Solve a World Issue
For this project, we were given the task of solving a world problem with biotech. My group decided to focus on oil spills. We developed a machine called GOSCA (Global Oil Spill Cleanup Apparatus) that would clean the spills. It would contain Alvanivorax borkumensis, which is a type of bacteria that eats oil and lives in polluted oceans. It would take in water, churn it to make the oil droplets smaller, and let the bacteria eat the oil before filtering it out and releasing the water back into the ocean. There were many stages to this project, and they included finding problems, developing solutions, finalizing our solution, and coming up with hypothetical tests. At the end, we presented to a panel of professionals.
Content:
Biotechnology: The use of biological processes for industrial or other purposes, especially genetic modification of organisms to produce hormones or antibiotics
Oil spills: The release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the ocean
Maritime law: A body of law that governs maritime activities and relationships between private entities that operate vessels on international waters
Alcanivorax borkumensis: A bacteria that lives in polluted oceans and eats oil
Biotechnology: The use of biological processes for industrial or other purposes, especially genetic modification of organisms to produce hormones or antibiotics
Oil spills: The release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the ocean
Maritime law: A body of law that governs maritime activities and relationships between private entities that operate vessels on international waters
Alcanivorax borkumensis: A bacteria that lives in polluted oceans and eats oil
Reflection:
One thing that went very well during this project was my team's work ethic and group dynamic. We are all friends, so we worked very well together. This helped us focus on our project instead of focusing on disagreements with each other. We are also all hardworking students, so everyone pulled their weight. There was no one in the group that didn't do work. Another thing that went well was our use of time. We finished our presentation with a few days to spare, which gave us plenty of time to practice and make edits that our teacher suggested.
One thing that didn't go as well was our motivation. Even though we worked well together and worked hard, it was difficult to motivate ourselves to want to do work. We would occasionally have lapses where we were on our phones instead of doing work ,but we pulled it together enough to finish on time and have a quality presentation. Another thing that didn't go very well was trying to find out about maritime law. We still aren't sure what our machine classifies as, but we have identified the permits that are needed if it classifies as a vessel.
One thing that went very well during this project was my team's work ethic and group dynamic. We are all friends, so we worked very well together. This helped us focus on our project instead of focusing on disagreements with each other. We are also all hardworking students, so everyone pulled their weight. There was no one in the group that didn't do work. Another thing that went well was our use of time. We finished our presentation with a few days to spare, which gave us plenty of time to practice and make edits that our teacher suggested.
One thing that didn't go as well was our motivation. Even though we worked well together and worked hard, it was difficult to motivate ourselves to want to do work. We would occasionally have lapses where we were on our phones instead of doing work ,but we pulled it together enough to finish on time and have a quality presentation. Another thing that didn't go very well was trying to find out about maritime law. We still aren't sure what our machine classifies as, but we have identified the permits that are needed if it classifies as a vessel.