Jacqueline Le
I can now say that these past 8 weeks here at Stanford...
posted August 5, 2016
I can now say that these past 8 weeks here at Stanford have undoubtedly been the best summer ever. Making new friends, learning how to code, going on adventurous field trips. Although it was incredibly bittersweet for this internship to come to an end, I am glad that I am able to look back and see how this experience has changed me. Working on the research project has given me a small taste of what life in the research field will be like. Being able to work with Dr. Noel and 18 other high school interns who are also interested in diverse fields of science has been a rewarding experience for me, as I have learned so much from each and everyone of them.
I will not forget the countless memories I have made exploring the Stanford Campus with my newfound friends throughout the day, from our adventures to the Cantor Center for Visual Arts to traveling to Downtown Palo Alto to even looking down upon the whole campus from the top of the Hoover Tower. The Wednesday and Thursday lunch activities planned by Jenny and Shersingh have also been very memorable. Hearing scientists in different fields of Earth sciences from geochemistry to geophysics to oceanography speak has really led me to open my eyes to see how diverse science research can be.
When the last day came for all of our presentations, I was able to proudly present my research project to my peers and professors. I can hardly wait for AGU to come where I can reunite with my fellow interns. This program has made Summer ‘16 the best yet, and I thank everyone who has helped made this possible!
With half of my summer now gone...
posted July 20, 2016
With half of my summer now gone, I have time to look back and reflect upon what this internship has taught me. Even though learning about all the different types of fossils and rock types has been quite interesting, my favorite part of this summer has got to be the camping field trip. It was such a unique and fun experience to be able to go exploring and hiking with a large group of my peers and Stanford graduate students. Not only did we learn about the different types of rocks and fossils but we also got to observe them outside in nature and identify the different types of fossils: bivalves, brachiopods or crabs. Being away from the Bay Area and technology and our phones for two wholes day really helped me connect with nature. On top of connecting with nature, the camping trip really helped all of us bond and get to know each other a lot better. I’m really glad that this program included so many field trips to include a different aspect of earth science and geology and incorporate it into everyday life!
Also, with so many guest speakers that come in to present, I feel like they have introduced and exposed us to many different fields of sciences. In the vast area of Earth science, there are so many smaller branches, such as geophysics, geochemistry, paleobiology, etc. Hearing about the graduate students and professors talk about their subjects and research and how much they love what they do has really inspired me to look more in the field of science research. One of my favorite presenters had a double major in ecology and economics, and he came in to present to us his research and how much he has helped kids and communities in Africa. Seeing how real life research can truly help better the world makes it even more interesting and inspiring.
Another part of this program that I really enjoy looking forward to is working on our AGU research projects. Ever since Dr. Noel has taught us about nematodes and different types of fossils, the research projects provide us with another chance to delve deeper and to make our own discoveries into a similar field. Exploring the aspects of marine life and different rock types has been quite interesting, and the upcoming AGU conference in San Francisco is just another thing to look forward to!!
On the first day of this program...
posted June 29, 2016
On the first day of this program, I had absolutely no idea what was going to be in store for me for the next upcoming eight weeks. I have to admit, I was nervous being around all of these unique interns and amazing professors. As the days went on, I befriended many of my fellow peers and learned about what had drawn each of them to this very program. From numerous guest speakers to fun outdoor hikes, these past couple of weeks have been the most exciting part of my summer. Dr. Noel’s presentations about Paleobiology have introduced me into a field of science that I had no exposure to previously. I love the different varieties of activities that we do around here, from data collection to making timelines, I feel like each has enhanced my skills in a different way.
The lunch activities also provide another way for us interns to get to know more different fields of geological scientists. One of my favorite speakers was the oceanographer Rob Dunbar on the first week. His speaking style and enthusiasm for his science really interested me in his talk and encouraged me to find out more. It was especially fascinating how many weeks he spent out at sea!
On top of the weekly Wednesday talks, the field trips also provided something for me to look forward to. We just had our first field trip this Monday to Capitola Beach down in Santa Cruz. Not only was it very educational and interesting, it was also a lot of fun to be able to roam around on the beach and explore the different types of fossils and caves with our friends. I can’t wait to see what’s in store next!