Team:MichiganState/Notebook/Device Design
Judging
Awards
Human Practices
Lab Notebook
May
Week 1
05/03 - 05/09
Monday
- Discussed goals and objectives for an ideal biocontainment design
- Explored types of CAD software to use for drafting the bee feeding device
Tuesday
- Began background research into current bee feeders on the market
- Brainstormed feeding device designs
- Began literature review of bee attraction
- Began looking into image recognition software
Wednesday
- Discussed rough sketches of feeding devices
- Discussed elements of feeding solution, such as viscosity, temperature, and sugar concentration
- Researched possible pests that should not be able to access the feeder
Thursday
- Continued to create CAD designs based on rough sketches of feeders
- Emma and Kate started writing the Revive and Restore grant proposal
- Anthony started working on image recognition code
- Began researching prototype materials, such as clear acrylic sheets for the cover
Friday
- Investigated alternative biocontainment mechanisms, such as choosing a probiotic bacteria that would not colonize insects besides bees
- Determined that devices should be raised above ground to prevent pests on the ground from reaching it
Week 2
05/10 - 05/16
Monday
- Continued developing CAD designs
- Emma and Kate continued writing the Revive and Restore grant proposal
Tuesday
- Continued developing CAD designs
- Emma and Kate continued writing the Revive and Restore grant proposal
Wednesday
- Discussed standardizing initial feeder designs (volume, number of feeding sites, size of feeding holes)
- Began drafting experimental procedure
Thursday
- Researching more device components (acrylic sheets, tubing, stoppers, etc.)
- Began discussing 3D printing options
Friday
- Presented and discussed initial CAD feeder designs
- Looked into whether a check-in form would be necessary for experiments
Week 3
05/17 - 05/23
Monday
- Created simplified CAD drawings suitable for 3D printing and initial testing
- Revised experimental design
- Brainstormed ways to distribute the probiotic evenly through the sugar water solution
Tuesday
- Continued researching S. alvi to determine how it would naturally settle in a sugar water solution
- Anthony received the camera module that would be incorporated into the final feeder design
Wednesday
- Discussed standardizing initial feeder designs (volume, number of feeding sites, size of feeding holes)
- Began drafting experimental procedure
Thursday
- Emma and Kate worked on revising the grant proposal for Revive and Restore
- Placed an order for materials to be used in feeder design
- Began researching UV and ethanol resistant plastics and resins to be used for feeder
Friday
- Emma and Kate finished revising the research proposal
- Submitted check-in form for feeder experiments
- Finished revising experimental protocol in Benchling
Week 4
05/25 - 05/29
Monday
- Submitted Revive and Restore grant proposal
- Created data collection templates in Benchling
Tuesday
- Worked on literature review of elements affecting bee attraction
- Brainstormed variables to test in feeder experiments
Wednesday
- Selected a few variables to test during feeder experiments (feeding hole depth, feeding hole angle, feeder color)
- Anthony began experimenting with raspberry pi
- Began researching scents to enhance bee attraction
Thursday
- Kate developed a control feeder for the experiments
- Emma continued working on the literature review for bee attraction elements
- Kate started designing "mini feeders" to test certain variables
Friday
- Anthony continued working with the raspberry pi
- Emma continued working on the literature review for bee attraction elements
- Kate started designing "mini feeders" to test certain variables
June
Week 5
05/31 - 06/06
Monday
- Began scouting on-campus locations to perform bee experiments
- Used literature review to narrow down testing variables to specific colors and shapes
- Developed testing procedure for mini feeders on Benchling
Tuesday
- Continued to look into on-campus locations for bee feeder experiments
Wednesday
- Found contact at MSU's Perennial Gardens to discuss potentially performing bee feeder experiments there
- Considered other elements of experimental design to account for, such as creating camera covers to prevent overheating
Thursday
- Discussed 3D printing option with a contact with a filament printer
Friday
- Drafted a general public survey for community thoughts on synthetic biology
- Began drafting IRB application for survey
Week 6
06/07 - 06/13
Monday
- Ordered filament for 3D printing and began printing
- Organized meeting with Anna Heck of the MSU Children’s Garden to determine if the garden could be used for our experiments
- Reached out to Safety Team again and were informed we’d get feedback on our check-in form by Thursday
Tuesday
- Kate polished up the mini feeder 3D designs so they will be ready to prin
- Emma began learning CSS and HTML for coding the wiki
- Anthony ordered new motor components for the raspberry pi and continued working on it
Wednesday
- Kate submitted the figures she designed for the BioRender grand
