Sunday, June 25, 2023
By:
Time really flies by in this beautiful city, yet the monuments still do not cease to amaze me, no matter how many times I've seen them by now. This week was really rainy and cloudy, something I dont usually encounter in the middle of June in El Paso, Texas. On Monday we had an Italian Physics Podluck night, where each intern brought a cooked meal to share. It was really nice coming together and sharing an evening with one-another. Tuesday I went exploring in georgetown, found many unique sights and I enjoyed a chai-tea by the waterfront. Wednesdy I had a meeting with my mentor Justine where we caught up on tasks I have assigned for example, I am currently working on peer editing a Physics teacher article for the "Physics Today" magazine. I am also currently working on designing a poster and a presentation for the upcoming AAPT Conference meeting in Sacramento, California that takes place later this summer in July. That day I also got the opportunity to attend the, "Black Space Week" event where The White House was commemorating influential figures from our time with their ground breaking achievements, Dr. Mae Jemison and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield were interviewed first. They both disscussed their heritage, their life journey, what inspires them and how they have opened doors for future generations to follow. It was really nice to be able to meet the first African American woman that went to space, and it was heart warming to see all of the inspiration and passion both of these powerful women represent. On Thursday and Friday I worked on my current tasks and projects that I have assigned to me as an Intern, I went to a nearby coffee shop to have a different work setting. Saturday was really eventful, it was Astronomy at the Mall Night, where SPS would have three tables at the event showcasing different Physics phenomena demonstrations. As soon as the event began, I got in line for the Celestron CGX-L 1400 EdgeHD to admire the Sun. It was the first time I saw the sun in great detail, I could even see the Sun's sun spots as well as the solar flares and plasma, it was amazing! I spent most of the time there assigned at the fabric of space demo as well as the waves and light diffraction physics demos. I had never seen the National Mall that packed and encounter that many people interested and be amazed by Astronomy and Physics. Towards the end, I visited other tables and had a lot of fun disscusing astronomy with fellow astronomers, physicists, engineers and the general public. I even got to meet Sir Isaac Newton and we discussed his most favorite invention the reflecting telescope as well as how Copernicus had suggested the Sun being in the center of Solar system first, and not Galileo. Once the event was done telescopes were now pointing at the moon, I got in line again and admired the moon and its craters in detail, in case you're wondering the moon was a Waning Crescent that night. Sunday I attended Brunch, I went to Pisco & Nazca a peruvian restaurant. It was delicious! P.S. I love D.C.
Melissa Cano