Search results matching tag 'BSI'

A Bittersweet End to my Summer at BU

SarahG — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:04:00 GMT

Yesterday marked the beginning of the ninth and final week of the Butler Summer Institute. However, instead of research and data analysis, this week is full of final presentations given by all 27 BSI participants. It's been really cool to hear about the hard work everyone put in this summer, especially since I don't usually see much research outside the realm of psychology. I gave my final presentation today, and although I was really nervous beforehand, the audience seemed to enjoy my talk and find my work very interesting. So now I'm done with my study for the summer, but I'll be ready to continue research at the start of the school year. The rest of this week I'll spend attending presentations given by my BSI peers, and also enjoying the closing dinner we have on Thursday night at Shanghai Lil. Once the weekend rolls around, it'll be time to pack up and head back home to NP for the rest of the summer!

Summer get-together: lab style!

SarahG — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:41:00 GMT

If you've read some of my previous blogs, you probably already know that I'm a member of Dr. Bohannon's psychology research lab. I've written about various conferences in different cities and all of the fun stuff we get to do as a result of our hard work. Well, not only do we meet up for travel and such, but we also have group meetings right here in Indy. Dr. Bohannon's house is only a couple of minutes away from campus, and he often invites us over to discuss research over meals. (Yes, he cooks for us!)

Yesterday afternoon us "labies" who are living at or near Butler this summer got together at Dr. Bohannon's for a grill-out. While he made us burgers, potatoes, and corn we discussed progress since APS and new directions in research. Some of the members are developing new studies for the Fall, and are trying to prepare everything over break. I got to tell everyone about how my study is going so far and share the preliminary results I've already found in my data set. One of the things I like most about being in Bohannon's lab is that although we each get to run our own studies and work as first authors, we still have the support and help of the rest of the lab. We run ideas across each other and offer advice when necessary. It's the best of both worlds really - you get the firsthand experience without being left entirely on your own. Of course, it also looks awesome on grad school apps!

As for my BSI study this summer, it is going very well! It's hard to believe I'm already in week seven though... only two real weeks left of research before presentations have to be made. This week is the last week I'm collecting data, and next week I'll have to score all of the protocols, enter data, and analyze it to look for significant results. It's been a lot of work this summer, but completely worth it! I'll have a head start on collecting data in the fall, so that I'll be able to jump right back in during the first week of school. It's a good thing too... I have a feeling we'll all be back on campus for the fall semester before we know it!

Summer slipping on by...

SarahG — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:24:00 GMT

Having been back at BU for 3 weeks, I'm starting to get settled in to my daily schedule. When I'm running my study, I start the day around 7AM, test participants at 8AM, meet with my professor at 10AM, and get back to my apartment in time for lunch. I usually spend my afternoons reading previous studies and research, searching for new studies and research, preparing for the next day's experimental session, and recruiting new participants. Luckily, having my research as my "job" allows me to be flexible with planning. I try to get done with everything around 5 so I have time to work-out, make dinner, and spend the rest of the evening just relaxing and hanging out. The other night I got to watch a movie with a few of my sisters who had just moved back to Butler for the summer. It was fun because I hadn't seen them since the end of the school year, so of course we stayed up chatting all night... which in turn made it not-as-easy to wake up at 7AM the next morning haha.

It's crazy to think that BSI is already 1/3 of the way over. In 6 weeks I'll be moving back to New Pal for about a month before the fall term begins. This summer is seeming to go a LOT faster than last summer, probably because I'm back on campus and keeping myself busy. I'm already making plans for the rest of the summer as well. In July I'll be heading to Cedar Point with some of my sisters for a weekend trip, and in August I'm going to Minneapolis to visit my cousin Laurie! I'm also turning 21 in mid-August, so that will be a lot of fun! Summer will be over before I know it... but I'm okay with that. Not only is fall my favorite season, but I love coming back to school for welcome week to see everyone again!

Acrophobia: Fear of heights

SarahG — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Although calling myself an acrophobic would be somewhat of a stretch, heights aren't exactly my favorite thing in the world. I do love roller coasters, but the speed paired with the security of the cart keeps my worries at bay. High standstills, such as a "drop zone" or "power tower", are what really freak me out, and I've sworn never to ride in a hot air balloon. (Soaring that high in a tiny little basket that comes up to my waist? No, thank you!) Today I got the chance to face my acute acrophobia head-on by participating in the high ropes course at Butler. It was one of the planned activities for BSI members that are scheduled throughout the program.

