Leo's Blog

Blog Uno

Working in a lab. Aside from taking introductory chemistry and biology courses at my high school, I had never had any experience with lab work—let alone professional lab work that contributes to scientific journals instead of merely being graded by a teacher. Come to think of it, I had never even been to Stanford—so this is all very new!

Two to three days per week I walk fifteen minutes to the nearest Caltrain station, take the train to Palo Alto Station, and catch Stanford’s (FREE!!!) Marguerite Shuttle Bus to the lab I am interning with. My lab is investigating (1) how the ocean plays a role in the production of nitrous oxide (as a greenhouse gas) and (2) how nitrate and nitrite are being removed in areas of the ocean with very little oxygen (oxygen minimum zones).

Even though the science behind what we are investigating can be overwhelming at times (think one of those “Big Bang Theory” science rants), I was pleasantly surprised to discover how much I already know about “doing science” (a phrase my lab group uses often). My science classes in school were not very book heavy. They were much more focused on understanding the scientific process than rote memorization. I see now that learning how to understand things quickly and how to ask questions about them is far more important than having the entire periodic table memorized.

I will write a new post soon with some updates!

Blog Two

Plotting my data. I have been performing a variety of tests to determine the concentration of different chemical compounds at different depths and locations in the Pacific Ocean. One of the graduate students I am working with, Brian, frequently goes on scientific “cruises”. A “cruise” is a trip on a research vessel where scientists collect data. There is no mediocre all-you-can-eat buffet or midnight karaoke. Scientists are often on a pretty tight schedule. It is common for them to work twelve-hour shifts throughout these cruises—which is pretty absurd when you consider that cruise length can last up to two months.

I am working with a group of samples from different stations (spots along a route where data was collected) from a recent cruise in the North Pacific from the Washington coast to Hawaii.

Depending on what compound I am measuring for in a given sample, I typically add reagents to a subsample of it (so as to not taint the entire sample). These reagents create a chemical reaction that often changes the color of the sample so that the spectrometer can measure the absorbance of light by a specific compound, from which the concentration is determined. A laser is shot at the sample, and the spectrometer knows the concentration to absorbance relationship of the compound I am measuring. Based on this, and how intensely the light from the laser goes through the sample, the samples concentration can be calculated.

Below is a graph showing the concentrations of nitrite and nitrate at a single point (station) in the ocean, but at different depths (concentration vs. depth profile). This is a pattern we would expect, with a slight peak of nitrite around 60m below the surface, and a curve of nitrate increasing as the depth increases (although in a more complete depth profile with measurements to 1500m, nitrate would begin to decrease with more depth).

Blog Three

After final presentations this past Wednesday, I took Caltrain back to San Francisco for the last time this summer. I had a great experience, and I will miss everyone I worked with so much! What I did not think I would miss, strangely, was Stanford. Yes I know the school has an incredible reputation, but I just was not a fan of the campus. It was so spread out and hot (or maybe I'm just used to San Francisco's condensed design and cool rolling fog). Yet, even after the last day, I did miss the school! This internship was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. It involved a lot of critical thinking, and it never felt like I was just stuck doing menial, meaningless tasks. This experience has definitely helped me confirm that I want to continue working with earth and environmental science. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity!