PHOTODEGREDATION
At the beginning of my first senior year I began conducting photodegradation research with Dr. Ruhland. Moreso than for any previous research project, this project allowed me to practice the research process independently. Unlike my other experiences, this project was planned to take more than a year to complete. This meant that I was less rushed to come up with a research question and methodology and was given more independence to do so (Original Research 1-3). Based on previous research, we believe that the amount of lignin in cell walls could be responsible for the degree and rate at which they photodecay. I am comparing larch needles to pine and spruce needles to see if lignin percent can explain the difference in their photodegradation rate. After allowing the needles to weather the elements for 90, 180, or 270 days, I collect them, weigh them and run them through several chemical baths that break down different parts of the cell wall. This allows us to determine the amount of lignin in the cell walls and compare it to the amount of mass lost over time due to photodegradation. I learned a lot about how much dedication goes into a long-term project like this. With a project that last this long there are many times of stress and uncertainty and it takes a lot of will power to keep going. I plan to present my research at the URS and NCUR, and if things go well to publish my research in an academic journal.
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