- Anthony received more design components
- Everyone completed the online EHS training necessary to be allowed to do on-campus garden feeder experiments
Thursday
- We learned we may not be allowed to do our experiments in the MSU gardens because it qualifies as “on campus research,” which is still restricted for undergrads
- Discussed options for cameras during our feeder trials and purchasing SD cards
Friday
- Reached out to Safety team again since we still had not heard back about our check-in form
- Waited to hear back from provost’s office on whether we would be allowed to use on-campus gardens for our experiments
- Kate uploaded the mini-feeder designs
- Began working on our portion of the safety form that is due in two weeks
Week 6
06/14 - 06/20
Monday
- Checked in about status of 3D prints being made by Jadon and found out the printer was having problems
- Emma learned from the Safety Team that we need to fill out an Animal Safety Form and began working on that
- Anthony is waiting on motor components to arrive to continue his work with the raspberry pi
Tuesday
- Continued working on animal safety form
- Emma continued training on HTML and CSS, with help from Anthony
Wednesday
- Continued working on animal safety form
- Communicated with Bethany Troy from the VIP Garden at MSU about using that garden for our experiments
- Still waiting to hear back from the provost’s office on whether we are allowed to use the on-campus gardens
Thursday
- Reviewed research on variables affecting bee behavior and attraction
- Decided to ask Shay on Monday about printing our designs on campus in the resin printer since Jadon’s 3D filament printer is still having problems
Friday
- Kate worked on our sections of the Safety Form
- Emma finished drafting the Animal Use Form
- Anthony finished gathering all necessary materials for the motor components of the feeders
- Still no news from provost’s office – decided to start reaching out to off-campus gardens next week
Week 8
06/21 - 06/27
Monday
- Submitted Animal Use Form and received word we should get feedback by the end of the week
- Kate found 4 off-campus gardens around East Lansing to contact and drafted an email
- Shay said she is open to printing our feeders in the on-campus labs but will be unable to until the week of July 9th
- Anthony is playing with motor components and familiarizing himself with the system
Tuesday
- We were informed on-campus experiments will not be allowed this summer, so Kate is contacting nearby gardens/parks - Fenner Nature Center, Lake Lansing, etc.
- Emma contacted Bees in the D for an interview about their methods for feeding and caring for bees
- Discussed the possibility of creating a cost analysis
Wednesday
- Kate contacted all of the off-campus gardens on her list and is waiting for replies
- Began prepping additional experimental components, like compiling cameras and tripods
Thursday
- Completed our portion of the safety form
- Since filament printer was still having problems printing PETG, Jadon is going to try printing with PLA instead
Friday
- No available notes
Week 9
06/28 - 07/04
Monday
- Lake Lansing North gave us permission to use any of their parks for our experiments
- One PLA feeder prototype is complete
- Received feedback from check-in form – decided we will need to do more forms before we use actual biocontainment mechanisms/gating, but we are approved for the prototype testing
Tuesday
- Continued printing PLA feeders
- Kate started building camera covers to prevent overheating during our trials
- Emma made plans to visit Lake Lansing North tomorrow
Wednesday
- Kate is filling out application for Fenner Nature Center, particularly the prairie restoration area and the butterfly gardens
- Emma visited Lake Lansing North and decided it will not be a good location for our experiments – not enough pollinators/floral areas and no bees were seen
- Anthony worked on getting some supplies ordered that had fallen through the cracks
Thursday
- Kate sent in the Fenner Nature Center research application and began working on the application for Cooley Gardens
- Continued working on camera spreadsheet
Friday
- No available notes – day off for holiday
July
Week 10
07/05 - 07/11
Monday
- PLA filament printer failed again
- Decided to plan on using resin printer as a backup and discuss any necessary design modifications with Shay
Tuesday
- Sent .stl files to Shay for her to determine whether we need to make changes before they can be resin printed
- Researched different options for storage and distribution of probiotic, such as pollen patties or freeze drying bacteria
Wednesday
- Shay told us she will look at our designs by Friday
- Set up tentative experimental timeline: should have a confirmed location by 7/15, control trials performed the following week, and devices done printing by 7/27
Thursday
- Emma went to Fenner Nature Center and decided it would be a great location in terms of pollinators, although the butterfly gardens are quite small so the prairie may be better
- Decided to look into using a table or wooden blocks to keep the feeders from being directly on the ground
Friday
