Monday, August 16, 2010
The Engineering of...goodbyes
Goodbye Paris, hello States! Had a safe, yet bittersweet, return trip home this weekend. Was under the 23 kilo suitcase weight limit-- whew. Quite a shock to be surrounded by English speakers, signage, and spicy food?? Going to ration my small hoard of French goodies so that the sensory memories will last me a long time!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Engineering of...fallafel
The Marais is a hip Parisian district with lively backstreets that house hidden ethnic culinary treasures. L'As du Fallafel is one of these places. And I should know because I, guiltily, have eaten there twice in two days. The cobblestone streets of the area lead pedestrians to a stand with loud hawkers outside claiming they have the best fallafel in the world! Fodor's, New York Times, and Zagat happen to agree.
I joined the long line of hungry patrons to sample the oh-so-delicious fallafel sandwich with cucumber, hummus, cabbage, pita, and tomato. Wish I had the recipe! The sandwich is just right for munching while walking and window shopping, which I did.
I walked all the way to the Seine. On my last Sunday in Paris, I had to say my good-byes to the most beautiful part of the city! Plus, Paris Plage was happening. Huge loads of sand are dumped along the banks of the river, where food stands, bocce ball courts, lounge chairs, and palm trees are brought in. This event is hugely popular amongst Parisians and tourists alike, and attracts some pretty good street performers. The image is ironic, but a fun event for those Parisians who cannot escape to the beach for their holidays.
Work is winding down and I gave a presentation last Friday of my findings to a group of fellow Pasteurians. Was a nice culmination of my summer. Heading home Saturday; bittersweet!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Engineering of...Strasbourg
Guten tag from Strasbourg!
Took the TGV southeast to the "capital of Europe," where historical architecture meets the modernity of important EU buildings. We arrived quite early and the town was empty. We wound along streets with beautiful half-timbered houses overflowing with red flowers from the window boxes. The timber framing is made of a dark wood and contrasts the typically white plaster infill.
Although Strasbourg is currently French, it has changed hands many times and most of the people there speak both French and German. It was actually refreshing to hear the harsh German words after the smoothness and fluidity of French these past weeks.
We started the day with delicious pastries- one more French (pain au chocolat, can't go wrong) and the other more German (a wreath-shaped apple and cinnamon delight). We ate them by the river that encircles the city, which is basically one big island. Then, took a little walk through the multiple plazas where statues commemorate people like Gutenberg, who developed the first printing press when in Strasbourg.
The next stop was the huge old Strasbourg Cathedral!. Martin Luther's 95 Theses were put on display here at the start of the Reform Movement. It is made of unusual pink and brown stone. Construction began in 1015 and the Gothic architecture is apparent all the way up its tall, lone spire. The inside is dimmer and darker than some of the other light-flooded cathedrals I have seen in France, but has unusual stained glass that depicts biblical scenes on one side of the nave and important political people on the other. The rose window is beautiful, as is the unusual animated astronomical clock.
Next came a narrated boat tour (yes, I am secretly an 80 year-old woman on the inside) where we discovered the history of the town, which had some of the first Protestant churches in Europe. Got to ride through the canals with its system of locks and see how important the waterway was for shipping goods in between European countries.
Lunch was had at a cozy little restaurant with wooden carved chairs, checked curtains, and blue glazed pitchers. The meal was heavy, but delicious and very Alsatian...sausage, sauerkraut, potatoes, bread, and onion tarts. I'm still full.
The afternoon led us to the lovely Petit France with even more gorgeous half-timbered homes and the long Pont Couvert (covered bridge). We also saw the University of Strasbourg, the largest university in France with alums like van Goethe and Louis Pasteur!
Finally, we made the long trek to the northeast corner of the city where the glass and metal structures home to important EU head offices are found. The Council of Europe building is a huge cylindrical structure with unusual long walls of hanging greenery inside, an amphitheater, and all the flags of the EU countries waving in the front. The European Court of Human Rights buildings looks like two angled cylinders and has seen many big cases come through its doors... Finally, the European Parliament building, where the administrative duties of the Council are carried out.
After our very early morning and late departure from Strasbourg, we were tired out and headed back on the TGV to complete my last weekend in Paris!
Took the TGV southeast to the "capital of Europe," where historical architecture meets the modernity of important EU buildings. We arrived quite early and the town was empty. We wound along streets with beautiful half-timbered houses overflowing with red flowers from the window boxes. The timber framing is made of a dark wood and contrasts the typically white plaster infill.
Although Strasbourg is currently French, it has changed hands many times and most of the people there speak both French and German. It was actually refreshing to hear the harsh German words after the smoothness and fluidity of French these past weeks.
We started the day with delicious pastries- one more French (pain au chocolat, can't go wrong) and the other more German (a wreath-shaped apple and cinnamon delight). We ate them by the river that encircles the city, which is basically one big island. Then, took a little walk through the multiple plazas where statues commemorate people like Gutenberg, who developed the first printing press when in Strasbourg.
The next stop was the huge old Strasbourg Cathedral!. Martin Luther's 95 Theses were put on display here at the start of the Reform Movement. It is made of unusual pink and brown stone. Construction began in 1015 and the Gothic architecture is apparent all the way up its tall, lone spire. The inside is dimmer and darker than some of the other light-flooded cathedrals I have seen in France, but has unusual stained glass that depicts biblical scenes on one side of the nave and important political people on the other. The rose window is beautiful, as is the unusual animated astronomical clock.
Next came a narrated boat tour (yes, I am secretly an 80 year-old woman on the inside) where we discovered the history of the town, which had some of the first Protestant churches in Europe. Got to ride through the canals with its system of locks and see how important the waterway was for shipping goods in between European countries.
Lunch was had at a cozy little restaurant with wooden carved chairs, checked curtains, and blue glazed pitchers. The meal was heavy, but delicious and very Alsatian...sausage, sauerkraut, potatoes, bread, and onion tarts. I'm still full.
