Hey all,

This is my first ever post on my first ever blog of my first ever research experience; that’s a lot of firsts. So if i were to give a brief synopsis of my first week, it would go as follows:

Sunday- moved in to dorms for the first time (yes I know, another first), met my roommates, relaxed, walked around campus

On Monday we met with Professors Buma and Barner. They discussed some of the things that we were to expect and then we received safety training and right to know as a group, getting to know some of the professors in each department along the way. At the end of the day we had a chance to meet with our faculty advisors. My advisor, Professor Shine of the Chemical Engineering Department, seemed friendly and eager to get started on the project. She briefly explained the project we will be working on, as well as what I should expect to get from this summer’s experiences.

Tuesday through Thursday was basically introductory week. Professor Shine explained that there were two projects available: sensors for disease management and the Colburn Greenroof Project, and that we were to select one. After explaining both projects to us, my partner, Jennifer Dunn, and I both chose the latter and began becoming acquainted with what a green roof is and what a project like this entails.

On Friday there were burgers on the green in front of Evans and some people played frisbee. I then went into the lab, did some more research on the green roof (mapped out schematics, planned next week’s activities, etc.) and called it a weekend.

For information on what a green roof is, I have included some photos and general information pages.

http://www.mynewplace.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/green_roof.jpg

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/green-rooftop-1.jpg

http://www.duluthstreams.org/stormwater/toolkit/greenroofs.html

As far as how far along I am in the project, I’d say it has been quite a productive first week. I became acquainted with green roofs, weirs, the complexities of research, independent work, etc. I looked at floor plans of the building and went into the piping to determine how to measure water runoff and drainage. I have worked with Professor Shine and Mr. George Whitmeyer to determine what type of devices can be used to measure all the necessary parameters before such a roof can be built. I also feel that I have begun to understand what Professor Buma said most of us would need to learn: to extend our research skills and develop aspects of the project independently and without instruction.

That’s all for now…hopefully this second week will be as productive as the first week was, but currently that seems unlikely…future updates will explain why.