Zero Pressure Balloon Project

1. Zero Pressure Balloon Project Presented by: Melissa Ramon Marine Biology Mauricio Marquez Pre-Medical MESA Program, San Diego City College November 2012

2. Background 1 week “train-the-trainer” academy for understanding “what is research?” - Hosted at San Diego State University – July 2012 - Led by 3 graduate research students - 20 MESA student participants (10 each from City College and Southwestern College) Trained on research process Learned about available research opportunities Conducted 3-day “investigative shadow” in teams Funded by California Space Grant Consortium

3. What is Research? The method of investigation and discovery.

4. Considerations before you start:Lab Culture Define Terms Lab Culture Take Notes Rules & Expectations Teamwork & Productivity

5. The Research Process Step by Step

6. Step 1: Identify and Develop your topic

7. Step 2: Literature Survey Credible background information that reflects on your personal project. Search for similar articles that refer to your topic. View references at end of article to refer to similar topics . Don’t forget to Cite your sources!

8. Step 3: Set Goals Give yourself an agenda to follow and deadlines to complete. Manage your time efficiently and effectively.

9. Step 4: Developing Theoretical Methods General scientific knowledge required to achieve goal Theories Properties Equations

10. Step 5: Developing Experimental Methods Your Data: What? How?

11. Step 5: Developing Experimental Methods Your Experiment: What? Where? When? How? Who? Projected Timeline Budget

12. Step 6: Data Analysis Does your data make sense? Close to what was expected? Graphing your data Acceptable Error Were all your goals met?

13. Step 7: Communicate Results Publish your work Technical Presentations

14. Our Research Experience

15. Zero Pressure Balloon UCSD – Validation Lab Principal investigators (PIs) David Hernandez - Aerospace Engineering Julie Narasaki – Mechanical Engineering

16. Step 1: Identifying and Developing our Topic What can we learned about space and structures? Would the environment be good enough to deploy a structure? Will the payload and its equipment withstand certain elevations?

17. Literature Survey Visited the UCSD library to search for background research on our experimental project. Smolley, J. H. "Science Foundation. " Balloon Sympssiuri (1970).

18. Set Goals Independent Variables : GPS & Spot – radio frequency. Dependent Variables: Data location of the balloon. Measured: pressure, altitude, latitude, velocity (speed of wind), distance, weight, time and wind direction. Examined: Time vs. Altitude & Altitude vs. Pressure.

19. TheoreticalMethod Principles Equations Theory Buoyancy Ideal Gas Law

20. Experimental Method Materials Balloon GPS SPOT Sand bags Wires Foam box Kapton tape Plastic Tubes Helium Assemble

21. Test Ballast System: maintain the balloon at altitude of 40,000 ft.

22. GPS : Balloon Location (Map) SPOT: redundant tracking - satellite tracking

23. Zero Pressure Balloon : Wind direction before launch

27. Launch

29. Data Analysis

30. Data Analysis

32. Research Opportunities SDSU, UCSD, USD

33. UCSD Academic Programs AMGEN Scholars ProgramThe program supports summer research for thirty undergraduates majoring in fields related to biotechnology, including: microbiology, bioengineering, biochemistry, neuroscience, and molecular genetics. Faculty Mentor ProgramThe Faculty Mentor Program offers research experience to all junior or seniors who have the desire to prepare for graduate or professional school.

34. UCSD Academic Programs CAMP Science ProgramThe UCSD California Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) in Science, Engineering and Mathematics program provides support and advancement opportunities to ethnically underrepresented (African American, Mexican American, Latino, American Indian, Alaskan Native, or Native Pacific Islander) students who are seeking bachelor's degrees in chemistry, physics, cognitive science, biology, other sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology. Health & Medical Professions Preparation ProgramThe UCSD Health and Medical Professions Preparation Program (HMP3) provides undergraduates with enriching experiences that will enhance their preparation for admission into professional school in the medical and other health professions. McNair ProgramThe McNair Program provides low-income, first-generation college students, and students from groups underrepresented in graduate education, with effective preparation for doctoral study.

35. UCSD Academic Programs MARC Scholars ProgramThe Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program is designed to train and prepare highly qualified underrepresented minority undergraduate students in the biosciences for entry into graduate school.   Summer Research ProgramThe UCSD Summer Research Program is an eight-week, full-time research experience for undergraduates. UCSD Undergraduate Research ConferenceHeld each May, the UCSD Annual Undergraduate Research Conference recognizes outstanding scholarly work produced by UCSD undergraduates. UCSD Undergraduate Research ScholarshipAll UCSD undergraduates in any major are eligible to apply.

36. San Diego State University Scholarships for Undergraduate Student Participation in Computational Science and Engineering Research Program. Available to assist: academically talented financially needy students Goal: to explore opportunities for computational modeling and simulation research in science and engineering disciplines. Funded by National Science Foundation.

37. San Diego State University Minority Access to Research Careers(MARC) The Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Honors Undergraduate Research Training Program was recently awarded to San Diego State University from the National Institutes of Health. Students who are selected as trainees can receive three-quarter tuition and a monthly stipend of $913. Contact: Thelma Chavez

38. San Diego State University Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Is an intensive undergraduate research training program which prepares students for direct entry into STEM Year-round financial assistance for your research development. Undergraduates are paid 15 hours/week during the academic semesters, 30-40 hours/week over the summer (depending on the budget) Year round research and academic mentoring Connection to graduate program and other research opportunities Contact: Michelle Lopez

39. USD Academic Programs Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)provides funds to USD undergraduates to conduct summer research with a USD faculty mentor. Pre-Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE)offers summer research opportunities to San Diego high school students who will begin classes at USD in the fall and who may be the first in their families to pursue a college education. Honors Programoffers a four-year interdisciplinary curriculum integrated with a student's major and engages the students in sustained independent work through original research projects as a focus of a senior independent study project.

40. USD Academic Programs Community Service-Learningoffers course-based service-learning courses that incorporate community partnerships which can also include research and internship opportunities. McNair Scholarsare partnered with faculty mentors in their discipline, formulate a research plan, and receive stipends to support their research projects. Hayes Scholarship/Fellowship provides funding to support research in the sciences. Independent studyallows students to conduct research on a topic of interest by enrolling in an independent study course. In addition, research can be conducted as part of an international study course

41. Personal Reflections

42. Acknowledgements

43. Questions?