A Passion for Science, A Passion for Algae by Sierra

A Passion for Science, A Passion for Algae by Sierra - February 2013 Scholarship Essay

My love for science has lead me to a passion for biology, engineering, and environmental science. Biofuel is a clean burning alternative energy source that can be made from many things, the best of those is algae. The future of biofuel is essentially free of sulfur, aromatics, contains no petroleum, and has great potential as our energy future. For the last five years I worked on researching, designing, and carrying out experiments in Biofuel. I have discovered the efficiency, calorie, and cleanliness of the biofuel I created. Through culturing different strains of algae, harvesting it, engineering my own biodiesel mixture through transesterification, and testing it in various ways, I have come to love science and being its designer.
I am enlivened to discover the new limits of life sciences and how we can use them to benefit our economy, society, and environment. Cutting back on the consumption of fossil fuels and using these new environmentally friendly alternatives cuts back on the toxic gasses we release into our atmosphere that lead to the greenhouse effect. Biofuel can also lead us closer to the U.S. energy self-sufficiency we are looking for from the Middle East, a hot topic currently in the presidential elections.
I first became interested in the Biofuel Experiment in eighth grade, when my teacher mentioned the forthcoming science fair -- this was always my favorite part of the year. In previous competitions I entered projects on the issue of global warming. This time I planned to carry out a project based on a new energy source. Five years ago there was hardly any research on the use of Biofuel; but I was intrigued and my heart was set. I engineered the experiment myself, using the information I could find about algae online and in e-mailing Eric Rodney who was doing some research at theuniversity level. I not only won the competition at my school, but also went on to win in other competitions, as well. These included: the Ventura County Science Fair where I won 1st place in my division, the Society of Women Engineerʼs award, and the American Petroleum Institute award – along with best in show. Judges could see my passion and excitement for the work I was doing. Winning first place, I continued to the California State Science Fair, where I won “honorable mention,” on what seemed to be fourth in the succession. Today, I continue the same path and the same line of research. My project brought me far, but it was my love and passion for what I was doing that brought me further.
My findings and experience while working on this independent study brought me not only a passion for science, but a new perspective on learning. One of my favorite quotations of all time embodies this perfectly: “The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions,” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). Starting my engineered studies opened me to a new found intellectual curiosity, and one in which I could escape in. Coming from a highly distracting divorce and far from perfect relationships with my parents, science has become an escape for me. I can break free from the confines of this world into the realm of infinite possibilities, and feel independent. I learned that science is not about having all the answers, but about searching for them. I can discover new worlds and frontiers of science, all while discovering new strengths in myself. Much of this independence also means admitting my answers are not always right and not letting pride interfere with observation. Good scientists will find data to support only their hypothesis, but great scientists will change their stance when faced with contrary evidence. I accomplished this transition numerous times with my algae fuel experimentation in a trial and error dance with reality, discovering how to effectively extract as much precious oil as possible from these micro- organisms. !I love science because it does not always claim to be right -- it canʼt be. The point of science is that the greatest minds, the most influential thinkers, and ample amounts of time and energy are all spent working toward disproving hypotheses as much are they are spent proving them. And yet, even then, when a hypothesis is killed, another one is born and continues on in its path -- always focussed on getting to the truth behind the theory. This curiosity, inquisitive excitement, and willingness to be wrong is what I love about science and is what truly drives me.