Reflective Journal

Having to deal with a difficult person or situation

Due to the project requires species of algae from local extreme habitats which rich reservoir of microbes including microalgae and cyanobacteria that can produce a wide array of materials of commercial interest. These extreme habitats harbour the most adaptive species. However, those habitats are distanced 570 km away in the middle of a desert, which was an obstacle on my way to my goal. After a lot of research and took guidance from professors within the project’s team, I was suggested to visit the hot spring which is located 40 km away, Ain Al-Kasfa, where I took my first sample and examined it under the microscope expecting to find a variety of microalgae with a help of my supervisor, but the sample did not match the aim and there was not a clear image of any types of microalgae. Thence, plans were changed immediately and search for other areas for sampling. This process of sampling took the whole month of April with no result, thus the situation was discussed with my supervisor and found out a solution by obtaining ready samples.

Nevertheless, I learned how to sampling and how different places contain different types of microalgae and for each type should be patronized differently. I found that slightly risky to do it individually unless there is facilitation for the individual to carry out the task.

Realising that you have made a mistake

During routine work, I had to prepare two different nutrient mediums for algae samples each contained 20 litres. They differ in a few components and the percentages of the chemical compounds, thence I realised that a mistake occurred unintentionally in the percentages of both of them. I sought to solve the problem, which one of them was fixed but not the other. Therefore, I had to brainstorm for another solution, so I had to repeat processing the nutrient medium, but another issue was noted, there were not enough chemicals. However, I took some guidance from my work supervisor and solved the problem eventually. Although I write everything in my notebook, more concentration is required to avoid work accidents especially when it is related to limited chances.

Finding yourself with nothing to do

Whenever I found myself with nothing to do, I look around the department and discover the instruments, types of equipment, and apparatus. In fact, I felt curiosity for all the instruments in the different laboratories, so usually, I ask the staff whenever they are available to explain to me how the apparatus work. I have learned about more than ten new devices, an algem is one example that I saw it at the first time and looked online about some information, it was slightly awkward that there was not enough information about it, so I asked for some introductions related. It is amazing that this is the only instrument in the middle east and it works on algae analysis, it does all tests that I did manually with the samples I have, so I thought it would be a great idea to work on it beside my routine work. It was complicated and very confusing at the beginning, thence it became a normal daily routine.

Moreover, the scientific competition program I have joined was very helpful to gain social skills in my leisure time. It is about creating a system that helps in investing in a renewable energy. Basically, we were a team contains 5 people with a supervisor, and each individual has different specialities and skills. Our passion was to build a creative system that can convert the wave energy into power that can be applied in reality at one of the local coasts. Also, we thought it would be great if we can use cheap materials with a good quality and work all together collaboratively with no help from anyone out of the team. Our idea was to show people that we can do anything without using a huge amount of money in inventing, at the same time focusing on renewable energies. The whole work took 4 months that ended up with a great instrument that was presented by myself to a couple of local companies and ministers. This led me to gain presentation skills such as confidence, deliver an effective message enthusiastically to the audience, selling the ideas and marketing the project, and stress management. Besides presentation skills, other unexpected expertise was acquired such as welding metal pieces and varnishing, and I learned some new software programmes like a 3D structural design.

INTRA Report

Sandra O'Neill

Confirm copying

Restore backup