Sunday, June 4, 2023
By:
Blogpost content:
- Things I did during week one.
- Impressions I have after week one.
- Anticipations I have after week one.
Things I did during week one.
- I arrived in Washington D.C. and sat in my dorm room, stocked up on food and figured out a reliable way to get drinking water.
- After acquainting myself with others SPS Summer interns we all undergone an Intern Orientation that has informed us about the origin, goals, and outcomes of the Internship program. After orientation the structure and organization of the Internship program became clearer to me, as the differences in functions of the interns depend on their placement institution.
- I have visited several notable places in D.C. metropolitan:
Smithsonian National Zoological Park:
Very well-developed zoo has a great variety of species, moreover situation of animals and level of development of their habitats suggests that great care and thought have been placed in care for the animals making them not just attraction to the public, but rather an effort to study and preserve these species. Free entrance was greatly appreciated by me.
Famous National Monuments of D.C.:
Monuments visited: George Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, National World War 2 Memorial, Watergate Steps.
I cannot say much about monuments, due to my limited knowledge (and therefore, appreciation) of history they monumentalize. However, they seem to serve as a splendid spot for group gathering.
- I have visited my internship placement site, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):
NIST is the most advanced scientific facility I have seen so far, Labs, equipment, and personnel seem to be concentrated on professional conductance of scientific labor. I cannot make any further judgment due to my lack of experience.
- I have been introduced to the project I am going to work on:
Project goal and my working conditions seem to be clear. No issues have been encountered, so far.
Impressions I have after week one.
- D.C. is somewhat different in terms of transportation and prices of food.
- Students who have been placed in this internship program are people of different backgrounds and constitutions of mind and character, I probably can learn something from interacting with them.
- Being in such a densely populated environment is somewhat unusual and at times strenuous.
- My project, while being well defined, requires skills and experience I do not possess (now, at least). This may pose a challenge in producing scientifically relevant results.
Anticipations I have after week one.
- I believe my project will pose a challenge to me and may not bring a publication even if I am successful in accomplishing it.
The End of Week one blogpost.
Daniil Ivannikov