April 15, 2005 - 3:43 p.m. Yesterday, we filled out applications for our TURC (Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge) grants for this summer. So it's official. We also decided that my summer research will be focused on isolating and identifying the products of the reaction between hypchlorous acid and creatine. Ryan and I have been working on the kinetics of the reaction since January, and he's going to keep on kinetics, but I've had organic chemistry, so "we're going to put that to use." It sounds a little intimidating; I don't really know how to go about this despite a year of organic and lab. But that's what learning is for. Plus, part of this program is community service, so I will be the part-time property of Habitat for Humanity. I think that's pretty cool. Dr. Purser (my academic/research advisor) has "adopted an orphan" from another department to do research, so I won't be the lowest man on the totem pole, but if he's an orphan, I'm a baby, so it's not much better. This project, though, will be my initiation. Anyway, my summer plans are solidifying. I still can't tell you the exact date we start (though we finish August 5) and I can say that I can live and eat for free, but I don't know where we're living (someone said Twin South). Regardless, this is all very exciting. I almost can't wait. ...before & after...