hpikaart
Registered: November 2018 City/Town/Province: gallup Posts: 1
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The last day of my junior year (2018), I was offered a summer internship in biochemical research at Hope College, working mostly with professors and undergraduate students. After very little thought, we booked the flight for three days later and wrote back saying I could start in four. I spent my summer in the lab running tests with filtration systems, sitting in on discussions about the future of the projects, and collecting water samples outside. I tested the longevity and effectiveness of portable water filters as they would be used on extended wilderness trips or in rural areas without access to potable water. We worked with Sawyer International their project providing clean filtered water to refugees in Lebanon, our tests allowed for much less wasteful filtration and lower, safer chlorine levels in drinking water. Access to clean safe drinking water is the number one thing people need to survive so striving for eco friendly technology and procedures in that area would have a great impact on global sustainability. In all the craziness of meetings, crash course instructions in being a lab tech, and planning and executing experiments, I got a glimpse of what professional research and the real world implications of the results looks like. I believe that studying biology and math in college and pursuing more opportunities to help and learn in the workplace is my next step towards becoming part of the scientific research community, exploring concepts that could lead to more eco friendly technology and keep our earth healthy for future generations.
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