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My Initial Stages of Research
My Initial Stages of Research
Research is like starting a new voyage at sea, a lot of preparation must take place and new destinations will be visited and thus new discoveries will be found. I first began deliberating a biotechnology related project for AP Research at the beginning of my junior year when selecting classes for my senior year. I ultimately decided to embark on this intimidating journey.
However, for this journey to be successful, I needed to look at past experience. To do this I looked at past classes I took in high school. Through one of my projects in AP Seminar, I presented the impact of the recent environmental impact of Genetically Modified Crops on developing countries. I chose this project because of my past experience learning about GMOS in Introduction to Biotech at my high school. This presentation solidified that I wanted to do a research project related to Biotech.
I began preparing for my long and treacherous, but exciting journey. During the summer, I was given an assignment to start creating ideas for my research project. I immediately started looking at recent topics and innovations in Biotech.
Once school started I looked at past research projects and past Biotech projects that have been conducted at my high school by other students and I realized that ayurvedic medicine was a common source of interest. I knew of ayurvedic practices such as hair oiling so I decided to delve into this area of interest because of my ethnic background and the resources available at my school. Now that I had identified an area of interest, I had to gain more materials and supplies for the journey ahead.
Past Experience with Research
Past Experience with Research
One of the adventures I have taken in the past was Intro to Biotechnology. This adventure was much less trecherous then the one I would be taking on during the school year, however it was still an important building block.
The image above shows an image of a planarian swimming in a petri plate. Through the class, Intro to Biotechnology I experimented with the effects of different concentrations of turmeric on the survival of planaria. I worked with a group and wrote an academic paper. Learning the process of experimental design proved to be enjoyable for me and I understood that Biotech has become a passion and major source of interest throughout my academic career. I reflected on the mistakes and aspects that I liked about my past research or adventure, and I was even more ready to commit to the voyage I planned.
(If you are interested my past research paper from this course is linked to the left)
Finalizing My Research Question and Research Proposal
Finalizing My Research Question and Research Proposal
Now the realization of me commiting to the journey became more real. As deadlines drew ahead more challenges at sea emerged. I realized that a Biotechnology project requires extensive planning and I would need to fill out my proposal correctly and thoroughly for me to be approved and make my dream of embarking on the voyage become a reality.
I began asking my AP Research teachers for help and realized that I should seek a mentor or expert advisor to guide me through these choppy waters. I asked three individuals at my school Ms. Petri, the biotech program teacher, Ms. Uchyn, my AP Statistics Teacher, and Ms. Burnham, My teacher for AP Seminar. I would be the captain of my voyage, but would still rely on these experienced sailors if I needed advice to proceed with my journey.
After talking to the advisors I created a research question and finished my background research. I completed my project, but ran into some roadblocks coming back from Thanksgiving Break regarding some paperwork needed to complete my project. I fixed this crack in my plan however and am ready to start data collection and am finally close to stopping at the first island of my voyage!
[My proposal is linked on the right if you would like to learn more about my project]
[Images that do not belong to me are hyperlinked to the source]
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