SVA-NYC

Notebooks

Week 5

DRY LAB 5:

Victor talks about the acquisition of his samples, the type of soil, the process, and his reflection upon the experience of extraction:
Need the address or geotag location of every collected sample for verification purposes.
Between each sampling of soil, it is important to clean the auger with DISTILLED WATER, as tap water has trace elements and minerals that may get absorbed into the soil of the next sample, providing false or altered readings.
When not in use soil should be stored in dark spaces with the bag open, to prevent photobleaching and allow aeration.
Sebastian blows everyone's mind with science when he casually mentions the "dew" that forms in the plastic bags of soil when they are sealed is not caused by humidity, but by BACTERIA!
A scientist and a photographer try to agree on how to standardize and optimize the process of photographing the samples and results.
The Universal Extraction Buffer (used in many of these nutrient tests) is essentially vinegar. It NEUTRALIZES the alkalinity of the sample to even out the pH. This process leads to an opaque reaction that forms a PRECIPITATE that will not dissolve. Because of this, the color will remain. Just keep refrigerated.
The sample requires a relative reading. I.e. any lighting can be used, so long as the sample and the control are read (or photographed) at the same time.
The white flakes from a fresh fire are called Pot Ash. It's another name for Potassium.

Week 1

DRY LAB

For our first team meeting we distributed handouts, reviewed art & design track guidelines and introduced a few project ideas.

We discussed preliminary research and possible manifestations of the project, which included an iPhone case that coordinates with app to process physical samples in the field and a large (weather like) map showing soil health in Manhattan.

Sebastian explained that exposure time for the biosensors we make would not be an instant result, like kit, but need at minimum a few hours to process. We also discussed how (some of) the biosensors function to change colors- once they bind the to soil sample the molecules change shape, therefore changing the way the light refracts and the color visible.

Distributed lab coats and iGEM pins
Team members signed up for iGEM usernames
Brainstormed project titles
Martica took group photo
Drafted list of subcommittees and preliminary tasks
Extended sample collecting to other boroughs
Emailed LaMotte handbook to team

Potential names for project:

"SOILED"
"SOIL-SCAPE"
“Super Duper Soil SenSomatic!”
“DIRT-BOW”
“Soil Spectrum”
“ChromaDirt”

Sites of interest for sampling:

Parks
Retro manufacturers
Cemeteries
Backyards (darya, tiffany, tarah, victor)
*Expand list and make map*

NEXT MEETING

We will test miracle grow soil, as well as vitamins and salts using the LaMotte kit. We will also begin drafting protocol for collecting soil samples in the field.

WET LAB

5/18 - First iGEM syllabus meeting
5/19 - Preliminary research on nutrient activated promoters

Week 2

DRY LAB

Team members presented their research on assigned soil nutrients.
- Ordered 6 soil augers and spray bottles for taking samples.
- Discussed possible sites of sampling according to potential access:
What apps for soil testing already exist?
Ideally we will find biological substitutes for LaMotte soil tests - if that is not an option we will greatly decrease the amount of the substance needed for testing, by using a microchannel chip and spectrophotometer, possibly interfaced into a device for a smart phone.

Everyone will research their assigned soil topic as well as think about: The chemicals used in the testing of soil nutrients are toxic- what are non-toxic solutions? is soil toxic? what nutrients are present? can you neutralize soil? what is soil health?

pH- Suzanne
Nitrate Nitrogen - Sebastian
Potassium - Jennifer
Phosphorous - Martica
Humus - Shane
Magnesium - Daniella
Calcium - Tarah
Sulfate - Andrew
Aluminum - Victor
Chloride - Daniella
Ferric Iron - Darya
Nitrite Nitrogen - Beckett
Ammonia Nitrogen - Mike
Manganese - Tiffany

Informed the Team where to upload files:
Discussed preliminary research and possible manifestations of the project:
- iPhone case that coordinates with app to process physical samples in the field.
- Large (weather like) map showing soil health in Manhattan.

Sebastian explained that exposure time for the biosensors we make would not be an instant result, like kit, but need at minimum a few hours to process. We also discussed how (some of) the biosensors function to change colors- once they bind the to soil sample the molecules change shape, therefore changing the way the light refracts and the color visible.
First deadline: JUNE 26TH

NEXT MEETING

We will test miracle grow soil, as well as vitamins and salts using the LaMotte kit. We will also begin drafting protocol for collecting soil samples in the field.

WET LAB

5/25 - Research led to the possibility of using microfluidics

Week 3

DRY LAB

Looked at an app that tests soil.
Discussed the legalities of sampling; taking samples in public is going to need more formalities. Personal spaces and community gardens will be a more realistic place to begin sampling

Need to:
Make a map of community gardens and draft a letter to introduce our project and ask for access. How to encourage their participation? Offer them survey of data about their plot.
A handful of team members took augers home to get a sample of their yards.

NEXT MEETING We will test out the LaMotte soil kit for the first time as a group.
We will hear feedback from those that used the augers next week and begin drafting protocol and assembling a kit for sample taking: including not only distraction technique but recording of gps/time/temp, etc. Environmental limitations: nearby buildings, trees, dog pee, rain the day.
We reviewed the iGEM deadlines and began making a calendar.