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.