The afternoon led us to the lovely Petit France with even more gorgeous half-timbered homes and the long Pont Couvert (covered bridge). We also saw the University of Strasbourg, the largest university in France with alums like van Goethe and Louis Pasteur!
Finally, we made the long trek to the northeast corner of the city where the glass and metal structures home to important EU head offices are found. The Council of Europe building is a huge cylindrical structure with unusual long walls of hanging greenery inside, an amphitheater, and all the flags of the EU countries waving in the front. The European Court of Human Rights buildings looks like two angled cylinders and has seen many big cases come through its doors... Finally, the European Parliament building, where the administrative duties of the Council are carried out.
After our very early morning and late departure from Strasbourg, we were tired out and headed back on the TGV to complete my last weekend in Paris!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Engineering of...vino!
The smell of fresh fruit, veg, cheese, and rustic bread greeted us as we stepped off the train from Paris to Beaune. In the heart of Burgundy wine country, Beaune is a beautiful, quaint place and their famous Saturday market sold us on the town immediately!
We gathered everything necessary for a delicious French picnic, including the regional cheeses (and gelatin ham?!). The locals were friendly and intrigued by our background in "biologie..." Our backpacks sagging under the weight of carbs and dairy, we explored the town for a while.
Finally, we made it to a bike rental shop and distributed our picnic weight evenly. Clear the roads, because off we went! Winding through the streets, we made it to a stone gateway off a quieter dirt and gravel road that opened onto the most gorgeous scenery: rolling hills covered in deep green vines sprouting young grapes sprawled over the landscape. They were dotted with small stone storage houses and farms or the occasional stone cross or road marker.
Not a cloud in the sky, we followed a long trail around the plots and passed three tiny villages that sprang up along the way. Our stomachs growling, we stopped at a winery to munch on our loot. Got to see underground wine caves from the 14th and 15th centuries! Lunch was accompanied by a tasting of three white wines, two reds, and one sparkling white. Don't know how much information we got out of the sampling, as we had to depend on my little French knowledge to translate for the connoisseur.
We followed the trails back around the fortified town and returned the velos (bikes). Was an absolutely lovely day and I will definitely be returning to the area!
Sunday we went to our market back home in Paris to pick up supplies for another picnic...in the gardens of the Versailles Palace! What an idyllic French setting! We laid blankets by a large pond with floating white swans and ate fresh fruit and home-made tarts. Took a stroll around the water and got some sun. Felt like Marie Antoinette should have been walking by at any moment...
Only two weeks left in this awesome place. Stayed tuned for another update on the trip I am taking for my last full weekend here!
We gathered everything necessary for a delicious French picnic, including the regional cheeses (and gelatin ham?!). The locals were friendly and intrigued by our background in "biologie..." Our backpacks sagging under the weight of carbs and dairy, we explored the town for a while.
Finally, we made it to a bike rental shop and distributed our picnic weight evenly. Clear the roads, because off we went! Winding through the streets, we made it to a stone gateway off a quieter dirt and gravel road that opened onto the most gorgeous scenery: rolling hills covered in deep green vines sprouting young grapes sprawled over the landscape. They were dotted with small stone storage houses and farms or the occasional stone cross or road marker.
Not a cloud in the sky, we followed a long trail around the plots and passed three tiny villages that sprang up along the way. Our stomachs growling, we stopped at a winery to munch on our loot. Got to see underground wine caves from the 14th and 15th centuries! Lunch was accompanied by a tasting of three white wines, two reds, and one sparkling white. Don't know how much information we got out of the sampling, as we had to depend on my little French knowledge to translate for the connoisseur.
We followed the trails back around the fortified town and returned the velos (bikes). Was an absolutely lovely day and I will definitely be returning to the area!
Sunday we went to our market back home in Paris to pick up supplies for another picnic...in the gardens of the Versailles Palace! What an idyllic French setting! We laid blankets by a large pond with floating white swans and ate fresh fruit and home-made tarts. Took a stroll around the water and got some sun. Felt like Marie Antoinette should have been walking by at any moment...
Only two weeks left in this awesome place. Stayed tuned for another update on the trip I am taking for my last full weekend here!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Engineering of...the impossible
Last weekend, I went on a little adventure of my own to Mont St. Michel in northern France. Talk about an engineering feat! It has been rebuilt 14 times atop a boulder in the middle of quicksand and water that cuts it off from the mainland when the tide comes in. It used to house about 60 monks, but now 5 live there along with the numerous pilgrims who visit each morning.
The monastery was absolutely magical. As we approached it by bus, driving through the countryside, the pointed steeple of the Mont crept above the horizon line-- a domineering shadow against the cloudy sky. We stopped for lunch at a place with a great view of the island and munched on the famous Mont St. Michel omelet-- an odd, light, frothy dish.
Finally, we made our way to the base of the rocky site and wound our way up and into the monastery. Despite the dark appearance from the outside and the cold gray stone walls, the rooms are actually filled with light. The windows are angled in such a way that from either end of a room, you cannot actually see the panes of glass, but they still let in the sunshine. The monastery was a place of learning for the monks who knew everything from agriculture to physics and acted as doctors to the nearby villagers.
The main chapel of the monastery exemplifies the mixture of architectural styles that was necessary during its multiple renovations. The entryway is in the Roman style with straight, striated columns, but the altar area is framed by high, thin Gothic windows. Very Harry Potter-esque, overall.
I explored the town for a bit, sampling the also-famous Mont St. Michel apple shortbread cookies and squeezing through their "main road," which is as wide as an average person's shoulders!
On Sunday, we fought our way to the Champs Elysees where the Tour de France ended. After waiting for nearly six hours, the bikers finally arrived! They did five quick loops up and down the road. And by quick, I mean BLAZING FAST! We could barely see them as they zoomed by-- I was looking for Lance, but decided my search was in vain and took a video to analyze later, instead. Europe definitely has different interests in sports than the U.S.-- rugby, biking, soccer... So, the Spanish dude won in the end (the country is doing well this year, no?) and Lance said goodbye to the Tour for the last time.
And, shockingly, I only have three more weeks until I say goodbye to Paris! We have packed a lot in so far and I am planning on getting the most of my remaining time here...
The monastery was absolutely magical. As we approached it by bus, driving through the countryside, the pointed steeple of the Mont crept above the horizon line-- a domineering shadow against the cloudy sky. We stopped for lunch at a place with a great view of the island and munched on the famous Mont St. Michel omelet-- an odd, light, frothy dish.
Finally, we made our way to the base of the rocky site and wound our way up and into the monastery. Despite the dark appearance from the outside and the cold gray stone walls, the rooms are actually filled with light. The windows are angled in such a way that from either end of a room, you cannot actually see the panes of glass, but they still let in the sunshine. The monastery was a place of learning for the monks who knew everything from agriculture to physics and acted as doctors to the nearby villagers.
The main chapel of the monastery exemplifies the mixture of architectural styles that was necessary during its multiple renovations. The entryway is in the Roman style with straight, striated columns, but the altar area is framed by high, thin Gothic windows. Very Harry Potter-esque, overall.
I explored the town for a bit, sampling the also-famous Mont St. Michel apple shortbread cookies and squeezing through their "main road," which is as wide as an average person's shoulders!
On Sunday, we fought our way to the Champs Elysees where the Tour de France ended. After waiting for nearly six hours, the bikers finally arrived! They did five quick loops up and down the road. And by quick, I mean BLAZING FAST! We could barely see them as they zoomed by-- I was looking for Lance, but decided my search was in vain and took a video to analyze later, instead. Europe definitely has different interests in sports than the U.S.-- rugby, biking, soccer... So, the Spanish dude won in the end (the country is doing well this year, no?) and Lance said goodbye to the Tour for the last time.
And, shockingly, I only have three more weeks until I say goodbye to Paris! We have packed a lot in so far and I am planning on getting the most of my remaining time here...
The Engineering of...mouthwatering
I feel I must dedicate this next entry to Parisian food. Last Friday, I had the greatest moment of gustatory glee ever! That being said, the information found here is strictly confidential and no restaurant names will be revealed for fear of leaking our favorite little secret to the general public...
The restaurant lies in a more industrial area surrounded by small residential buildings. The long wooden tables encourage sharing of food and talk and contribute to a very cozy, French vibe.
We chose the Chef's menu: a five-course dinner of pure, nonstop sensory delight! First were the entrees (=appetizers). We had a zucchini/eggplant/pepper hummus with rustic dark bread that had a little bite to it. There were plates of thinly sliced ham topped with avocado puree, juicy whole shrimp, and beets with octopus! My favorite, though, was a palette-cleansing melon soup in a gorgeous shade of chilled-honeydew orange. This really could have been plenty of food for the entire meal, but it did not stop there...
Next, was a slice of white fish, slightly crisp on the outside with a wonderful, warm, chunky pepper and tomato sauce. This was followed by a bowl of lentils and pork (which we later found out was tongue...glad I did not know that in advance!). Next, a planche (board) of dry cheese and sweet, dark red cherry jam from the Pyrenees. Finally, a light, just-right slice of fruit tart.
It was tasty from start to finish and shared with fun friends-- a good night, to be sure!
The restaurant lies in a more industrial area surrounded by small residential buildings. The long wooden tables encourage sharing of food and talk and contribute to a very cozy, French vibe.
We chose the Chef's menu: a five-course dinner of pure, nonstop sensory delight! First were the entrees (=appetizers). We had a zucchini/eggplant/pepper hummus with rustic dark bread that had a little bite to it. There were plates of thinly sliced ham topped with avocado puree, juicy whole shrimp, and beets with octopus! My favorite, though, was a palette-cleansing melon soup in a gorgeous shade of chilled-honeydew orange. This really could have been plenty of food for the entire meal, but it did not stop there...
Next, was a slice of white fish, slightly crisp on the outside with a wonderful, warm, chunky pepper and tomato sauce. This was followed by a bowl of lentils and pork (which we later found out was tongue...glad I did not know that in advance!). Next, a planche (board) of dry cheese and sweet, dark red cherry jam from the Pyrenees. Finally, a light, just-right slice of fruit tart.
It was tasty from start to finish and shared with fun friends-- a good night, to be sure!
The Engineering of...reunions!
I had a lovely visit from two of my friends from high school who are interning in London for the summer. We crammed into my little Parisian apartment for the night, but spent most of the day out seeing the sights!
During a late-night picnic on one of the wooden bridges that spans the Seine, we caught a glimpse of the twinkling Eiffel Tower and waved to the river boats. The next morning, we made our way to an area I had not yet explored-- Montmarte. Very artsy, very trendy, and very hilly! The Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) Basilica sits atop Montmarte. It is a huge white stone church in an architectural style very different from the rest of the city. The view is fantastic from the top!
Montmarte is actually the most expensive place in Paris, yet as you work your way down the hill, you approach the base where it is the least expensive place in Paris! And we saw why. Although, I must say, the shopping deals are good there, the "red light" is a little distracting...catch my drift? But, we really wanted to see the outside of the Moulin Rouge (where I was tempted to cover the eyes of the touring children!). We also grabbed a bite at the cafe where part of Amelie was filmed-- in art deco style with a pink bar and geometric sconces.
Next we hit the Musee d'Orsay-- I was happy to go back again because it is one of my favorites and I saw new things in the paintings that I had missed before!
After a little evening gelato and a post-gossiping sleep, we went to the Notre Dame the next day. It is the second time I have been there, but, much like the Eiffel Tower, it always amazes me! Mass was also going on and it felt like we were traveling back in time.
Our final stop of the grand tour was the Musee de l'Orangerie. Was not sure what to expect here, but was pleasantly surprised! Situated at the corner of the Tuileries Gardens, the Musee is flooded with light. The main galleries are all round with a large occulus in the middle of the ceiling. Monet's water lily paintings wrap around the rooms. The big rule at the museum is "silence!" In the quiet and the sun, you feel like you are in the gardens with Mr. Monet! Although the subject matter is the same, each piece looks different from the next.
During a late-night picnic on one of the wooden bridges that spans the Seine, we caught a glimpse of the twinkling Eiffel Tower and waved to the river boats. The next morning, we made our way to an area I had not yet explored-- Montmarte. Very artsy, very trendy, and very hilly! The Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) Basilica sits atop Montmarte. It is a huge white stone church in an architectural style very different from the rest of the city. The view is fantastic from the top!
Montmarte is actually the most expensive place in Paris, yet as you work your way down the hill, you approach the base where it is the least expensive place in Paris! And we saw why. Although, I must say, the shopping deals are good there, the "red light" is a little distracting...catch my drift? But, we really wanted to see the outside of the Moulin Rouge (where I was tempted to cover the eyes of the touring children!). We also grabbed a bite at the cafe where part of Amelie was filmed-- in art deco style with a pink bar and geometric sconces.
Next we hit the Musee d'Orsay-- I was happy to go back again because it is one of my favorites and I saw new things in the paintings that I had missed before!
After a little evening gelato and a post-gossiping sleep, we went to the Notre Dame the next day. It is the second time I have been there, but, much like the Eiffel Tower, it always amazes me! Mass was also going on and it felt like we were traveling back in time.
Our final stop of the grand tour was the Musee de l'Orangerie. Was not sure what to expect here, but was pleasantly surprised! Situated at the corner of the Tuileries Gardens, the Musee is flooded with light. The main galleries are all round with a large occulus in the middle of the ceiling. Monet's water lily paintings wrap around the rooms. The big rule at the museum is "silence!" In the quiet and the sun, you feel like you are in the gardens with Mr. Monet! Although the subject matter is the same, each piece looks different from the next.
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Engineering of...the "big bang"
After many "congratulations" received on the 4th of July, it is my turn to say "right back at you, France." Bastille Day, celebrated on the 14th of July, was a wet and wild day!
Went to the famous Bastille Day Parade on the Champs Elysees, which ends at the Arc de Triomphe with a speech from Sarkozy himself. It is a military parade and troops from African and Arab units marched along with the French units. Each group sang a different marching song, carried their flag, and sported dashing uniforms. The finale was a barrage of military tanks and vehicles zooming down the road under formations of jets, helicopters, and planes shooting out red, white, and blue smoke in the shape of the French flag.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature must not have been a fan because it poured upon the nearly one million visitors and we got super-soaked! But, in the end it was worth seeing.
After drying off and picking up some picnic supplies, we trekked to the Eiffel Tower and parked ourselves in between the Tower and the Trocadero by the Seine. It was a fantastic show! Every moment was like a finale! I saw fireworks I had never seen before. Like, how do you make one look like a heart, or gold?! The lights and smoke turned the dark night into day again! And it looked even better after a little baguette and cheese...
Went to the famous Bastille Day Parade on the Champs Elysees, which ends at the Arc de Triomphe with a speech from Sarkozy himself. It is a military parade and troops from African and Arab units marched along with the French units. Each group sang a different marching song, carried their flag, and sported dashing uniforms. The finale was a barrage of military tanks and vehicles zooming down the road under formations of jets, helicopters, and planes shooting out red, white, and blue smoke in the shape of the French flag.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature must not have been a fan because it poured upon the nearly one million visitors and we got super-soaked! But, in the end it was worth seeing.
After drying off and picking up some picnic supplies, we trekked to the Eiffel Tower and parked ourselves in between the Tower and the Trocadero by the Seine. It was a fantastic show! Every moment was like a finale! I saw fireworks I had never seen before. Like, how do you make one look like a heart, or gold?! The lights and smoke turned the dark night into day again! And it looked even better after a little baguette and cheese...
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Engineering of...engineering!
Here is a little entry on what I am working on in the lab:
Certain cells, like those found in fireflies and some jellyfish, have the ability to produce light via a chemical reaction. When their substrate is present, the enzyme released by the cells undergoes an oxidative reaction that releases photons. This is called bioluminescence!
Here is a picture that I obtained of some of these cells:
And here they are producing light:
The cool thing is that no excitation light is required to make them do this, which means there is less risk of phototoxicity.
Imagine you have a bacterial infection. The bacteria have markers on their surface that can activate the light-producing reaction when they bind to a matching enzyme. When the right equipment is used (which I am also developing), we can detect this light to pinpoint exactly where and how severe the infection is.
The biggest problem is that your body is filled with blood, water, and tissues that like to absorb or scatter light of certain wavelengths. So, I am looking at the feasibility of using light from bioluminescence to excite other nearby particles. These "fluorophores" will collect light of many different wavelengths from the cells and emit light of a very narrow range of wavelengths that are more easily passed through the body and into our external detector/camera.
Certain cells, like those found in fireflies and some jellyfish, have the ability to produce light via a chemical reaction. When their substrate is present, the enzyme released by the cells undergoes an oxidative reaction that releases photons. This is called bioluminescence!
Here is a picture that I obtained of some of these cells:
And here they are producing light:
The cool thing is that no excitation light is required to make them do this, which means there is less risk of phototoxicity.
Imagine you have a bacterial infection. The bacteria have markers on their surface that can activate the light-producing reaction when they bind to a matching enzyme. When the right equipment is used (which I am also developing), we can detect this light to pinpoint exactly where and how severe the infection is.
The biggest problem is that your body is filled with blood, water, and tissues that like to absorb or scatter light of certain wavelengths. So, I am looking at the feasibility of using light from bioluminescence to excite other nearby particles. These "fluorophores" will collect light of many different wavelengths from the cells and emit light of a very narrow range of wavelengths that are more easily passed through the body and into our external detector/camera.
The Engineering of...war
One of the most moving trips I have taken was to the Normandy D-Day Beaches last weekend. After arriving in Bayeux by train (I learned a lot about the tribulations of rail transportation that day...), I hopped onto a little shuttle with our guide and some other families.
The first stop was Pointe du Hoc. It remains in nearly the same condition as it appeared during WWII-- huge craters from bombs make the ground ungulate for miles. I climbed around old barbed wire into a German bunker and looked over the cliff which the Germans would have seen the Americans scaling.
Next was Omaha Beach. It is actually quite gorgeous, but was a tough attack point for the Americans. The current swept the soldiers away from their desired region, landing them in unfamiliar territory against the Germans who were in a much better defensive position in the hills.
The American Cemetery was my favorite stop. It was pristine and gorgeous, overlooking the ocean. Families from Normandy adopt a soldier's gravesite and generation after generation will continue to visit that spot, bringing flowers to honor him/her. A cool tradition for visiting relatives of a passed soldier is to rub sand from the beaches of Normandy into the engraved headstone to make it seem like gold. The cemetery also has a great new museum with cool films.
Finally, Longues-sur-mer Battery with its four guns still preserved and pointing towards the beach.
Is war more frightening with the greater knowledge we have today, leading to dangerous new mechanical and chemical weapons? Or was it scarier then, when without a GPS you didn't even know where you were landing and ran blindly into the enemy? Of course, war is always horrible-- I heard a fitting quote in Normandy: "We must conquer war, or war will conquer us..."
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Engineering of...food, fame, and fun
Much to update…
Last weekend ended in Bruges, Belgium—land of the old Flemish painters and canals, used for washing lace and textiles. It was a beautiful town with little buildings and boats, a big market square, and a gorgeous, dark, old cathedral. We took a boat tour then stopped for oh-so-delicious waffles and whipped cream. To get our full servings of sweets and sugar, we went around the city sampling chocolates to find our favorite. Hopefully we walked it off. Bus ride was not too long and pretty convenient.
Earlier this week, went to the Pasteur Foundation breakfast with all of the American post-doc fellows and the other undergraduate students. Good to be a part of such a diverse, young scientific group. The director of the Institute was there, making it a good venue to discuss many practical issues.
I am finding some very wild clinical applications for my bioluminescence project that really keep things interesting—non-invasive angioplasty where your blood lights up all throughout your body? ! Cool. Working on the technical development side of things is really different for me, but neat to build something from the very bottom to the top. After compiling and organizing some of my data, it was sent off directly to a grant committee for a funding request to further our project. One of the grants (the largest) was accepted, making us very happy!
Attention: Royalty in the lab! On Monday, (newly engaged) Prince Albert of Monaco came into our lab to tour it before handing out some major cash to the Institute. I was locked away in my office for security reasons…but got a paparrazi video from the window! He was very nice, gave everyone a handshake/pat and chatted with them. Grace Kelly would be proud.
Have been sippin' on lots of "Cola Lite" (in glass bottles, so much better) and watching soccer games at night. It is exciting that the World Cup is happening this summer, but I will be a little glad when the madness is over! Then we get the Tour de France…
I spent this weekend in Paris—will probably be traveling for most of the rest. First stop was Victor Hugo's house. I was happy that admission was free because while the neighborhood was cool, nearly nothing in the house is original. Also, all the info signs were written entirely in French. I am still not quite sure why Louis Napoleon Bonaparte exiled him...thank you Wikipedia for filling me in.
I explored the neighborhood around the museum for a while because there were some funky clothes out now that the soldes (sales) have started. Then, old Victor followed me to my next stop…
…the Musee Rodin. Hugo modeled for Rodin a couple of times. The gardens at the Musee are gorgeous, despite the showers we had yesterday. Also, always nice to get reduced admission for being a youngin'! Rodin has never been one of my favorites, but it was really cool to see his sculptures outside with the Eiffel Tower and Hotel des Invalides in the background. The Thinker was a big hit, with everyone mimicking his pose for a photo-op.
Today was Free Museum Sunday! I dared to venture to the Louvre, and it was not so terribly crowded. Saw some more things that I missed when there last summer. Of course, had to see my pals Mona and Venus again and met the Code of Hammurabi for the first time. Pulled the foreign tourist card, holding the camera out at arm's length, to get shots of me with my favorite paintings…
Picnicked at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont today to celebrate the 4th of July! All of these French people kept telling me "Congratulations!" haha.
I booked a seat at a chamber music orchestral concert at the Opera House for this evening. It was one of the last shows before the Opera closes for the summer and I had to get a peek at that gorgeous building! I partially chose this event because it was at the older, not the modern, Opera Garnier.
Rock on, America! Ciao ciao.
Last weekend ended in Bruges, Belgium—land of the old Flemish painters and canals, used for washing lace and textiles. It was a beautiful town with little buildings and boats, a big market square, and a gorgeous, dark, old cathedral. We took a boat tour then stopped for oh-so-delicious waffles and whipped cream. To get our full servings of sweets and sugar, we went around the city sampling chocolates to find our favorite. Hopefully we walked it off. Bus ride was not too long and pretty convenient.
Earlier this week, went to the Pasteur Foundation breakfast with all of the American post-doc fellows and the other undergraduate students. Good to be a part of such a diverse, young scientific group. The director of the Institute was there, making it a good venue to discuss many practical issues.
I am finding some very wild clinical applications for my bioluminescence project that really keep things interesting—non-invasive angioplasty where your blood lights up all throughout your body? ! Cool. Working on the technical development side of things is really different for me, but neat to build something from the very bottom to the top. After compiling and organizing some of my data, it was sent off directly to a grant committee for a funding request to further our project. One of the grants (the largest) was accepted, making us very happy!
Attention: Royalty in the lab! On Monday, (newly engaged) Prince Albert of Monaco came into our lab to tour it before handing out some major cash to the Institute. I was locked away in my office for security reasons…but got a paparrazi video from the window! He was very nice, gave everyone a handshake/pat and chatted with them. Grace Kelly would be proud.
Have been sippin' on lots of "Cola Lite" (in glass bottles, so much better) and watching soccer games at night. It is exciting that the World Cup is happening this summer, but I will be a little glad when the madness is over! Then we get the Tour de France…
I spent this weekend in Paris—will probably be traveling for most of the rest. First stop was Victor Hugo's house. I was happy that admission was free because while the neighborhood was cool, nearly nothing in the house is original. Also, all the info signs were written entirely in French. I am still not quite sure why Louis Napoleon Bonaparte exiled him...thank you Wikipedia for filling me in.
I explored the neighborhood around the museum for a while because there were some funky clothes out now that the soldes (sales) have started. Then, old Victor followed me to my next stop…
…the Musee Rodin. Hugo modeled for Rodin a couple of times. The gardens at the Musee are gorgeous, despite the showers we had yesterday. Also, always nice to get reduced admission for being a youngin'! Rodin has never been one of my favorites, but it was really cool to see his sculptures outside with the Eiffel Tower and Hotel des Invalides in the background. The Thinker was a big hit, with everyone mimicking his pose for a photo-op.
Today was Free Museum Sunday! I dared to venture to the Louvre, and it was not so terribly crowded. Saw some more things that I missed when there last summer. Of course, had to see my pals Mona and Venus again and met the Code of Hammurabi for the first time. Pulled the foreign tourist card, holding the camera out at arm's length, to get shots of me with my favorite paintings…
Picnicked at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont today to celebrate the 4th of July! All of these French people kept telling me "Congratulations!" haha.
I booked a seat at a chamber music orchestral concert at the Opera House for this evening. It was one of the last shows before the Opera closes for the summer and I had to get a peek at that gorgeous building! I partially chose this event because it was at the older, not the modern, Opera Garnier.
Rock on, America! Ciao ciao.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Engineering of...the contemporary within the historical
Was a bit under the weather this week, but had to do a presentation of my data to our PI and learn how to use a new microscopy system. The lab has been busy because we have a special visitor coming on Monday… Prince Albert of Monaco! How cool is that?! Think he will autograph my lab coat? Apparently he is giving away some cash and will be touring some of the bigger laboratories on the campus to see what we do.
World Cup hype is stronger than ever. Went to watch the Germany versus Ghana match on a big screen set up at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Quite fittingly, the Tower lights started flickering at the conclusion. Has been nice walking all around the city- each arondissement feels a little different from the next.
French technology has not been treating me well this week. First, because my Internet connection is via the work network, they have been blocking a lot of websites. So, if you tried to contact me through Facebook, I haven't seen it! Please just email! Merci! French TV is also a bit strange. The frequency/frame rate is 50 Hz, but the human eye can detect frequencies as fast as about 65 Hz, so the screen looks like it is flickering!
The weekend has been fun so far…Went to the Centre Pompidou today, a fantastic modern art museum. It is filled with Picasso and Matisse and Kandinsky! My favorites had to be the kinetic art. The outside of the building is seven floors of steel and glass. Its bright pipes are color-coded according to their contents and an escalator climbs up the side. Had a cool exhibit about Coney Island's "Dreamland" and, my personal favorite, the Guerilla Girls! They dress up in gorilla costumes and go out to fight against gender discrimination in the art world (ex. Did you know… "Less than 5% of the artists in the Metropolitan Museum of Art are women, but 85% of the nudes are female"?)
This weekend we are breaking out of the country and heading to Brugges, Belgium: land of the Flemmish master painters. Woohoo! Can't wait to get me some chocolate!
A la prochaine-
World Cup hype is stronger than ever. Went to watch the Germany versus Ghana match on a big screen set up at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Quite fittingly, the Tower lights started flickering at the conclusion. Has been nice walking all around the city- each arondissement feels a little different from the next.
French technology has not been treating me well this week. First, because my Internet connection is via the work network, they have been blocking a lot of websites. So, if you tried to contact me through Facebook, I haven't seen it! Please just email! Merci! French TV is also a bit strange. The frequency/frame rate is 50 Hz, but the human eye can detect frequencies as fast as about 65 Hz, so the screen looks like it is flickering!
The weekend has been fun so far…Went to the Centre Pompidou today, a fantastic modern art museum. It is filled with Picasso and Matisse and Kandinsky! My favorites had to be the kinetic art. The outside of the building is seven floors of steel and glass. Its bright pipes are color-coded according to their contents and an escalator climbs up the side. Had a cool exhibit about Coney Island's "Dreamland" and, my personal favorite, the Guerilla Girls! They dress up in gorilla costumes and go out to fight against gender discrimination in the art world (ex. Did you know… "Less than 5% of the artists in the Metropolitan Museum of Art are women, but 85% of the nudes are female"?)
This weekend we are breaking out of the country and heading to Brugges, Belgium: land of the Flemmish master painters. Woohoo! Can't wait to get me some chocolate!
A la prochaine-
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Engineering of...getting my tourist on
Bon soir! Coming to you again from Paris with much to tell!
Now that more American interns are here, we have been trying to fit in lots of visits and activities every day. Started the week with a stroll along the entire length of the Champs Elysees one evening, including the oh-so-fabulous fashion district: a street lined with the likes of Chanel, Dior, Prada… They have guards that stand at attention outside the stores all night, also looking dapper!
Ended the week with a visit to the Pasteur Museum, right next to my laboratory building. Pasteur used to live there and almost all of the original furniture is still as it was in the 1800's. It is interesting that Pasteur actually didn't start as a biologist, but rather was requested by some important higher-ups to apply his chemistry knowledge to problems plaguing the animals/plants of the region. The museum even has three glass containers with fluid still sterile from the late 1800's when Pasteur made them! Also didn't know that Pasteur was such an amazing artist, great with pastel portraiture.
Poor Pasteur was kind of a sad dude, losing all but two of his children to disease and later suffering from paralyzing illness, himself. His crypt is located underneath the house; he is one of the only famous Frenchmen not to be buried in the Paris Pantheon. After the guide opens up this creaking iron gate, you enter this crazy room covered in glittering gold mosaic tiles depicting scenes important to Pasteur's work (the silkworms, rabid dogs, hens, grape vines...). In a morbid way, it was…gorgeous! The man himself lies there under the angels of Charity, Faith, Hope, and Science ("the mother, daughter, and sister of the other three"). And nearby is his wife, under the inscription: "dedicated supporter of Pasteur's work and life." Gee, thanks for the credit.
After the historical rendezvous, I left to more modern pursuits. Watched the UK versus Algeria World Cup soccer match at an "English" pub nearby the Parisian Pantheon. What a crowd!
This weekend was quite packed with sightseeing. Saturday was "Death Day." Started with the Catacombs. Such an interesting place...six million people's bones buried underground in these massive piles. Used to be an old mining quarry, so ceiling and walls were drippy stone. The bones weren't even stabilized-- we could pick up and touch them. Sign upon entering reads in French "Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead." Spooky! We went far underground and walked beneath the Parisian streets all around these niches filled with bones. Crazy that the last person put there was in 1920! (Mostly, though, in the mid 1800s after complaints of disease from the cemeteries above ground.)
Next, went to Pere Lachaise Cemetery. A wild old place with hundreds of mausoleums sitting above ground made of stone and iron. Most from the 1700s to the 1800s, but many later, too. Lots of famous people are buried there-- I saw Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Chopin's graves!
Then, off to the Hotel des Invalides. It is huge and filled with military history and artifacts from the ancient to the modern times, with a big focus on Medieval armory and WWI-II. Napoleon's tomb is there; his body was brought back from exile to be placed inside this huge (disproportionate to his size) sarcophagus, six layers thick! Surrounding, on the walls, are Grecian scenes all with Mr. Napoleon as the star! Very opulent place.
Ended the day with delicioso crepes, first with jambon and fromage and next with home-made toffee! A definite offset to the goriness of the day!
Today was only in the 50's, and after yesterday I thought "Church Day" would be a fitting follow-up, so I took the metro to Sainte-Chapelle. It was built in traditional High-Gothic style and is known for its fifteen massive stained glass windows—over 70% are original. The Chapel used to house very precious (pricey, for Louis IX) relics of Christ.
Next, I found the Crypte Archéologique du Parvis Notre-Dame. It encloses the excavation site of the foundations of Roman buildings located beneath Notre Dame square—an ancient city within an old city!
Planning more weekend trips and will be sure to update…Ciao ciao!
Now that more American interns are here, we have been trying to fit in lots of visits and activities every day. Started the week with a stroll along the entire length of the Champs Elysees one evening, including the oh-so-fabulous fashion district: a street lined with the likes of Chanel, Dior, Prada… They have guards that stand at attention outside the stores all night, also looking dapper!
Ended the week with a visit to the Pasteur Museum, right next to my laboratory building. Pasteur used to live there and almost all of the original furniture is still as it was in the 1800's. It is interesting that Pasteur actually didn't start as a biologist, but rather was requested by some important higher-ups to apply his chemistry knowledge to problems plaguing the animals/plants of the region. The museum even has three glass containers with fluid still sterile from the late 1800's when Pasteur made them! Also didn't know that Pasteur was such an amazing artist, great with pastel portraiture.
Poor Pasteur was kind of a sad dude, losing all but two of his children to disease and later suffering from paralyzing illness, himself. His crypt is located underneath the house; he is one of the only famous Frenchmen not to be buried in the Paris Pantheon. After the guide opens up this creaking iron gate, you enter this crazy room covered in glittering gold mosaic tiles depicting scenes important to Pasteur's work (the silkworms, rabid dogs, hens, grape vines...). In a morbid way, it was…gorgeous! The man himself lies there under the angels of Charity, Faith, Hope, and Science ("the mother, daughter, and sister of the other three"). And nearby is his wife, under the inscription: "dedicated supporter of Pasteur's work and life." Gee, thanks for the credit.
After the historical rendezvous, I left to more modern pursuits. Watched the UK versus Algeria World Cup soccer match at an "English" pub nearby the Parisian Pantheon. What a crowd!
This weekend was quite packed with sightseeing. Saturday was "Death Day." Started with the Catacombs. Such an interesting place...six million people's bones buried underground in these massive piles. Used to be an old mining quarry, so ceiling and walls were drippy stone. The bones weren't even stabilized-- we could pick up and touch them. Sign upon entering reads in French "Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead." Spooky! We went far underground and walked beneath the Parisian streets all around these niches filled with bones. Crazy that the last person put there was in 1920! (Mostly, though, in the mid 1800s after complaints of disease from the cemeteries above ground.)
Next, went to Pere Lachaise Cemetery. A wild old place with hundreds of mausoleums sitting above ground made of stone and iron. Most from the 1700s to the 1800s, but many later, too. Lots of famous people are buried there-- I saw Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Chopin's graves!
Then, off to the Hotel des Invalides. It is huge and filled with military history and artifacts from the ancient to the modern times, with a big focus on Medieval armory and WWI-II. Napoleon's tomb is there; his body was brought back from exile to be placed inside this huge (disproportionate to his size) sarcophagus, six layers thick! Surrounding, on the walls, are Grecian scenes all with Mr. Napoleon as the star! Very opulent place.
Ended the day with delicioso crepes, first with jambon and fromage and next with home-made toffee! A definite offset to the goriness of the day!
Today was only in the 50's, and after yesterday I thought "Church Day" would be a fitting follow-up, so I took the metro to Sainte-Chapelle. It was built in traditional High-Gothic style and is known for its fifteen massive stained glass windows—over 70% are original. The Chapel used to house very precious (pricey, for Louis IX) relics of Christ.
Next, I found the Crypte Archéologique du Parvis Notre-Dame. It encloses the excavation site of the foundations of Roman buildings located beneath Notre Dame square—an ancient city within an old city!
Planning more weekend trips and will be sure to update…Ciao ciao!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Engineering of...getting personal
I heard something kind of cool today: Biomedical researchers may often view science from the third person-- it, them, he, she -- which makes it impersonal. We need to start thinking in the first person -- I, we -- so that we can better sense the impact of our work within the greater community of humanity that we are all a part of! Yes, even those cells you are poking may have feelings, too...
Why should the world care about our project? Well, we are creating a better tool to diagnose infection, especially bacterial. Typically, instruments that utilize light are hindered by the scattering and absorptive environment of the body. The techniques we are testing aim to actually use this environment to our advantage.
Attended another conference this morning aiming to further enhance the unity of the research community by creating a multi-user database for image acquisition, analysis, modification, and distribution called OME: Open Microscopy Environment. I found applications outside the realm of the petri dish and think I will encourage my future medical colleagues to use the database for storage of patients' medical images and sharing amongst specialists.
Why should the world care about our project? Well, we are creating a better tool to diagnose infection, especially bacterial. Typically, instruments that utilize light are hindered by the scattering and absorptive environment of the body. The techniques we are testing aim to actually use this environment to our advantage.
Attended another conference this morning aiming to further enhance the unity of the research community by creating a multi-user database for image acquisition, analysis, modification, and distribution called OME: Open Microscopy Environment. I found applications outside the realm of the petri dish and think I will encourage my future medical colleagues to use the database for storage of patients' medical images and sharing amongst specialists.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The Engineering of...a masterpiece
The man himself...on canvas. A visit to the Musee d'Orsay today along the Seine brought me to the famous portrait of Louis Pasteur. The Musee focuses on artwork primarily from the late 1800s, but the building itself is quite gorgeous- built for the Universal Exhibition in the early 1900s in an old train station. During this period of artwork, artists were getting away from the "science" of art...there was more imagination, dream-like utopian images and creative techniques. Pastels became a popular medium (meant for the "delicate features in the portraiture of girls, not aged subjects"). The van Gogh, Cezanne, and Degas pieces totally stopped me in my tracks.
The science of artistic preservation is another challenging field. Pastels, especially, can be sprayed and stick better to a rougher texture. But, they sadly still flake away and age over time. Olay needs to get on that.
Learned how to navigate the metro yesterday and am now all about it. Super quick, reliable, and cheap. Also feeling the hype of the World Cup. Those tied finishes are just so unsatisfying... Ciao ciao!
The science of artistic preservation is another challenging field. Pastels, especially, can be sprayed and stick better to a rougher texture. But, they sadly still flake away and age over time. Olay needs to get on that.
Learned how to navigate the metro yesterday and am now all about it. Super quick, reliable, and cheap. Also feeling the hype of the World Cup. Those tied finishes are just so unsatisfying... Ciao ciao!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Engineering of...Doing Conferences Right
As I write, I am eating the best science experiment ever: the Parisian baguette. Je t'aime! Everyone picks one up after work; I get off so late it was down to the last one in the Patisserie, but I snatched that baby up, merci beaucoup.
Today I went to the international "Young Researchers in the Life Sciences" conference sponsored by my Institute and the Curie Institute. Met a couple other American attendees there and will be going to the "American lunch" on Friday. At 10 a.m. they had a wine and cheese break and tonight they have a rock band playing. Only the French!
Got some good bioluminescence images of cells today- just me and my black box. Spent part of the day designing experiments I'll do to fulfill the patent we just got.
Watching the French equivalent of American Idol ("Nouvelle Star"). They pretty much sing all American/English songs, but their accents are really distracting ("You got mee zo ay can't zleep aaht night!").
Drizzly today, but hit the pavement after work to check out the Rue LeCourbe. It is the longest straight, continuous stretch of road in France! Loving all of the little cars; can I take a Mini home with me please?
Today I went to the international "Young Researchers in the Life Sciences" conference sponsored by my Institute and the Curie Institute. Met a couple other American attendees there and will be going to the "American lunch" on Friday. At 10 a.m. they had a wine and cheese break and tonight they have a rock band playing. Only the French!
Got some good bioluminescence images of cells today- just me and my black box. Spent part of the day designing experiments I'll do to fulfill the patent we just got.
Watching the French equivalent of American Idol ("Nouvelle Star"). They pretty much sing all American/English songs, but their accents are really distracting ("You got mee zo ay can't zleep aaht night!").
Drizzly today, but hit the pavement after work to check out the Rue LeCourbe. It is the longest straight, continuous stretch of road in France! Loving all of the little cars; can I take a Mini home with me please?
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Engineering of...living like the French.
Whew! What a whirlwind weekend!
Arrived in Paris Friday and took the metro into the city. Decided to walk off the jetlag by trekking to the Eiffel Tower and the Luxembourg Gardens.
Just worked a ten hour work day, despite the typical 35 hour/week schedule. Have some great mentors from England and France. Tuning my ear to the language is becoming easier. Love how they pronounce my name like "Shelsee Samso."
The lifestyle is truly more relaxed. The work day doesn't start until 9:30, lunch is over an hour long, and people (really) stop and smell the roses. Want to look like a French person? Walk slowly and carry a reusable shopping bag. The lab doesn't look like your typical lab- there are gardens surrounding the stone buildings and a museum dedicated to Louis Pasteur. Life is mostly outside, walking or biking from place to place, eating on the patios. The pigeons and dogs run the streets. My quarters are pretty tiny, including my Jetson's/airplane-style capsule bathroom, so I don't blame 'em for wanting some fresh air. Especially since it is light out until 10:30.
Learning lots of new techniques and how to use some cutting-edge bioluminescence equipment...and it's only the premier jour!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Engineering of...l'avion
It's D-Day! Bags are packed (teetering on the 23 kilogram limit). A "cornucopia," dare I say, of maps stowed away for this directionally-challenged traveler. Got my aisle seat reserved and got my jumpin' jacks out of the way in preparation for a long sit. Upon arrival, meeting a postdoc from my lab to take the train into Paris. Bon voyage!
Monday, May 17, 2010
The Engineering of...the Suitcase
Engineering student Chelsea here, preparing for her overseas adventure! Just finished a semester of biostatistics, so let's talk probability: How many people on my flight to the City of Light will have a packing list that looks like mine?-- Latest edition of the "Journal of Biomedical Optics"? Check. A pair of vented goggles? Check. Ready for takeoff! Warning: As blog is being written at the request of the Engineering School, future postings may contain science-y info on my summer work in the lab at the Louis Pasteur Institute. But don't fret! Pics and more right-brained-geared topics will find their way in. Thanks for reading; ciao until take-off!
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