After the whole trip, I think it was a phenomenal experience to look back on. We began activities the morning after we arrived, quickly delving into what the Weizmann Institute had to offer; the Clore Garden of Science was our first stop. Here we saw real life applications and examples of where and how science is being used, alongside various applications to real life. I think that by using these physical structures, which are fun to use, they spark interest in science and explain how things work the way they do and why. By doing this, that interest could turn into a profession and help further the ever-expanding knowledge of the world around us. We met with a couple scientists shortly after who were dealing with the study of neurobiology, this was of particular interest to me as I am studying biology and the brain is a very interesting organ. These experiments researched how animals learn, as well as the things that happen when the brains are modified. The methods used and the topic of studying showed that there are no real limits to where you can go with what you want to study, as long as the scientist believes it worth pursuing. The wave-particle duality was also a topic of interest, as I found it fascinating that something could be partially a particle and partially a wave, and yet both. The more you think about it, the crazier it seems to get, so I’ve learned to accept that knowledge and move on. We then moved over to condensed matter and talking about vortices, and also used liquid nitrogen, which was fun. We learned that by using these vortices we can take an object and keep it in place, such as a magnet floating above where it’s attracted to rather than sticking to it. After that, I got a little more hands on with the substance [liquid nitrogen] and I put gases in it; I broke stuff with it; I made Ice cream and made my hand really cold - good thing I was wearing gloves! I found this fun to do and interesting to play with as I’ve only seen the substance in TV shows and movies, never really being near it, much less using it.
In general I think this trip has broadened my horizons in the field of science, keeping me open to new things and keeping me excited about further knowledge to come. I am studying biology as one of my DP courses and this trip has showed me what is done and what is possible with that basis of knowledge. By also showcasing other areas science, such as physics, which is a class that I am not taking in my DP course, I have learned to keep my mind open to everything. I wasn’t exactly profusely interested, but by seeing all these applications and knowledge that is being found, I have grown to have some interest in it which will help later on in college or maybe even my life. Towards the end of our trip, scientists in the US detected that gravity is in fact a wave, which relates to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity which was almost 100 years ago, and according to the wave-particle duality, if it’s a wave there must be some kind of particle also; we’ll just have to wait and see.
The second portion of this trip was geared more towards a cultural experience of Israel rather than a science trip; we hiked Masada, visited Jerusalem, swam in the Dead Sea, and camped in a Bedouin tent made of blankets on a mountain. When listed like this it doesn’t seem like much, but I experienced a whole new world by doing these activities. I could see the different religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - all in one place, worshipping and learning the cultural history behind the city. Hiking Masada was a difficult task and as much as I would like to say that I would have rather taken a tram up to the top, I think the hike made it more of a genuine experience rather than “Eh, I guess Masada is pretty” to more of an appreciation for the architecture and drive of King Herod in order to build a castle on top of that mountain.
I look forward to more students being able to take this trip as it certainly has been a life-changing experience for me. I hope those that come after me have as much of an enriching experience as I have had in the couple of days while I was here in this country.
