Bittersweet by Sebelah Sheriff

Over the past few weeks at TRIP I spent so much time doing science, math, and homework. Three things I would have never thought I would be doing over the summer two years ago. My experience at TRIP was bittersweet. The sweet side is that I get to do my own project, but the bitter side is that I have to do a lot of homework. The weeks went by pretty fast and it was a good program for me. I didn’t have any major issues, other than project missteps, but it was okay. Even though I spent my summer in a lab, I would never refer to myself as a nerd, because I do other things than just science; though, science and math are both my favorite subjects. I used my passions in TRIP when I was doing my independent project. 

​My project was testing the effects of pomegranate juice and coffee on fly memory. ​

​I chose this project because I forget things a lot on exams that I actually know, but panic and forget sometimes. I know other people have this problem, so I wanted to see if there is a way to help remember more things. I tested larvae in particular. I used the Larval Memory Assay for my project. To describe this assay in one sentence, the Larval Memory Assay is an assay that tests larvae ability to remember scents with sugar and agar. I did this assay 3 times and got a good amount of data to determine if memory can be enhanced from coffee and pomegranate juice.

My project was pretty straight forward, but it involved a lot of calculations, especially since I had to make 2 drug stocks for both coffee and pomegranate juice. Also, I had to make 21 total vials, and I had 30 males and 30 females in each vial. Meaning that I had to sort 1260 flies. That is a lot of flies to sort! My project was unique from a lot of other people’s since I tested 3 conditions, rather than 2. I found that coffee and pomegranate juice both improve memory from my data, but I can’t be 100% sure because it was 1 experiment.

From what I have seen, a lot of my friends have been on vacation all summer. Some do athletic camps and overnight camps, but I did a science internship. What I have learned recently is that I will usually be the odd one in the group and I have learned to deal with that.

I appreciate all that TRIP has done for me. I developed my research skills in performing independent projects.