The trip to Google was really impressive, not just in terms of the office amenities and perks, but also getting to experience what the culture is like and how it might actually feel to work there.

Immaculate Telegraphy was an experiment made by Jamie O’Shea in 2009. O’Shea wanted to try and build a working electronic communication from scratch, while in the wilderness, equipped with modern information only. No materials, no tools. 

A video art by artists Anna Dumitriu and Alex May, the sound artist Martin A. Smith, and microbiologist Dr John Paul.

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Sometimes it is not about creating a new technology, but using an existing one in a disruptive way. 

Taught by Ellen Jorgensen

In a three days workshop at Genspace, we isolated the mitochondrial DNA chromosome from ourselves, our each own piece of human genome. Using the lab's facilities, we then amplified it for sequencing using PCR. At the last day, when the sequence data came back, we used bioinformatics to interpret it. 

Here are some pictures taken at the workshop:

A workshop by Angelo Vermeulen and Katherine Moriwaki.
Parsons, Design and Technology, '12.

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Algae are a large group of simple, self-feeding organisms, belongs to the ‘Plantae’ kingdom. 

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I thought this would be an interesting experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of binaural beat meditation. By using EEG (neurofeedback) signals we could, theoretically, observe the brain waves pulsing at the frequency of the binaural beats. 

This time I brough some reallllllllllly stinky water, riddled with fish odour. I was certain that I would find some kinda creates crawling around, unfortunately, I was again underwhelmed. 

One of the most unique and captivating samples was simply soapy water (brough by Norman) - check out the visuals!

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I brought a number of samples to the lab for barcoding. Three of them were plant speciment taken from the Union Square market, and the other from the algae farm that was recently brought to our 12th floor lab.

one of my samples

Juan with the concetrated algae after some serious centrifugal force

The first visit to Columbia University was a great experience not only in exploring a professional research lab, but also the experience of walking around on campus gave me a whole new perspective of what Columbia is like.

Upon reaching the battered and weathered streetside door I was greeted by the host of Genspace. The name Genspace paints an image in my minds of eye of some clean and steril metal finished laboratory, where one would have to be dress in a white trench coat and sterilized upon entry. Genspace is non of those things. It's a rustic enviroment bathed in books and lab equipment. Other than the microscopes and centrafuges, the vibe here would make any bohemian knowledge seeker or NPR host feel at home.