Week 2:
First Boating Experience

June 3, 2021

This week I started working daily on the water quality sensor. I created a schematic that we can use to recreate the sensor in the future. Currently, we are testing the water sensor to ensure the accuracy of the sensor in the lab. It’s been a long but simple process to test the accuracy of the sensor and it is still not done. After a series of tests to check the salinity, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen, Chandler made changes to the code to ensure we could get accurate results. We still need to do some more round of tests before we deploy the sensor out in the water.

Similar to last Thursday, I ventured out with a few lab members. We went to three different rivers to collect water samples. This time, instead of going at noon to see high tide like last week, we went at four p.m. to experience low tide. We did the same filtration process as last week. Collecting the samples at low tide is definitely scarier with how steep the floating dock becomes; its like scaling a mountain.

I’ve been settling into a nice routine during my second week here. The most fun day, by far, was Friday. I went on a boat for the first time. I went along with Professor Brugler, another professor at the lab, and his lab members to Hillton Head. We went on a touristy shrimp trawl off the coast of Hillton Head, Professor Brugler went there hoping to collect leeches to dissect. I mostly stood at the sidelines as they looked through all the sea creatures they caught in the net. It was a very fun experience; I even saw dolphins out in the wild! I am also proud to say that I didn’t get sea sick even though I was nervous that I might.