Unlike AP Seminar from last year, this year in
AP Research I intend to research something that truly interests me. So my goal
for the class is pretty simple: Leave with a paper and presentation in a field
that I like and be happy when I'm inevitably grinding out the literature review
or presentation at 1am. Being happy is a pretty vague goal, but I want the
class to feel like it’s a part time job as a writer. So it still feels like
work, but I enjoy it at the same time.
My starting point in this class is paying
respects to Harambe, and then finding a suitable topic. A suitable topic for me
personally, is one that is backed by tons of specific literature that I can
draw from. But I can’t just have the topic of American history because it is
way too broad. At the same time, researching the physics of the bullet that
killed Harambe the gorilla is probably too specific. On top of the so-called
Goldilocks compromise, there needs to be an academic conversation surrounding
the topic so that I can contribute to the field and actually make a
contribution. Authors and contributors to the topic must have supporters and
dissenters who engage with each other. I also have to feel like my research is
significant in someway, again tied to my interest in the topic.
My process of finding a topic is kinda messed
up, because I already have my research area and research methods from day 1.
Due to aggressive under scheduling in tenth grade, I have an opportunity with
an ASU professor to expand on her research. And my opportunity really seems
safe, likely, and enjoyable. However, every plan needs a plan B (Harambe wasn’t
prepared with a plan B). My secondary plan is to investigate some type of
corruption. Previously I really enjoyed exposing the flaws of the
pharmaceutical industry, Maryland gambling laws, and North Dakotan fracking
laws. 3 days in and I have managed to grasp the academic conversation
surrounding my plan A. I still haven’t described my plan A yet for some reason
so here it goes: when mutations occur at so called functional sites, the
protein folding is significantly altered, but other studies are showing that it
doesn’t matter where the mutation occurs because they all result in defects in
the protein. My professor, Dr. Ozkan, has already disagreed with them on a special
protein. My gig is to see if the LAC1 protein is significantly affected by
functional site mutations. The LAC1 protein is linked to lactose intolerance so
there is a significant impact to the research at hand for me.
Plan B isn’t really developed, so I better look
into that this week (or else RIP Harambe and Ashwath). Thanks for tuning into
Episode 1 of Ashwath’s Journey to the center of AP Research. Tune in next week
to see if Ashwath changes his meme theme from Harambe to something else.
R.I.P. Harambe
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ReplyDeleteHey Ashwath, this is a really good first post! Your goal for just wanting to enjoy AP Research for its discover process really resonates with me. In regards to you Research, I think that, as you described it, you should focus on the project you Are currently working on, defective protein conformation. Since it seems like you Mostly have established your position on this research team you won't get Booted out, and if you do, R.I.P Harambe. But seriously, it will most likely be too late to change a topic anyway. So, you should just spend this week narrowing your view of the topic, and refining a question. On a similar note, you should also expand on what your topic actually is. Right now, I'm left with a substantial amount of jargon that I don't necessarily know how to interpret. For example: What sort of defects are caused by the protein? Why do we care? (ie. what changes occurs to our bodies when the protein misfolds?) Which function sites? Otherwise, its been a memetastic time. Thanks for the laffs. (179)
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ReplyDeleteHi Ashwath! It’s good to see that you have narrowed your potential topics to two different avenues in regards to your research process, one being scientific, and one social. I’m also glad that you finally understand your Plan A course of action! However, when describing your Plan A, you said that the biological project would “seem” enjoyable. When describing your Plan B, you appeared to be genuinely interested in that topic, given that you spent 75% of your time in Seminar researching issues under the Corruption umbrella. Corruption also has many supporters and dissenters, no matter which issue you choose under that, so you don’t have to worry about not having enough literature on it.
ReplyDeleteAs of now, what connection do you have with Plan A? Do you like it just because you like biology, or is there another reason? Make sure that you continue the project, if you do, because you have a passion for it, and not because you have good sources and data.
While you are doing some soul searching, ask yourself this: What Would Harambe Do? (WWHD – creds to Mimi). He is watching you, your guardian angel during AP Research. (194)
Rema, you're a part of the Harambe conclave, too?
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