[:en]Ms. Megumi Sakamoto
Hometown in Japan: Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Home University in Japan: Sophia University, Tokyo
Major & School Year: Applied Sciences, B3
Research Host at Rice: Prof. Rick Barrera, Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science & Nanoengineering
Research Project Title: Carbon nanotubes functionalization for various applications (PDF)

Why TOMODACHI STEM @ Rice University?

I want to study one more time in U.S. (Try Again!) When I was freshman, I studied abroad in UNC charlotte for three weeks. At that time, I could listen and understand what they said, but I could not ask question. My lack of knowledge and attitude of passivity stopped me from doing that. I deeply regretted. Simultaneously, I decided to study harder. Moreover, I made a decision that when I get opportunity to study in U.S, I try it again and archive results. TOMODACHI STEM is the best chance of trying again!

TOMODACHI STEM will support my academic goals within my undergraduate degree and in the long future.Next year, I will be junior and belong to laboratory. In majority of Japanese university, professor gives senior students subjects. I guess that they want their students to get accustomed to a lot of things such as rules, environments, culture. However, if I participate this program, I already get used to them, so I will be able to begin looking for my subjects. I also want to go on to graduate school after I receive my bachelor’s degree. There is the big difference between Bachelor and Master. If I receive Master degree, I do everything by myself. My professor and seniors do not help me. TOMODACHI STEM experience will help me be needed manpower in engineering in the future.

I am interested in environment of American university including Rice University. Environment of Rice University is great for engineering students. I already research about Rice University on the Internet, it is said that this university’s research of engineering is highly-regarded, and their facilities are great and frontier. Needless to say, Japanese facilities are enough to study, but I want to compare and check the difference and the same. I believe new recognition give me a hint to participate actively in the world.

Come into contact with a different culture including American culture. When I studied abroad in U.S last time, I was really surprised that most of Students in U.S. go to university by car. There are many big parking structure. Most of students in Japan do by train. And I also love American pop-music. I am interested in such culture differences and sometimes yearn for wonderful American culture.

Goals

• Learn more about Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science & Nanoengineering (I want to understand a lot of sciences behind the research. If my understanding and activities lead to help the research move forward, it is the best outcome.)
• Try again to explore U.S. (It is my second time to study abroad in U.S. U.S is an attractive country for me!)
• Make strong friendships. (Friendship is one of my pleasure. I am keeping in touch with friends that I met last time in U.S. I want to contribute to the U.S.-Japan relationship in the future.)
• Become a proficient speaker in English in order to express myself at any time. (I will attend and take part in proactively some kind of English class and events.)

Questions I have About Research or Life in the U.S. – Prior to Departure

1. What is the difference between Japanese research style and American research style?
2. What is the real American life-style? (keywords: food/transportation/pop-culture…)

Excerpts from Megumi’s Weekly Reports

• Week 01: Arrival in the U.S.
• Week 02: Critical Incident Analysis
• Week 03: Research in the U.S. vs. Research in Japan
• Week 04: Final Week at Rice
• Final Research Project Presentation
• Week 06: Science & Technology Policy Study Tour in Washington, DC
• Final Report

Week 01: Arrival in the U.S.

When I arrived in Houston, I thought I should have brought more sweaters from Japan. It is more chilly than I expected. However, I remembered I had heard that Houston’s weather is very changeable.

Next day, that has turned out to be true. I went to Rice University and then took a walk in and around campus. Before noon, it was cold and rainy, but the weather turned to be sunny and warmed soon! I took off my sweater and I thought I should have brought more T-shirts. It was opposite to what I thought when I arrived at Houston.

Rice University has beautiful campus and I like it (I think these photos show a beautiful campus.) This is because they are just like buildings in Harry Potter, there is a lot of green and can see cute squirrels. To be honest, I sometimes got lost and I asked students “where I am on the map?” Some people showed me the way and others actually guided me to the destination. Rice University’s students are really kind.

Of course, people in Houston are very kind too. It is my first time to visit Houston. I like this town except transportation (I do not have a U.S. driver license, but I can use Uber). I am surprised when I have breakfast every morning at the hotel, I can hear a lot of Spanish conversation. I recognized Houston is close to Mexico and has border.

 

Also, I attended a lot of events in first week. All events were great but most helpful one was a panel discussion “Graduate Study in the U.S.” This program was moderated by Keiko Kato, a Japanese PhD student in Materials Science & NanoEngineering who was an assistant to our program. I was interested in studying in U.S. but I did not have detailed and worthwhile information before this event. Eventually, I could not decide what I am going to do in the future at that time, but everybody and everything gave me tips and hints to help me decide.

I will conduct my research during the weekdays. On the weekends, I am free to explore Houston with friends. On Saturday, we attended Houston Rodeo BBQ championship. There were many different types of wonderful BBQ and amazing attractions! I tried eating U.S.　(Texas?) foods. On Sunday, we went to the Galleria, which is famous as a large shopping mall in Houston, with Rice students who were alumni of the NanoJapan: IREU Program. We had a cheesecake and pasta for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and then had a burger for dinner at Local Foods. All the food was delicious but too big for me. I am always full after eating in U.S.

