectively, we choose Radium-226, Strontium-90, Iridium-190, and Cesium-137 because of their popularity and their distinctive half lives. Hotspot, being a modern version of a more dated program, required us, as a research team, to figure out what the input and outcomes should resemble. For example, we had to figure out what was an accurate amount of explosives to actually use and what wind speed would be true to that of downtown Dallas. Originally, we also planned to model an anthrax release in the new Cowboys’ stadium, but in the end we found it wiser and more efficient to just model at one point. Also, the Hotspot model did not have the right tools to properly execute that type of release. Consequently, we pressed on ahead with our project.
In the end, we found out that Radium-226, my substance, had the largest contours and the longest lasting effect on the common public. Although somewhat creepy, the long half life of radium is what made that substance so attracting. If you are going to model an explosion, you have to put your mind in a place somewhat close to those who would actually do the scenario in real life, if you are going for accuracy. Another conclusion was that Iridium-190 had the greatest concentration, out of all of our substances.
In spite of the disorganization of the program, I would not change a thing. The professors, Arpita, and all my newly found friends have made it such an experience. There is not a word that could properly portray how great this experience has been. I will definitely recommend this program to others at my school. I would of never imagined that I would have this much fun. Before I came here I was so nervous about everything-my roommate, the food, the professors, and my inexperience with research or college. Being here has been a blessing in itself. Since coming here I have watched so many scary movies, laughed so many times, and walked so much more than necessary, but I would never give it up.
Luckily, the experience will continue when I go back to my own school because Diamond and I plan to give a presentation to a part of our student body about the program and what we learned. I will keep updating my blog, and I will never forget the wonderful people I met here. I will remember Ernest for his way of being so original and so outgoing, Valon for his caring demeanor and way of having fun, Ryan for the way he walks the walk and for the fact that he has Mr.Tiki in his room, and Giancarlo for his intelligence, illuminating smile, and for the fact that he loves the history channel. Luckily, I get to hold on to Diamond until she goes to graduate school, but they each have something so precious and unforgettable about them. I am just so thankful to be able to say I was in this program.
I remember the night before the REU orientation I walked through the door of where I would be staying during this program. Other than a fully furnished and decorated room, Diamond, the girl from my school, was not anywhere to be found. The only thing that spoke for her behalf was her zebra striped comforter and pink sheets. Naturally, I was curious to see what kind of person she was. I must have waited about 5 hours until she returned to the suite, but after that we hit it off. When we went to the orientation the next day, everybody had the preconception that we knew each other for an elongated period of time, and nobody believed that we had just met yesterday night. Ever since then, we have gone everywhere together and made everybody else in the program, for the longest time, think that we were out of our minds because of the way we were constantly giggling and joking around regardless of the fact that nobody knew what we were laughing about. Luckily Dr.Yazdani assigned her to my project, air dispersion modeling, as well as Ryan Landrith and Rachel Morrison.
The first few weeks of the air dispersion modeling project included Dr.Sattler, our advising professor, giving us the background information, essential to understanding the Hotspot air dispersion modeling program. Terrain, meteorology, plume height, ground shine, and the Gaussian equation comprise just a few variables that have to be accounted for while modeling. After we composed our notes, Arpita Gandhi, our graduated assistant, guided us through the entirety of the program carefully and precisely. Also, she stuck by our side, day in and day out, while we worked on our project to make sure that we had every one of our questions answered. She even cooked an Indian dish for us because she is that caring. She put up with Diamond and my joking around, and she eventually had to put up with Ryan, as well. Diamond has a way of bringing out the inner child in everyone, and that is the reason our personalities work so well together.
After many discussions, my group and I thought it best to model an explosion and fire with various radioactive substances of our choosing. Respectively, we choose Radium-226, Strontium-90, Iridium-190, and Cesium-137 because of their popularity and their distinctive half lives. Hotspot, being a modern version of a more dated program, required us, as a research team, to figure out what the input and outcomes should resemble. For example, we had to figure out what was an accurate amount of explosives to actually use and what wind speed would be true to that of downtown Dallas. Originally, we also planned to model an anthrax release in the new Cowboys’ stadium, but in the end we found it wiser and more efficient to just model at one point. Also, the Hotspot model did not have the right tools to properly execute that type of release. Consequently, we pressed on ahead with our project.
In the end, we found out that Radium-226, my substance, had the largest contours and the longest lasting effect on the common public. Although somewhat creepy, the long half life of radium is what made that substance so attracting. If you are going to model an explosion, you have to put your mind in a place somewhat close to those who would actually do the scenario in real life, if you are going for accuracy. Another conclusion was that Iridium-190 had the greatest concentration, out of all of our substances.
