Wrapping Up

Reflection on Content

It's the end of the research process! Through this research project, I explored the effect of UV light on the memory of planaria and whether memory reside in planaria. I gained a deep understanding of how planaria are able to retain their memory and where they retain their memory. One of the most surprising things I discovered was that UV light causes memory loss in planaria. The damage to their body cells prevented them from remembering the association between the smooth surface and the 10% sucrose, which was interesting to me because that is what I predicted would happen! Looking ahead, I hope to research more about memory in stem cells, whether is planaria again or other organisms. I hope to find out ways to allow stem cells to retain memory in other organisms so it can be used to research into potential solutions for people or organisms suffering with memory disorders like dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Reflection on Product

I did achieve my end goal of figuring out whether planaria memory resides in their body cells. When it comes to preparing my presentation and oral defense, I had to simplify my process so it would make sense to wider range of audience while also presenting in a clear and confident way. Preparing for the presentation and doing research in general has helped me develop skills like time management and flexibility that I will use in the future. Creating the paper has helped me gain the skills i need to formally write a scientific paper. As someone who wants to potentially go into research in the future, writing a research paper now will help be be more confident in my writing as well be comfortable in the research process of writing a paper.

Reflection on Process

This project pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect. As a researcher, I learned how important it is to stay curious and open-minded. As a student, I developed stronger time management and resilience. I learned about how research doesnt go as expected, which is ok! I had to redirect and replan my research process because somethign didn't happen on time like the planaria coming in later than expected. I had to adjust my calendar almost every week. Even though I couldn't stay on track with my original plan, my research still continues. Changes are good during research. If I hadn't noticed that the silicone glue I was using before was toxic, I would've harmed my planaria and ended up with little to no data. This setback drastically reduced my time for research but it was an eye-opener for me to be more cautious with my research. I had to adjust my calendar almost every week. Even though I couldn't stay on track with my original plan, my research still continues. Changes are good during research. If I hadn't noticed that the silicone glue I was using before was toxic, I would've harmed my planaria and ended up with little to no data. This setback drastically reduced my time for research but it was an eye-opener for me to be more cautious with my research, something I will take with me to my future endeavours.

Reflection on Process

I want to thank Mrs. Dobos and Mr. McBride for their constant encouragement and feedback throughout the research process as well as providing me with materials. Their guidance helped me refine my ideas and stay on track. I'd like to thank Mrs. Petri for providing me with the petri dishes for my research. I’m also grateful to my parents who supported me emotionally and reminded me to take breaks when things got overwhelming. Finally, I'd like to thank to my classmates for the thoughtful discussions and feedback during peer reviews.

It's Not the End...

Although this post is the final chapter in my research journey, it is only the beginning of the story of your life. Next year, I will be attending CU Boulder to study biomedical engineering! I hope to continue my research throughout my college years and beyond as well and hopefully discover more incredible things. Thank you for keeping up with my research journey!

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