Part 1
1. DIII-D deals in research and development, so "success" is difficult to quantify. Whereas in an internship with another company, "success" might mean putting on a great event or meeting a fundraising goal, "success" at DIII-D, as far as I understand it, is making improvements. Whenever a new design that replaces an old design is able to complete some task more efficiently or effectively, progress is made towards the ultimate goal of understanding and controlling plasma in the tokamak. The only quantifiable measure of success for DIII-D is the amount of power ITER eventually uses DIII-D technology to create. Until that time, though, any progress must be considered success for the sake of morale if for nothing else. For example, the LGI was already begun when I arrived, and will not be completed when I leave. However, I have worked to improve the design of the granule dropper, and have successfully created a series of proofs-of-concept that have more and more effectively dropped granules one at a time in rapid succession without getting clogged. The LGI granule dropper design is now better than it was when I arrived, and that is my measure of success.
4. My work is meaningful to the ultimate goal of global clean energy, with the potential to be very meaningful. Any work towards fusion power has some meaning. My work may contribute to the LGI, and that technology may contribute to ITER if it manages to reduce the ELMS in the DIII-D plasma. If and when ITER is finally built and producing fusion power, there is a chance that I might have played a small role in making that happen.
5. The initial design for my project already existed when I arrived. We (my colleagues and I) closely observed the motions of the granules in the initial design, which gave us ideas for a new and improved design. We then watched the granules in that design and every subsequent design, and each time the motions of the granules gave us new ideas about how we could use those motions to our advantage.
1. DIII-D deals in research and development, so "success" is difficult to quantify. Whereas in an internship with another company, "success" might mean putting on a great event or meeting a fundraising goal, "success" at DIII-D, as far as I understand it, is making improvements. Whenever a new design that replaces an old design is able to complete some task more efficiently or effectively, progress is made towards the ultimate goal of understanding and controlling plasma in the tokamak. The only quantifiable measure of success for DIII-D is the amount of power ITER eventually uses DIII-D technology to create. Until that time, though, any progress must be considered success for the sake of morale if for nothing else. For example, the LGI was already begun when I arrived, and will not be completed when I leave. However, I have worked to improve the design of the granule dropper, and have successfully created a series of proofs-of-concept that have more and more effectively dropped granules one at a time in rapid succession without getting clogged. The LGI granule dropper design is now better than it was when I arrived, and that is my measure of success.
4. My work is meaningful to the ultimate goal of global clean energy, with the potential to be very meaningful. Any work towards fusion power has some meaning. My work may contribute to the LGI, and that technology may contribute to ITER if it manages to reduce the ELMS in the DIII-D plasma. If and when ITER is finally built and producing fusion power, there is a chance that I might have played a small role in making that happen.
5. The initial design for my project already existed when I arrived. We (my colleagues and I) closely observed the motions of the granules in the initial design, which gave us ideas for a new and improved design. We then watched the granules in that design and every subsequent design, and each time the motions of the granules gave us new ideas about how we could use those motions to our advantage.
Part 2
1. Through my internship, I have gained an appreciation for the process of refining products through multiple drafts. Including the concept that already existed when I arrived, we are currently working with our eighth prototype (just counting the ones that I've worked with). Each prototype so far has had something unique, either an addition to a previous prototype or an entirely new idea, that has made it a distinct draft. Our current draft solves many problems inherent in our initial draft, including granule clogging and irregular granule output, which serves as evidence of the drafting process's effectiveness.
2. I have seen many traits in my colleagues that I would like to develop or strengthen in myself, particularly creativity in problem-solving – Alex especially seems able to look at a problem and immediately start spouting a veritable cascade of possible solutions. I've also noticed an extreme enthusiasm for work and an excitement about science that extends not only to my colleagues' time at work but their activities outside of work as well, and all of my colleagues are able to effortlessly get along with everyone else in the facility.
1. Through my internship, I have gained an appreciation for the process of refining products through multiple drafts. Including the concept that already existed when I arrived, we are currently working with our eighth prototype (just counting the ones that I've worked with). Each prototype so far has had something unique, either an addition to a previous prototype or an entirely new idea, that has made it a distinct draft. Our current draft solves many problems inherent in our initial draft, including granule clogging and irregular granule output, which serves as evidence of the drafting process's effectiveness.
2. I have seen many traits in my colleagues that I would like to develop or strengthen in myself, particularly creativity in problem-solving – Alex especially seems able to look at a problem and immediately start spouting a veritable cascade of possible solutions. I've also noticed an extreme enthusiasm for work and an excitement about science that extends not only to my colleagues' time at work but their activities outside of work as well, and all of my colleagues are able to effortlessly get along with everyone else in the facility.