Research Project

Phil, Grace and I worked on a research project together with Jorg as our advisor and Maren as another advisor. A woman from Romania also oversaw the project. Her name was Simona, and she was visiting from a university that has contacts with Konstanz University, and we are still a little bit unsure as to why she only followed our research project.

So we wanted to study something about biofilms. Our original idea was to look at how biofilms grow on different surfaces and we had a great idea to try looking at their growth on different types of paint, as  biofilms are often a problem for ships and other anthropogenic things in the water. But that idea proved to be too difficult, so we decided on 'How the Polarity of a Surface Affects the Growth of Biofilms'.

And here is a link to our presentation!
http://prezi.com/0yvuc6kmbrkz/copy-of-biofilm-growth-on-surfaces-with-different-polarities/

yeah bacterial cultures!

I hope this video works, it is something that was always running in the lab.

Hard at work

This is the 'rig' that all of our slides were hanging from. It was hung from the Institute's dock, and stayed there for a week.

Needless to say, I worried about it constantly for the whole week.

Konstanz University

Konstanz University

I was glad to hear that all of our classes would take place at the Limnological Institute rather than at the University for a few reasons.

1) the Institute is located within spitting distance from the lake. During lunch, we can go swimming or lay on the beach. Or both. At the University, there is a cafeteria (called the mensa). It is large, noisy, and like much of the rest of the building, difficult to navigate.

2) The University was built in the 60's. There is a lot of 'interesting architecture' and 'art' built into the building. For example, at many places, there are stairs when they are not necessary. Sometimes, a flight of stairs will split into two, and the paths will rejoin a few feet later, only to split again. Both paths end up in the same location. There is 'art' on some of the walls that is not allowed to be taken down even though it is outdated and faded from the sun. The building is very large and generally difficult to navigate, while the Institute is much smaller and straightforward, practical, if you will.

3) The University is located up on a hill. Every day, around noon, I walked from the Institute, up the hill and to the University. It gets very hot in the middle of the day. (this is just me complaining)

4) In the classroom at the Institute, we had a kitchen! Most German classrooms are like this. I often went to class early to start making the coffee for everyone. It's just so nice to make tea before class, drink it out of your favorite mug, and wash it once lecture is over.

The University's research vessel! 

 We got to take a ride on the vessel. They demonstrated many data-gathering practices, such as taking secchi depths.

 Collecting sediments! I still regret not having looked more closely at the sediments.

In the classroom at the University, learning some general microbiological techniques. 

I don't remember what this is called, but it is a specific (and rather difficult) way to get microbes concentrated in a small amount of water on your slide. Make sure not to spill! 

Limnological textbooks!

Observing...

The world of microbes is so beautiful 

2)

Arrival in Konstanz

It was strange seeing Konstanz again, interesting to see what things I remembered, what I didn’t remember, and what I remembered incorrectly. It truly is a beautiful city, the lake is unforgettable and even though I was there for only a few hours five years earlier; there were some sights that were still fresh in my mind.

Sinah’s dad drove me to Konstanz and his girlfriend, Martina, accompanied us. Since Sinah needed the car that day, he borrowed Martina’s car. They chatted and smoked cigarettes, while I gazed out the window at the beautiful scenery as we drove up and down winding mountain roads through the scenic Black Forest. I tried to take pictures from the back-seat window, but they really don’t do it justice. We arrived in Konstanz around one; we went into a few shops (Martina wanted to shop, there are many fine clothing stores for women). Then it started to rain and we took refuge under a café’s umbrella where we got drinks and waited for the rain to cease. Eventually, it was time for me to meet Cornelia and the other students at the train station. I was getting very nervous; I had begun to feel very comfortable with Sinah’s family!

We met the other students at the train station, I thanked and said goodbye to Gert and Martina while the students started making their way towards the biergarten, where we would be having a light supper and beer, of course.

We looked ridiculous at the biergarten! We were a large group  consisting of 8 foreigners, each with all of their luggage (wheeling suitcases and carry-ons), Corenelia and her husband, as well as two student aids who were to be sort-of guides throughout the trip. It didn’t help that our suitcases had wheels on them and the ground was gravel. After much scrambling, we all found seats and places for our luggage.

After many introductions, we ordered food and drinks. 

 This is the view from my bedroom window at the Sinah's house, I took this photo the morning that I was leaving!

 Trying to take pictures of a valley surrounded by the Black Forest.

 Still trying to take pictures from the car...

I took this picture from the car while we were stuck in traffic. Sinah's father, Gert, knows a lot of history about the area. The pointed mountain in the background of the photo used to be volcanic. 

This is a view of the bridge we had to cross to get from the old town to where the University is. On the left, the Rhine continues and on the right is the rest of the Bodensee.

 This is an specific image of Konstanz that I don't think I'll ever be able to get out of my head. This is actually the Rhine River leaving the Bodensee, the current is very swift and beyond the willow tree are beautifully architected buildings.