Of course, we went shopping. I bought sunglasses (I forgot mine at home). I felt at Rodeo I had to wear sunglasses to protect eyes from dazzling sunlight in Houston. I think that sunlight in Houston is stronger than in Tokyo. Overall, my first week in Houston was great. I will keep on working hard.

Question of the week
Why is it so cold inside? When I am shopping at a department store, I feel cold. When I am riding on the bus, I feel cold. Am I the only one who feels like that?

• Yes, the A/C indoors in the U.S. is much stronger and colder than is typical in Japan.  It is always helpful to bring a light sweater, shawl, or jacket with you to put on inside if you get chilly – even in the middle of summer.

Research Project Overview
Research Host at Rice: Prof. Rick Barrera, Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science & Nanoengineering

My research project is carbon nanotubes functionalization for various applications. I will make carbon nanotubes being functionalized and then characterize the final products. I am looking for what the best final products are in terms of functionalization and characterization. Note: I am going to mention ‘Various’ applications after next week, because I am trying and selecting now.

My first meeting took place with my host professor Dr. Rick Barrera, my mentors Dr. Liehui Ge and Mr. Lucas Isenhart in MEB (Mechanical Engineering Buliding) 237 on February 23. Dr. Barrera told us our research project and then told me why he chose this subject and gave me a little lecture. After that, they guided me to my temporary office. It was my first time to have my desk in laboratory so I was impressed. Moreover, they bought me various necessities including a lab coat, glasses and globes. By the way, at the end of first meeting, Dr. Barrera said “please call me Rick”. I was very surprised that word because I have to call “Barrera-san” in my country. It is very different between U.S and Japan.

Next, I introduce my mentors. Everybody is very kind, even more than I expected. Dr. Liehui Ge is Dr. Barrera’s post-doc. Mr. Lucas Isenhart is a PhD student. I will conduct research with Lucas mainly. Dr. Liehui will be our advisor. I understood I had a lot of supporters. They were going to spend their important time on this project in spite of being busy. I decided to do my best for not only me but them.

In this week, I did not conduct my research. My major is mechanical engineering. To be honest, the field during this program is outside my major. (When I was a freshman, I took only one chemistry class) That is why I must try to study the area of carbon nanotube. The way of studying is not reading reference books but searching and reading papers. Dr. Liehui told me how to choose and read papers. I read over ten papers in two days and then I selected four interesting papers to me. One of them is “Sumio Iijima, Nature 1991 helical microtubules of graphitic carbon”. Mr. Iijima’s paper is easiest to read of four papers because he is Japanese and this paper is oldest, but I want to recognize his achievement so I selected this paper.

Next week, my research is going to start. I am very excited to do new things. I am looking forward to doing.

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Week 02: Critical Incident Analysis

Everything was going well this week. I did not have any troubles about hotel, food, people, clothing and so on. Moreover, we went to Space Center Houston on March 5. First, we took part in Tram Tour, which goes to former Mission Control Center. It is famous as a place NASA monitored Apollo 11. As you know, Apollo 11 went to the moon. I was glad I could visited a historical place. Also, in this tram tour, we could watch a big rocket!

Finally, I watched a short movie about NASA’s history. I think NASA has made a dream for human beings come true. And then I learned many Japanese have been playing an active role as an astronaut or an engineer. In the future, I want to make human’s wish come true as an engineer like them, so I must keep on making effort.

By the way, in all honesty, sometimes I feel the language barrier and the cultural differences because there are a lot of people from different countries in Rice University. The official language of U.S. is American English, so almost all of them have to be able to speak English in order to study. For me, sometimes, it is hard to hear non-native speakers English (Of course, I am not a native speaker). I have taken and passed so many English listening tests including my school’s exam, entrance exam and so on. However, the ability of listening conversation accurately is very different from the ability of passing listening test.

I already got used to listening to native speaker’s English with a lot of tests, but that is not the true skills to listening English. Moreover, conversation in tests is systematic. It is also hard to understand humor and jokes in conversation. When one person told a fantastic joke, the other people except me began to laugh. I felt in my mind that why they were laughing and what made them laugh?

That is why I usually cannot keep up with conversations but I tried to ask my questions after conversations (I didn’t want to interrupt) because I recognized how kind people in Houston were to me in the last week.

Also, I want to mention my ride on Uber a little. Uber is very convenient taxi-like service and good for me because they come very soon, their car is clean and drivers are very kind. Last week I said “I like Houston except transportation”, but I want to withdraw my word. Now I like Houston very much.

Question of the Week
Why don’t people in Houston sort garbage? There is no system of recycling or reusing?