The high ropes course is located in the woods surrounding Holcomb Gardens. It consists of several wooden poles which work as bases for various mid-air obstacles. Cable wires connect the poles and support participants as they make their way across different obstacles, such as wooden swings, zip-lines, rope ladders, nets, and logs. Oh yeah... and did I mention this is all about 40 feet off the ground?

I had never participated in the course before, and was excited to get started once we all geared up. However, when I reached the top of the first platform I froze. Although you're perfectly secured by the cables, ropes, and your harness, it feels like it's just you out there. Scary! After completing a few obstacles though, I was more comfortable and found the strength to conquer some I thought I couldn't even face! One of the most intimidating even turned out to be the most thrilling, a free-fall swing from the top of a platform! It was a lot of fun and I'm glad I found the courage to try! I'll definitely go back to the high ropes course every chance I get... and I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to try it. No matter how scared you may be initially, you might surprise yourself! It's a very cool way to spend a beautiful day right here on campus!

Back on campus!

SarahG — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:22:00 GMT

Today was the official start of the '09 Butler Summer Institute! Yesterday we moved into our apartments in the University Terrace Apartment Village, which are provided to participants free-of-charge for the 9 week program. I'm living in a two-person apartment with one of my sisters, and it's absolutely huge! I didn't really know what to expect coming in, since UT is the older apartment complex at Butler, but it's actually really nice and very roomy. The futon and television look miniscule in the giant living area, and we have so much closet/pantry space we don't even know what to do with it! It's kind of exciting living on our own... an apartment has a very different feel of freedom than a dorm room or sorority house.

To kick-off the Institute, this morning we met for breakfast before participating in a community service project. We went to the Governor's Mansion (which is only a few blocks from campus!) to work with Keeping Indianapolis Beautiful. The organization was setting up a project for the Lily Day of Service on Wednesday. We helped organize trees, bushes, and other plants that will be planted by Lily workers in various areas across Indianapolis. It was a beautiful day today, perfect for working outside! It was also cool to meet and hang out with other BSIers, since we will all be working on research projects here at Butler this summer. Everyone participating in BSI lives in UT, and tonight we have another meeting to get to know each other and learn a little bit more about the apartment complex. I'm happy that I got the chance to live here this summer, and am excited to really get started on my research tomorrow!

Summer daze

SarahG — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:31:00 GMT

I've been focusing on some countdowns to get me through this terribly dull start to my summer. Let me tell you, there's not much to do in New Pal, so I have basically been spending my days sitting around, watching TV, doing laundry, sitting around more with friends, unpacking, etc. But luckily there are a few upcoming events for me to look forward to!

Two days from today I'll be moving back to Butler for the start of BSI. I'm really excited about this because some of my best friends from BU are living there this summer too! Plus it just feels like home to be back on campus. I'm also stoked to get started on my research... I mean seriously, how cool is it to get paid to live at Butler for the summer to work on something you love? The only downfall to this is missing out on spending time with my friends from home. I have a group of girlfriends that are still really close and make it worth coming back to NP for a while. The good thing is that BSI ends with a month left of summer where I'll be job-free and back to hang out with my high school friends. It's really the best of both worlds!

Second countdown: one week from this moment I'll be on a plane to San Francisco! APS, one of the psych conferences my lab attends, is being held there this year! I absolutely cannot wait... I have never been to California... EVER. These trips are always so much fun because on top of presenting the research we've been working hard on all year, we get to tour the cities and try out different restaurants and shops. The lab is like our own little family, so we have a blast no matter where we go (although California doesn't hurt haha)!

So that's my summer thus far... and it's about to get much more exciting!

Butler Summer Institute

SarahG — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:05:00 GMT

I don't know if I've mentioned this in any previous blogs, but this summer I'll be staying at Butler to work on my psychology research! Butler Summer Institute (BSI) is a program that offers grants to student researchers in both science related and non-science fields. 30 total students get accepted into the program, and are invited to live (free of rent!) in the University Terrace Apartments for nine weeks of the summer. Each research project is overlooked by a faculty advisor, and both the professor and the student receive a stipend for their work! So basically I get to further my research as a summer job... very cool!

This summer I'll be continuing my memory study from the school year. I wanted to take a more neurological approach with my research, since I plan on studying neuropsychology in graduate school. My goal is to look at the effects of glucose on memory retrieval. Aside from just research work however, BSI offers several other fun events to bring the participating students together. We met as a group for the first time this week to hear of some summer events. They already have an Indians game and several picnics planned throughout the course of the program. It should be a great experience and I'm excited to get started! (And honestly... I'm just happy I get to stay at BU for most of the summer haha!)