Bend+Reaseach-+Nicole

Nicole's Reaction/Reflection of Bend Research Field Trip :)

Being able to visit Bend Research Lab was a real treat and I really enjoyed it. To get to see some of the things we are learning about in class put to real life uses is cool. Before this trip I really knew nothing about Bend Research. I had heard of them but was unaware of what went on there. The researchers all seemed pleasant and seemed to love their job. The environment in the labs seemed great. It was interesting to see that along with chemistry there were biological studies going on there. It would be great to learn more about their biological studies and see how that side of the lab grows in the future. My interest there comes from majoring in biology.

Setting aside my excitement for biology, the chemistry that goes on in that lab is really interesting. The machines they get to work with are pretty crazy. I can’t even imagine what it takes to put together any of those instruments. I got to say, their gas chromatography machine is pretty remarkable. It was interesting to walk through each lab and see how it is set up. Some of it looked pretty messy. An outsider (like me) might think, how the heck can they know what and where things are. But I think it is just like your office desk (junk drawer or something like that) it is just yours and you know what and where everything is. I know this is corny, but I really got a kick out of their giant graduated cylinders. They were so big and so cool. The aerodynamic particle sizer was interesting. There is a lot that goes into medicine! I thought it was great how they marked some of the machines and work areas. In one of the rooms we went in, the instruments were all marked with Star Wars pictures. It was awesome! What a great way to lighten up the lab and add a bit of goofiness to it and you can just say “oh, I am working with Boba Fett right now”. So funny! I caught a glimpse of some SpongeBob pictures too.

Going there made me think of things I had never thought of before. Realizing what is takes to perfect medicine so it is safe for humans, explains why it can be so pricy. One topic that was talked about on the tour was the packaging of pills. Some pills come in packages all together, some come in blister packs, and some of those blister packs do not allow any light in. This of course is due to the different coatings on the pills and how reactive they might be in different situations. Some may be light sensitive, some if bashed around in a bottle may weaken the coating, and things of that sort. It makes total sense, I had just never put much thought into it. It was really interesting to think about. It was a very enlightening trip and thank you for setting it up for us! It is always my pleasure to go, especially when I see the excitement the trip generates among my students. Your analogy to "messy desks" is right on. I am sure they are very particular about things when they need to be, but just like in any work environment, having a tidy work area is not always the most important thing.

The technology that goes into drug delivery is really complex, isn't it? That fact was invisible to me until I set foot in the labs at BRI myself. At that point I finally got the picture. It's amazing.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.