Research . . .how it really happened (Part 2)

Besides making cool models and 3D printing them, I actually have a research project this summer. It is not the biggest project, nor the most challenging, or anything I consider "real" research, however, that is the task I was given. My mentor gave me the job of writing a user manual for this new software that we use for simulations. I first had to learn the software, which wasn't easy considering it's open source. For those that don't know (I didn't before this project), open source anything is technology or ideas that are open to the public to change. In the world of software that means programs that you can alter to improve or adapt to what you need. There is even open source soda where the recipe is public. The point behind it being that collaboration is powerful and that everyone has the chance to take open source ideas and use them to better things around them. Pretty cool stuff. So anyway, this program that we are using simulates blood flow through the arteries. The more specific arteries we use are the abdominal aorta and the carotid; some of which have aneurysms or blockage. With patient CT scans, one for every year over the last few years, we look at the change in blood flow from scan to scan. Most of the patients have abdominal aortic aneurysms, and from scan to scan we can see in what direction they are growing and the chances of bursting at each stage.

In regards to the manual, I had to learn the software using the process that we use in the lab to look at the patient scans. Since it is open source like I mentioned before, other people use different features of the software and their own unique processes. In order to make writing this manual more  . . . innovative lets say, my first thought was to publish it on a website. Because I am a visual person and also learn by example, I also added color coding, GIF's (those short videos that replay on Facebook and whatnot), pictures, and lots of examples.

Example of Sara Creativity

I basically went all out Sara creative, making the website awesome. Now not only is it informative but it is also easy to understand and follow. I was going to create my own website by learning HTML  . . .but that proved to be difficult in the time frame I have. Instead I used a MSU template and then focused on making the content more effective.

After this project finished I have to present at the research symposium with all the other undergraduates. Until then, I have some work to do.