Regarding the topic I researched, I learned that it would probably be possible to synthesize a vegetable-based two-stroke engine oil. I learned that the oils would probably be less efficient than current two-stroke oils but would likely work. The information gathered can be used for further studies on the effectiveness of vegetable-based two-stroke engine oil or research on the effect of these engines on the health of the engine.

From the academic paper and oral defense presentation, I have learned that your research is a fraction of the explanation of your research. More work is done to synthesize other studies together, analyze the academic conversation, and justify your research than is actually done to conduct the research. For anyone looking to conduct research, I recommend that you spend 80% doing research prior to the research itself. For my future learning, I will use this lesson when I am doing anything in college. The lesson of more preparation than doing is universal.

I realized how frustrated I can get. I know that sounds funny but research is so frustrating and when things are not working and the next 40 things you change don’t fix it, it is incredibly demoralizing. I realized that the ability to be a duck is really useful. Just let it roll off your back and keep working. In the future, I will definitely be using this lesson as it is less productive to get frustrated and stop working than it is to take a minute, let whatever your feeling out, then get my head down and continue working.