Field trip 4 Nov 2019
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
On the 2nd week of Nov, we were lucky to be able to visit this fascinating building in Berkeley. As a Biology major, this was definitely an exciting experience. At some point, I felt surreal because so many amazing invention has been founded right here and this is the first time I am so close to them.
What makes it special
The special thing about the Berkeley lab is that it has a team of multidisciplinary scientist under one single rooftop. Science has always been interconnected and to be able to establish an institution that allow maximum interaction between discipline is certainly a dream place for every scientist.
A Science Community — Sharing
While having a fixed group of scientist, the lab is also open for every person who have great ideas. With a scientifically proven projects that shows high potential, the Berkeley lab will provide free labs, instruments and all basic materials for one year. After 1 year, if the project continue to show promising development, the project can continue with a submission of a proposal.
Thousands of scientist now work at Berkeley Lab every day, helping each other. I really like that concept of knowledge sharing because that really portray what a science community should be like. Because of the existence of institution like Berkeley Lab, great ideas are nurtured and realised.
The Inspiration
What inspired me the most is the inventions I saw at the Lawrence Lab. I really like the microscope picture showing the helical lattice formed by the atoms. At the lab, real solutions are created to solve real issues. For instance, the idea of utilising nanotechnology to create bandaids and the invention of new polymers to create a truly recyclable plastics. Everything at the lab makes science so much more sense than it does in books and classroom. “It is real!”
Last but not least, it is good to hear that equality and equity are a concern at the Berkeley Lab. It is interesting to learn that the interview process require a 50:50 ratio of whatever group when in the final stage in order to make a fair decision.