In spite of the disorganization of the program, I would not change a thing. The professors, Arpita, and all my newly found friends have made it such an experience. There is not a word that could properly portray how great this experience has been. I will definitely recommend this program to others at my school. I would of never imagined that I would have this much fun. Before I came here I was so nervous about everything-my roommate, the food, the professors, and my inexperience with research or college. Being here has been a blessing in itself. Since coming here I have watched so many scary movies, laughed so many times, and walked so much more than necessary, but I would never give it up.
Luckily, the experience will continue when I go back to my own school because Diamond and I plan to give a presentation to a part of our student body about the program and what we learned. I will keep updating my blog, and I will never forget the wonderful people I met here. I will remember Ernest for his way of being so original and so outgoing, Valon for his caring demeanor and way of having fun, Ryan for the way he walks the walk and for the fact that he has Mr.Tiki in his room, and Giancarlo for his intelligence, illuminating smile, and for the fact that he loves the history channel. Luckily, I get to hold on to Diamond until she goes to graduate school, but they each have something so precious and unforgettable about them. I am just so thankful to be able to say I was in this program.
Research Log
2 July 2010, Friday
Orientation day - met with Dr. Yazdani and got a brief description of the different projects
introduced to the other participants and professors
overview of the facilities
REU purpose and outcome described
6 July 2010, Tuesday
Met with Dr. Sattler at 10:30am in Rm 414 to discuss what we wanted to model in the Hotspot 2.07.1 program
given and went over two handouts of power point on air pollution
7 July 2010, Wednesday
Met with Dr. Sattler at 9am went over handout of power point on air pollution meteorology and a handout of the Gaussian Dispersion model
Read chpt. 5 in the Practical Guide to Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling by D. Bruce Turner, CCM and Richard H. Schulze, P.E., QEP
8 July 2010, Thursday
Met with Dr.Sattler at 10:30am
brought laptops after lunch in order to start working in the Hotspot program
Met graduate student assistant, Arpita Gandhi, who introduced us to the Hotspot program
9 July 2010, Friday
Met with Dr. Sattler 9am to 2pm
went over power point of "plume rise" and "methods of determining dispersion parameters sigma y and sigma z"
12 July 2010, Monday
Met with Dr. Sattler 9am to 2pm
went over power point on "air pollution meteorology - winds"
13 July 2010, Tuesday
Met with Dr. Sattler 9am to 2pm
lectured on air pollution
14 July 2010, Wednesday
Met with Dr. Sattler 9am to 2pm
lecture covered inversion layers, first order chemical rxns, settling, wet and dry deposition, averaging time changes
15 July 2010, Thursday
Met with Sattler 8:30am - 12pm, given articles to read in order to determine parameters
Ethics workshop 1:30pm - 4:00pm
16 July 2010, Friday
Met with Sattler 1pm - 3pm, lecture
19 July 2010, Monday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
researched TEDE levels
explosion scenarios
20 July 2010, Tuesday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
explosion scenarios
21 July 2010, Wednesday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
explosion scenarios
22 July 2010, Thursday
Took a tour of the Holcim Cement Plant 8:30am - 3:00pm
23 July 2010, Friday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
evaluating inputs for explosion
26 July 2010, Monday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
fire scenarios
27 July 2010, Tuesday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
fire scenarios
28 July 2010, Wednesday
9am - 11:25am work with Hotspot
REU Assessment 12pm -1pm
29 July 2010, Thursday
Research Training workshop 9am - 3pm, Rady Room
30 July 2010, Friday
9am - 3pm, worked on Hotspot models
11am, met with Dr. Sattler to discuss progress of the project
2 August 2010, Monday
9am - 2pm, finalizing parameters and organized the comparative tables of data, discussed final presentation
3 August 2010, Tuesday
9am - 2pm, worked from home on slides for presentation
4 August 2010, Wednesday
9am - 11am, worked on combining slides for final presentation
11am - 1pm, watched "Garbage: The Movie" Rm 100 in Nedderman
1:30pm - 3pm, continued working on final presentation
4pm, worked on poster
5 August 2010, Thursday
9am - 3pm, cleaned up the final presentation
worked on poster and reflection paper
6 August 2010, Friday
9am - 12pm, Designed web page for the REU program
1pm, cleaned up final presentation
2pm, met with Dr. Sattler, ran through the presentation and received feed back from Dr. Sattler
7 August 2010, Saturday
finished and submitted poster to Dr. Yazdani
worked on reflection paper
9 August 2010, Monday
finalize presentation for 8/10
finish working on the deliverables for the REU program
10 August 2010, Tuesday
Summer End workshop 9am - 3pm
