Matteo Merage

Day 6:

Today, we ran through the entire PCR and gel electrophoresis process in order to obtain clear codes of DNA from our specimens that we gathered from the traps. PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction, which is used to duplicate a small segment of DNA many many times. This process was very detailed and required many steps to be taken. For example, we had to take two different tubes per DNA sample we had to add 2.5 microliters of either the pair P1 solutions or P2 solutions, 1 microliter of master mix, and 28 microliters of water to our samples. Then, we put the tubes in the PCR and let them spin for quite a bit of time. In the meantime while waiting, I went to go sign up for my service learning project next year. We wrote the application, then presented our group, and easily got approved. After that and lunch, I returned to see the duplicated samples be put very carefully into the gel electrophoresis by Dr. Haney. That’s pretty much the whole process, so now we just have to wait to get the codes back in our email. I really enjoyed today because I got to do a very useful and professional lab that we actually failed to do so in my bio class this year since my teacher forgot to add the primers, which made it impossible for the polymerase to attach to the DNA strand. I felt connected to the community today since I exhibited different projects for next year and decided which group I would continue. I developed skills to effectively navigate across differences by finding a group at the last second and having to conduct the entire presentation on my own. I also demonstrated compassion by working extremely hard to do what I really want for next year. I actually learned a lot about myself today in that I found myself being able to work really efficiently and well under pressure and time, which in the past I have struggled with. Individually, I don’t think I can improve any of my communication skills because I feel like they have developed very well throughout this year. Overall, I’m really happy with the work I did this year and I really enjoyed everything we’ve done. It’s been a great year and I’m sad to see this group go, but it’s been good.

Day 5:

Today, I spent half of the day going through the rotation of observing potential groups for next year since unfortunately COAST is coming to a close, and then I spent the other half gathering our specimens’ DNA and going through the process of PCR in hopes to gather a DNA barcode for a gene of that specific specimen. For the rotation, we began by listening to some speakers about some of the possible organizations we could join. After that, we spent an hour doing a group activity during which we wrote down our likes and dislikes on post it notes and stuck 3 of each on our body to learn more about ourselves, and maybe even give us ideas of what we want to do for service learning next year. Lastly, we went and visited existing groups such as TEDx and Sage Hill Surf Rider that were very interesting to learn about and some even caught my attention for next year. Then, after lunch I returned to COAST where we prepared our specimen DNA samples for PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which cuts a certain segment of the specimen’s DNA and duplicates it over and over again until a legible barcode is generated. Many steps went into this process such as adding ethanol, adding buffers, vortexing, switching tubes, and of course actually spinning the collection tubes in the PCR machine. Then, if I remember correctly from biology, next meeting we are going to have to perform gel electrophoresis in order to be able to identify the specimen by the barcode that we will collect. I enjoyed today, especially since I was able to open my horizon to the opportunities that will be available next year for me. I felt to the community since I was actually with my grade today for the first time rather than being only with the faculty led project. Through the activity, we did a lot of communication which helped me develop speaking skills. I did not experience any challenges today, but I did open my mind to a lot of different things that I did not enjoy as much as working with COAST. I learned today that I am more adventurous than I had thought I was since I want to create my own group and try something totally different. Overall, today was very productive and I enjoyed my day, even though it was saddening to hear that COAST will be no longer.

Day 4:

Today at Service Learning, we had quite a progressive day. We began by heading over to the Newport Beach Peninsula at Cole Callin’s house to retrieve one of the two traps that we attached to the pylons. Then, we returned to Sage to gather the organisms that we collected with our trap and sorted them into small tubes filled with ethanol to ensure that they wouldn’t decompose. What stuck out me is how well our group worked together in our task, and I really enjoyed it since it really shows some development of our minigroup. I felt connected to my community because we were able to help marine science. We came across a lot of differences and challenges today such as the poor visibility and high tide which made it considerably harder to retrieve the traps, but we put our minds to it to accomplish our goals. I demonstrated compassion in my daily activities because I was dedicated to the progression of our group’s mission to support our oceans. From today, I learned that I am very productive when it comes to working in a group atmosphere, even more so than working individually. However, I can definitely improve my collaboration skills because I always seem to find myself just following directions instead of leading and helping my peers.

