The Happy Scientist

In his lab on campus

Andrew and I were lucky enough today to visit John in his lab where he is researching for NASA this summer. He was nothing but confident and cool as he gave us a tour of his facilities. I was especially glad to meet his research director, Dr. Waters, one of John's favorite professors as well as his landlord. He has been a significant mentor for John during his college years. 

John is lucky to work in a basement lab this summer where it is comfortably cool, although a bit dark, void of windows. Perhaps it's easier on summer days not to see the trees blowing in the wind and the beckoning sun shine. The basement space didn't bother John one bit. It's so obvious he is excited about the work he is doing. What joy to see that!

I was most surprised by the tight quarters in which John spends his full days so enthusiastically. He must really love science and his project!  Moving around his lab space reminded me of the snug U505 tour with so much important equipment packed into such a small space. It's a good thing he and his professor work so well together and enjoy one another's company.  

John's research mission this summer is to determine the best solid waste reduction candidates for long range space missions (aka, how to make poop break down in space.) Since bringing more food is not an option for very long range space travel to places like Mars, astronauts will will need a way to turn their waste into food or soil quickly so they don't perish. John is genetically modifying the candidates they are selecting for waste reduction as well as working on a membrane fluidity analysis. He really is a happy scientist.