- Continued to work on Wiki and Outreach work while waiting to hear back from Shay about whether we need to modify our designs
Week 11
07/12 - 07/18
Monday
- Met with Shay about printing in resin – need to incorporate drain holes and decrease the size of our prints
- Researched lemongrass oil, which we could use to attract bees if they are not interested in our prototypes
- Still waiting to hear back from Fenner about whether we can use their gardens
Wednesday
- Anthony is working on motors and sensors
- Kate and Emma are primarily working on outreach, graphic designs, and wiki until we hear back from Fenner
Thursday
- Received news from Potter Park Zoo that we can use their Pollinator Garden
- Emma will reach out to our contact Megan at the zoo and try to get a tour in the next week
Week 12
07/19 - 07/25
Monday
- Discussed goals and objectives for our next meeting with Shay about 3D resin printing
- Determined we will use 6” and 12” tall wooden blocks to hold the prototype feeders during experiments
Tuesday
- Talked to Gene Engineering team about their planned experiments on S. alvi and how their results may help with understanding how long S. alvi will survive in the sugar water solution
- Kate looked into resin toxicity to make sure there is no research implying that any type of resin can be harmful or repellant to bees
Wednesday
- Shay said she will look over our modified designs and do a test print soon
Thursday
- Emma went to Cooley Gardens and determined it would also be a good experimental location, with plenty of bees, flowers, and open areas to set up cameras
- Decided to establish a timeline for printing designs with Shay on Monday
Friday
- Emma toured Potter Park and decided that it or Cooley Gardens would be equally good locations for the experiments
Week 13
07/26 - 08/01
Monday
- Discussed additional modifications to prototypes and mini feeders in order to reduce printing time
- Confirmed permission and health forms with Potter Park Zoo
Tuesday
- Created a When2Meet to determine ideal dates for first round of experiments
- Emma and Anthony working on outlining the wiki
- Kate working on animations for educational videos
Wednesday
- Kate uploaded the angled mini feeders for printing
- Discussed specific setup for Potter Park experiments (camera angles, feeder arrangement, location, etc.)
Thursday
- Scheduled first three experiment dates based on results of the When2Meet
Friday
- Continued working on outreach and wiki work while waiting for designs to print
- Emma emailed Potter Park to confirm experiment dates
August
Week 14
08/02 - 08/08
Monday
- Began printing resin mini feeders for first experiment on Saturday
- Discussed final necessary purchases for experiment (colored tape, wooden blocks, etc.) and assigned these purchases to individuals
Tuesday
- Anthony continued working on raspberry pi and image recognition components (not to be used initial experimental trials)
- Wrote up a full supplies list for the first experiment and assigned individuals to bring each component
Wednesday
- Kate purchased electrical tape and wood
- Anthony updated the group on the current image recognition software – needs a white background, so started brainstorming options
Friday
- Finalized supply list for Saturday experiment
- Emma picked up devices, dried them, and tested ability to hold and dispense water successfully
Saturday
- Set up and performed first trial at Potter Park Zoo
Week 15
08/09 - 08/15
Monday
- Discussed experimental results – setup with cameras and feeders went very well, but the bees were not interested in the feeders
- Brainstormed possible methods for enhancing bee attraction to feeders for next trial (more colored tape, lemongrass oil)
- Uploaded camera footage to Drive for analysis, as well as images of the test site
Saturday
- Kate and Anthony performed a second experimental trial using lemongrass oil and more colored tape
Week 16
08/16 - 08/22
Monday
- Kate reviewed her footage from Saturday’s experiment but did not see any bees using the feeders
- Kate uploaded other camera footage for Emma to review
- Observed that bees seemed more interested in an open container of sugar water than the semi-closed feeders – planned to attempt designing a more “open concept” feeder
Tuesday
- Discussed changes for future experiments – test if bees are more attracted to feeders after a few days of sitting in their environment, start brainstorming new ideas in the meanwhile
- Kate set up feeders in her backyard to monitor for a few days to test this theory
Wednesday
- Kate observed a large population of bees in her backyard during the first trial but did not see any using the feeder yet
Thursday
- Kate continued backyard feeder experiment
- Anthony tested image recognition software on bee pictures from trials
- Emma continued working on wiki pages
Friday
- Received unexpected feedback and required changes from Animal Safety Team a month after receiving approval – decided to pause experimental trials until the issue is cleared up
- Before pausing trials, Kate observed that bees were still not using the backyard feeders, possibly because they were much lower than where the bees were flying