Day 3:

Today, we set up our first traps in the Balboa Bay on Cole Callin's dock. The operation was tough, but we managed through the obstacles, including the dirty and freezing water caused by the rain yesterday and also the low visibility. I felt connected to the community in that we are truly starting our experiment and I'm really excited to see our results. We developed new skills to attach the traps because it took some improvisation and hard work. Like I stated, we persevered through the challenges caused by the rain, and to be honest, it made our task 100% much harder. Even though the task was challenging, I can speak for the team that we all had the passion to attach these traps because we are genuinely interested in investigating our results. I didn't really learn anything about myself, but I do think that we communicated extremely well to complete this task. I don't think there is much more I need to improve on concerning communication, especially between the group of junior boys, but within the entire group, there is work to be done. Overall, I really enjoyed our adventure today because I can really start to see the project come together and I’m really curious to see what kinds of creatures will be caught in our traps. Out of our two traps, I predict that we don’t actually get too many lobster larvae but some random creatures that we can study. I’m looking forward to also using the DNA barcoding to match the creatures we capture on Valentine’s Day to the DNA codes in the archives, since it’s such an interesting process. And finally, I’m proud of our work and I really think good things will come from our hard work in effort to save our seas.

Day 2:
Today, we made our plan for the rest of the year, including dive dates, and then we looked at aquatic organisms through dissecting microscopes. We looked at organisms such as worms, brittle starfish, and even little shrimp. I really enjoyed looking at these organisms because I had never seen anything like it, besides the starfish, and I really think it's good for me to learn what kind of species are in the oceans that we are trying to save. I felt connected to the community in that I was learning about what makes up our community because, after all, our oceans are part of our community. I developed the skills of analyzing clumps of algae to extract these specimens in order to truly see what we wanted to look at, and I persevered through the challenges of identifying the organisms and gathering many different ones in only two samples. I learned that I really like using microscopes and looking at all of the little things that make up our world since there is so much out there that I don't even know exists. I think that I can definitely contribute more in group discussions such as helping make the schedule for the rest of the year instead of sitting and watching, but overall, I feel like I should let my voice be heard more in the future.

Day 1:
Today, we did some research on the evolution of life of lobsters and also started on building traps to capture larvae in order to observe them. We researched the stages of life, the habitats, the effectiveness of different ways of monitoring, and how to observe data. After two hours of this, we went into the Physics Lab 2 to start on building traps. Specifically, Adam and I worked together on a lobster trap using yarn. Both of these exercises interested me and excited me because not only did I get to learn more about what the topic we will be researching for the rest of the year, but we also got to start our research experiment by using materials to make these traps. Throughout the day, I felt connected to the community because I was helping progress the project toward a mutual interest in helping our oceans. We didn’t really encounter any differences today so we didn’t have to develop skills to effectively discuss them. We also didn’t come across any challenges, but we did persevere in building our trap which took a lot of time and effort, but in the end, it will make the biggest difference if they are made well. In addition, I learned that I had some artistic qualities while making the traps, surprisingly. However, I do think that I could improve my communication and collaboration because sometimes I don’t fully understand what we are supposed to do, and nor do any of the juniors, and I don’t really know any of the seniors so it’s weird to ask them, but it will come eventually. I really feel like our group is slowly growing and will soon become very close and work very well together.

My name is Matteo Merage, a junior at Sage Hill, and I’m participating in COAST for service learning this year. I was interested in joining this faculty-led project because of my love for the ocean and the goal to keep our oceans clean. I am in the ocean a lot, whether I’m surfing or scuba diving, and the well being of the ocean is always important. I’m very excited to pursue this project, and am looking forward to conducting experiments, collecting data, and learning about the life in our oceans through science.