The students who participate in the SummerResearch Program have been in Boston, USA for more than 20 days. Although wegradually adapt to the living, studying, and socializing in the United Statesin the process of continuous experimentation and exploration, we stillencounter new challenges again and again. These challenges are largely based onscientific research. And when it comes to research, we have to say weeklymeetings.
The different research groups at the BostonUniversity Photonics Center conduct two or three group discussions each week.The students prepare PPT and lecture notes, present their own researchprogress, problems encountered, strategies for response, and further research.The plan is followed by enthusiastic discussion and questioning. A very"strong" group meeting will be held on Wednesday. The currentresearch of the group is mainly divided into two parts: the stimulation ofneurons and the photoacoustic conversion module.
And part of what we are attending is aboutthe photoacoustic conversion module. After a period of time spent on sleeplessnights modeling and calculation, we have better repeated the results of apaper, and mapped the images that are very similar to the results of the paper,but also found the high-frequency carrier components that were not found inprevious papers. For this issue, there was a heated discussion at the groupmeeting. Some seniors are the first to propose whether there will be errors inour model or errors in calculations. Some people think that it is the high-frequencycomponent caused by the problem of iterative convergence, and thehigh-frequency component that the seniors think is its own particle resonance.At the scene, everyone discussed the atmosphere, the various views of theconfrontation, and finally the instructor asked us to change the size of thestructure to find out whether the results will change.
There is a discussion on literaturediscussions every Friday. People from all majors, fields, and researchdirections will come. Everyone discuss a new emerging problem or researchdirection. Every time, a doctor will give a lecture and discuss the questions.After that, everyone will have lunch, we can often see some researchers eatingand discussing, and even forgetting to eat and pick up paper and pencils forcalculation analysis. In these days in Boston, we realize the rigorous andrealistic learning and the dedication of selflessness in science. These are allwe need to learn.
Compared with the strict atmosphere ofresearch, tutors of Boston University put much stress on the cultivation of labenvironment and culture. Just on this Thursday, one of us took part in a grouplunch with his tutor and fellow graduates. Through the gourmet and lunchconversation, we get to deepen our friendship with lab mates and get to knowmore about American culture in lunch parties.
At first, it is the active guys in thegroup that raised an invitation through email, and everyone expressed hisopinion and offers suggestion on the selection of time and place. In this waywe can avoid possible situations that someone might not be able to spare timefor the lunch, or not be able to relish the meal out of personal affairs orcultural reasons. This process is inevitable specially for a diversified team.
When the day came, we gathered in the laband headed for the restaurant together. We had decided on an Indian restaurant.The restaurant was not crowded, and was decorated in Indian style. Waiter hadus seated in a table in the middle. The recipes on the menu all have simplenotations explaining the ingredients and cooking techniques lest customersmight not understand the terms of food.
Tutors and fellow graduates enjoyed a lot intheir conversation while having their lunch. Different from the serious attitudein the lab, it was relaxing during the meal. At that time, there was nodistinction between teachers and students, and nation and culture did not seemto matter so much as well. Chinese, American, Kenyan, Turkish and Russian justsat around the same table. The topic of people’s dialogue also changed tofamilies, hobbies and sports. At the end of conversation, we were surprisedto find out that the Turkish of our group had a ping-pong certificate.A Chinese in the group, who is also good at ping-pong, decided to play with himsome time.
Two months’ research experience might beshort, but we are sure to have a strong bind of friendship with professors andfellow graduates here./
