Zero Pressure Balloon ProjectPresented by:

Melissa RamonMarine Biology

Mauricio MarquezPre-Medical

MESA Program, San Diego City College November 2012

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

What is Research?

The method of investigation and

discovery.

Considerations before you start:Lab Culture

Lab Culture

Take Notes

Define Terms

Rules & Expectatio

ns

Teamwork &

Productivity

The Research ProcessStep by Step

Step 1: Identify and Develop your topic

Choosing your topic Tip: Turn your interest into a topic

Develop a Question Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Question to Topic Develop the answer

Significance Why is your topic important?

Step 2: Literature SurveyCredible 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!

Step 3: Set Goals

• Give yourself an agenda to follow and deadlines to complete.

• Manage your time efficiently and effectively.

Step 4: Developing Theoretical MethodsGeneral scientific knowledge required to achieve goal

• Theories• Properties• Equations

Step 5: Developing Experimental Methods

Your Data:

What?

How?

Step 5: Developing Experimental MethodsYour Experiment:

What?Where?When?How?Who?Projected TimelineBudget

Step 6: Data AnalysisDoes your data make sense?

Close to what was expected?Graphing your dataAcceptable ErrorWere all your goals met?

Step 7: Communicate ResultsPublish your work

Technical Presentations

Our Research Experience

Zero Pressure BalloonUCSD – Validation Lab

Principal investigators (PIs) David Hernandez - Aerospace Engineering Julie Narasaki – Mechanical Engineering

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?

Literature SurveyVisited the UCSD library to search for background research on our experimental project.

Smolley, J. H. "Science Foundation." Balloon Sy mpssiuri (1970).

Set GoalsIndependent 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.

Theoretical Method•Principles•Equations Theory

•Buoyancy•Ideal Gas Law

Experimental MethodMaterials

Balloon GPS SPOT Sand bags Wires Foam box Kapton tapePlastic Tubes Helium

Assemble

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

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

Zero Pressure Balloon : Wind direction before launch

Launch

Data Analysis

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Data Analysis

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Pressure vs Altitude [ft]

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Research OpportunitiesSDSU, UCSD, USD

UCSD Academic ProgramsAMGEN Scholars Program The program supports summer research for thirty undergraduates majoring in fields related to biotechnology, including: microbiology, bioengineering, biochemistry, neuroscience, and molecular genetics.

Faculty Mentor Program The Faculty Mentor Program offers research experience to all junior or seniors who have the desire to prepare for graduate or professional school.

UCSD Academic ProgramsCAMP Science Program The 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 Program The 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 Program The McNair Program provides low-income, first-generation college students, and students from groups underrepresented in graduate education, with effective preparation for doctoral study.

UCSD Academic ProgramsMARC Scholars Program The 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 Program The 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 Scholarship All UCSD undergraduates in any major are eligible to apply.

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

San Diego State UniversityMinority 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

San Diego State UniversityMinority 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

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.

USD Academic Programs

Community Service-Learning offers course-based service-learning courses that incorporate community partnerships which can also include research and internship opportunities.

McNair Scholars are 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 study allows 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

Personal Reflections

Acknowledgements

Questions?