Advanced DIY Science for Students? 21
Adam Wise asks: "I'm a high school senior planning a career in science, and I don't have any plans for the summer. I'd like to put these two facts together to entertaining and educational results of the do-it-yourself variety. Reading about the home made electron microscope got me thinking along the lines of a similar project. Are there any resources specifically geared towards DIY scientists beyond baking soda and vinegar volcanoes?"
How about Biology? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:How about Biology? (Score:1)
Try some of these fun summer hobbies (Score:3, Informative)
If you want some electronics, you can study for an amateur radio license. The ARRL [arrl.org] has a lot of plans for good radio-related equipment you can build from scratch. Plus, you can get in on developing and testing software radios.
For the aspiring metallurgist in you, you can do your own metal pouring and casting [backyardmetalcasting.com].
Summertime is a good time for stargazing. You can build your own telescope [rogers.com].
Basic electronics? (Score:3, Informative)
Here's the 60 in One [laserballs.com] set. I've never heard of this retailer, so I'm not recommending them, but the page is a good guide to what you can do with it. You can also do a Google search [google.com] which hooks you up with all the different sets they make.
basic robot (Score:2)
2. Build a trebuchet or a potato gun.
Then again, you only get that high school summer once. You can build a trebuchet once you retire.
Joe
SciAm (Score:3, Informative)
Lindsay (Score:2)
I've mentioned them before (several times), but it bears repeating: has several offerings that you need to check out. Get the paper catalog (it has more than the online version), and order some books. They have a CD-ROM of the good articals from Scientific American (back when it was worth reading), and several other books. Most of their books are long out of copyright, so they are old, but the science is still the same, even if the theorys have changed. (Watch out for that!) [lindsaybks.com]
organic chemistry (Score:3, Funny)
Re:organic chemistry (Score:1, Funny)
(1)Ether
(2)Tweakers itching for a smoke break.
No, Virginia, those two don't go well together. Then there is the whole legality issue, and meth isn't that much fun anyway. Who wants to be up for three days cleaning the house and checking outside for cops?
Weed isn't too hard, and growing things in controlled environments is good science. Again, you run smack into the legal issue. Now if you could take the THC gene and drop it into, say, brewer's yeast, you could make the most popular microbrew on the block. Too hard you say? Maybe, but I'd bet you cash that Phillip Morris has already done this to tobacco.
Making your own vodka/gin/moonshine is another possibility. You've got to do the distillations right or you fuck up your eyes. The mash stinks and yes, issues with legality and flammability come back into play.
Do them all in California, and you've just earned life in jail on three strikes. In other words, don't play with anything that the liquor lobby has paid off politicians to make illegal.
get a job (Score:1)
It doesn't have to be in science, you just have to make money. You have college ahead of you, and if you plan on doing anything serious, you're going to be there for at least 8 years. You'll need the money, and a little humbling experiance in fast food never hurt anyone.
Re:get a job (Score:1)
True, unless you're talking about Computer Science. You can get by with 4 or 6 years there. But then again, having gotten my degree [emphasis mine, to sound like a cock] in Computer Engineering, Comp Sci isn't "anything serious." Neudge!
Here's a general solution: (Score:4, Insightful)
A lot of what a scientist ends up doing is making quantitative measurements. Understanding the drawbacks and limitations of analytical devices will do wonders for your future scientific career.
Start simple. Make a ruler that can measure something down to a millimeter precision. You can't use an existing ruler to get you started. All you get is a stick, some paper and a few tools. Maybe you can have ONE object with an accurately known length. Figure out how to do it, then actually build it.
Next, use your rule to measure something small. Start your measurement from different parts of the rule and plot the results. Figure out what the results mean, and what the flaws are with your measurements. Since you're working with length, conceptually this shouldn't be too hard.
Still want an easy one? Try measuring mass next. Take one accurately known mass and build a balance. Same idea as before. Build something. Use it to measure. Find out your precision and accuracy. Make it better if you want.
You're doing a little math, some engineering, and working with some generally applicable scientific principles. Remember that in this case it is the mistakes that teach you the most.
Like doing this kind of stuff?
Build a spectrophotometer out of a webcam. That should be a fun one. Tons of limitations, but the possibility of decent results.
Make your own microphone. What kind of frequency response can you get? Can you make it more linear?
Volumetric measurements can be interesting. Learn the difference between "To Contain" and "To Deliver" first.
This all might seem like too much engineering. Think of it as applied science. Learning what measurement is all about will probably make your labs seem less cookbook and more interesting.
Come up with you're own ideas. This is science after all. Forget what the art majors will tell you, this is where the creativity lies.
And now for something cynical (also known as advice from the real world):
Unless you plan on getting a PhD, don't major in science. In research labs and interesting industry positions, non PhD's are usually peons. Even a masters in some fields is largely viewed as a 'booby prize' for a washed out PhD student. Chances are that without the PhD you'll be better off working outside the field.
Here's more unsolicited advice: If you aren't going to work in the field, don't get the degree. You will have more fun in college if you don't spend it in a lab. Major in business and make your favorite science a minor instead. At least pick engineering over the hard science. The primary reason to get a science degree is to do research, and that career track begins with a PhD. If that isn't your destination it's probably easier not to begin the journey.
Get This Book!! (Score:2, Interesting)
Online Moving Management Service (Score:1)
You just list everything that you own on eBay and send it out. When you're at your new apartment you go back on eBay and have the same things delivered. eBay has categories for everything, so all your stuff will be nicely organized.
Internship? (Score:1)
Work on making real volcanoes. If you succeed you may be able to market your device at VillainSupply [villainsupply.com]. They're not presently hiring, but you could send your rap sheet to the parent company in case they have need of an interned scientist soon. Make sure to mention any nefarious devices, unholy hobbies, or superpowers.