Orientation day - met with Dr. Yazdani and got a brief description of the different projects
introduced to the other participants and professors
overview of the facilities
REU purpose and outcome described
6 July 2010, Tuesday
Met with Dr. Sattler at 10:30am in Rm 414 to discuss what we wanted to model in the Hotspot 2.07.1 program
given and went over two handouts of power point on air pollution
7 July 2010, Wednesday
Met with Dr. Sattler at 9am went over handout of power point on air pollution meteorology and a handout of the Gaussian Dispersion model
Read chpt. 5 in the Practical Guide to Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling by D. Bruce Turner, CCM and Richard H. Schulze, P.E., QEP
8 July 2010, Thursday
Met with Dr.Sattler at 10:30am
brought laptops after lunch in order to start working in the Hotspot program
Met graduate student assistant, Arpita Gandhi, who introduced us to the Hotspot program
9 July 2010, Friday
Met with Dr. Sattler 9am to 2pm
went over power point of "plume rise" and "methods of determining dispersion parameters sigma y and sigma z"
12 July 2010, Monday
Met with Dr. Sattler 9am to 2pm
went over power point on "air pollution meteorology - winds"
13 July 2010, Tuesday
Met with Dr. Sattler 9am to 2pm
lectured on air pollution
14 July 2010, Wednesday
Met with Dr. Sattler 9am to 2pm
lecture covered inversion layers, first order chemical rxns, settling, wet and dry deposition, averaging time changes
15 July 2010, Thursday
Met with Sattler 8:30am - 12pm, given articles to read in order to determine parameters
Ethics workshop 1:30pm - 4:00pm
16 July 2010, Friday
Met with Sattler 1pm - 3pm, lecture
19 July 2010, Monday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
researched TEDE levels
explosion scenarios
20 July 2010, Tuesday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
explosion scenarios
21 July 2010, Wednesday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
explosion scenarios
22 July 2010, Thursday
Took a tour of the Holcim Cement Plant 8:30am - 3:00pm
23 July 2010, Friday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
evaluating inputs for explosion
26 July 2010, Monday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
fire scenarios
27 July 2010, Tuesday
Hotspot modeling 9am - 2pm
fire scenarios
28 July 2010, Wednesday
9am - 11:25am work with Hotspot
REU Assessment 12pm -1pm
29 July 2010, Thursday
Research Training workshop 9am - 3pm, Rady Room
30 July 2010, Friday
9am - 3pm, worked on Hotspot models
11am, met with Dr. Sattler to discuss progress of the project
2 August 2010, Monday
9am - 2pm, finalizing parameters and organized the comparative tables of data, discussed final presentation
3 August 2010, Tuesday
9am - 2pm, worked from home on slides for presentation
4 August 2010, Wednesday
9am - 11am, worked on combining slides for final presentation
11am - 1pm, watched "Garbage: The Movie" Rm 100 in Nedderman
1:30pm - 3pm, continued working on final presentation
4pm, worked on poster
5 August 2010, Thursday
9am - 3pm, cleaned up the final presentation
worked on poster and reflection paper
6 August 2010, Friday
9am - 12pm, Designed web page for the REU program
1pm, cleaned up final presentation
2pm, met with Dr. Sattler, ran through the presentation and received feed back from Dr. Sattler
7 August 2010, Saturday
finished and submitted poster to Dr. Yazdani
worked on reflection paper
9 August 2010, Monday
finalize presentation for 8/10
finish working on the deliverables for the REU program
10 August 2010, Tuesday
Summer End workshop 9am - 3pm
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Its Almost Over :(
Today is the day of taking pictures, so that I will be able to look back on this program and the people who were involved. Before, I was so nervous about coming and really did not want to come. Now that I am here, I do not want to leave. This has been such a great experience, and I will miss everyone so dearly. I just finished my refelction paper a few seconds ago, which made me sad to reflect on how everything has gone by so quickly. I just want to turn back time or have an extension on this program that has been so awesome to me. Granted, this program was quite unorganized, but I am so thankful for it.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Orientation
Its been exactly 5 weeks since the first orientation. Diamond and I introduced ourselves to everyone except for Ernest lol. I am sure everyone thought we already knew each other for some time, but actually we had just met the night before. I never knew that some of the people i met, like Giancarlo, would turn out to be such good friends of mine. I am so happy to have done this experience. It was really silent that first day because nobody knew each other. Only Diamond and I were talking. Therefore, we went to our room for lunch, and we decided to watch sweeney todd. When we can back it was the same silent, awkward room full of people. Looking back, I see that it is just because they didnt know anybody. Later, they thought we were even weirder because we told them our story about how we walked to the mall ,six miles away. :D
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