Week 14: Metro Tech and Tec is for Girls.

This past week was still very different for me and my boys. The walk out continued the whole week, even Friday, after all other districts went back, my kids did not. They're in  Creighton District if you were wondering. Luckily for me my mother was able to watch my boys on Thursday so I could attend the presentations at Metro Tech. It was nice to get so many great questions from the judges there and lunch was very delicious. I did have to leave early though to retrieve my final project from my honors psychology class. On Friday I helped STEAM Club with the Tec is for Girls event. My kids did come to that with me. They made it through the whole event and were very well behaved. The girls were much younger then the Hermanas group. I really liked it though they all seemed very interested and had lots of great questions. Well here it is the last week and I am so ready for summer, being full time really kicked my butt! I hope you all have a wonderful summer break!

Week 13: Walk-outs and a Field Trip

Well this week I hardly had any lab time. On the bright side I had to make media (PIA) for the first time and it sure was a great learning experience. The reason for my lack of lab time this week is due to the RED FOR ED movement, something I fully support, but because of the teacher walk out I was unable to attend class let alone the lab. I know a lot of people have family to leave their kids with but I, unfortunately, am not one of those people. I really hope that the legislators are really listening and will push to fund education in our state. The week is not lost though for education; My boys and I will be going to the Arboretum on Friday. This is our first time and we are very excited. 

Week 12: ASU Symposium and Vegas

Sorry this post is so late. Were coming to the end of the semester and I am scrambling to get everything done. I honestly under estimated being a full time student; It has been a lot. Thursday the 19th we attended the ASU symposium conference at ASU West. Unfortunately Kassy was not able to attend. We did not get any recognition but talking with the professors was very nice and informative. Although we did not win anything at ASU West, Ibrahim did win Best Poster for our team in Las Vegas, at the AZ/Nevada conference, on Saturday the 21st. I am so proud of my team and all the hard we have put in. A huge thanks has to go out to our mentor Dr. Cotter as well, she is always motivating us and pushing us towards perfection. 

Week 11: ASU West Mixer

This week has been a little off for me. My son was very sick on Thursday, after a trip to the ER we found out the he had gastroenteritis. Thankfully he was felling so much better after some anti-vomiting meds. Well this week, work wise, our focus has been getting our new images uploaded and organized for our new combined poster for these last two major conferences. I also attended the ASU West Mixer. It was nice to be able to tour the labs and talk with the many professors that were in attendance. The campus was not what I expected. It was small and very chill. I have a lot of time ahead of me before transfer so I am still slightly undecided but I will say they made me feel very comfortable there.

Week 10: SEM imaging

 

This week we will be taking our co-incubated microplastics to the SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) to further prove the colonization of our Pseudomonas onto the plastics. Unfortunately I can not be present for the use of the SEM but I am sure my team will do great and I hope the results are in our favor. Sad news this week as well, I can not make it to the Nevada conference. I will go to the ASU symposium though. I want to wish my team good luck in Vegas! I know they will do great! 

Week 9: Plastic 3 and the The Tunnel of Oppression

(mold on plastic 3)

Our plastic 3 is finally decontaminated after two PIA plate test showed possible mold growth. The final fix was boiling the alcohol treated plastic directly in the hood. Now tomorrow we can begin to co-incubate plastic 3 with the Pseudomonas and the TSB. Also tomorrow we are going to check the 7 day samples and possibly remove the plastics from the Pseudomonas. Completely unrelated but very interesting; I attended the tunnel of oppression here on campus yesterday. It was very emotional, eye opening , in your face, and informative.  I recommenced everyone go out and see it because it is important and the different organizations have done an amazing job of conveying the challenges they and many others are facing. It is more then worth your time. I took my kids and they had so many questions and I hope that it will be that way for many people, It should provoke many questions, thoughts, and feelings. Go check it out next spring!

Week 8: Phase 2

This week has mostly been prep for phase two of our project; Will the Pseudomonas degrade micro plastics 3, 4, 5, and 6? We have all our plastics sterilized and have our bacteria ready to co-incubate tomorrow. (might not use plastic 6) So it been a relatively slow week which is amazing because it has given me the chance to join the Robotics Club, something that I have wanted to do since finding out we had a Robotics club at PC. I am so excited for Phase two and also to learn how to build a robot and to also program it. Lots of fun and exciting stuff ahead! 
A very broken and incomplete Roomba (photo shown above) will be the chassis for my "Ratbot"