• At Rice University and in Houston there is single-stream recycling.  This means that you put all your recyclable waste – typically cans, glass, paper, cardboard, and some plastics – into one blue bin.  Then, they sort it at the recycling facility.  Each city in the U.S. has different processes for garbage and recycling though so this is something you want to ask about when you first come to the U.S.  What can be recycled and what bin/where do I put recyclables?

Research Project Update

I understood one very important thing in this week. Chemical experiments take a very long time to finish for each part. That means I have to wait for a long time and I must not make repeated mistakes. To be honest, the time between experiments make me feel pressed because this research has only three weeks. However, I also understood this presentation needs not good results but my comprehension. Audiences want to listen how I understand my project. That is why I read papers, study and ask questions positively.

In the second week, Dr. Santosh gave a demonstration of purification to me. I have to do the same thing by myself next week. He told Mr. Lucas and I the theory and experimental methods. I mention detailed theory and research methods. (This time, we use Dr. Barrera lab’s carbon nanotubes)

Dr. Santosh had his own TGA data about one product including carbon nanotubes. TGA is thermos gravimetric analysis.

#Theory: This TGA data shows the following;

• 0℃~100℃:moisture loss
• 100℃～400℃: it is stable.(it is dried up)
• 400℃～440℃: remove amorphous carbon
• 440℃～550℃: it is stable, again
• 550℃～600℃: lost a lot of carbon nanotubes / remain catalyst

In this time, we have to get carbon nanotubes from one product, which means we have to remove amorphous carbon. That is why, we will go through these steps;

1. Heat treatment: Put carbon nanotubes into a container and put them into furnace which is warmed at 420℃ in four hours. A furnace is a device used for high-temperature heating. We also have to stir every thirty minutes.
2. Keep it in the machine in order to take the heat from carbon nanotubes. It takes one hour.
3. Cover it with foil. Leave it alone in 24 hours
4. Acid treatment: Put HNO₃ into a container which is carbon nanotubes in. I also have to stir every two hours in 24 hours.
5. I do filterization and leave it in 48 hours
6. Break carbon nanotubes into powder. This is a final product.
7. If I have more time (three weeks are too short to me), I could also do peroxide treatment between heat treatment and acid treatment. Peroxide treatment takes 72 hours.

Also, Mr. Christian showed me the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). I will characterize my final products with this device. My research plan in the next week is to do many purifications and characterization in the same time.

One of the interesting things is the way of proceeding is very different from each other. One man is the type of person who doesn’t worry about details. When I asked ”How much HNO₃ will we need?”, he answered “Up to completely covered with MCNTs”. On the other hand, the other man always needs numbers. He was not satisfied with the answers to my question and he asked again “How much HNO₃ will we need?” I think it is good U.S. culture. Everybody does not hesitate to ask anyone.

I am very happy I can work at this laboratory. Next week, I have to do everything more positively.

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Week 03: Research in the U.S. vs. Research in Japan

I could live a full U.S life this week because I took part in research and cultural activities positively.

I had two special classes. One is Prof. Shimizu’s class on Wednesday, March 9. Her lecture is on “U.S. – Japan relations through the sport of baseball”. Two weeks ago I had a chance to talk with her, so I already recognized she was an amazing woman. Her class was more interesting than I had expected. I am not good at History but her explanations are easy to understand. The other is Prof. Neal Lane’s class on Thursday, March 10. His lecture was on “Baker Institute for Public Policy” and “scientific policy between science and technology policy”. It was a very big opportunity to listen to great person’s opinions; as he was the former director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy and the former director of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Next week, I am going to make a presentation on my research so I have to prepare it completely by practicing. Last week, I received Dr. Krupa’s, who is from the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership, lecture on ‘presenting on research’ and then I attended Rice’s “90 second thesis” competition this week as an as audience member. I learned a lot of tips at that time. Also, our mentors were teaching about how to present. Mr. Lucas is a native-English speaker, so he taught me speech and words appropriate to my presentation. Dr. Liehui is a post-doc from China, and he is a man of wide experience. His advice is always invaluable to me.

By the way, I got used to the life in Houston and Rice University, I came to understand the research style in U.S. I wanted to find the difference between a research style in U.S. and that in Japan, but I have never belonged to laboratory (I am going to join Terumichi laboratory in Sophia University on April 2016). Therefore, my comparison may be simple, but there is a lot of points which is different from my expectations. It is interesting to me.

In this program, I can compare Rice University with my home university. My home university is Sophia University. It has things in common with Rice University. The number of students per professor is small, and both of campus is not too large. Also, I thought there was not much different in terms of facilities. However, university’s in the U.S attached greater importance to practicing. I met some of undergraduate students who engaged in experiments. They sometimes teach me how to use facilities and machines. They, probably, in Rice University undergraduate students have the right to decide whether or not to conduct research. Moreover, students never hesitate to ask anyone (including professor, without appointment). This rule and environment is good for people want to work hard. This is different from what is valued in Japan. University’s in Japan attach importance to classroom learning, so I guess Japanese students have much knowledge about their own major, but they (including me) do not know how to make use of them. In almost all of university’s in Japan, we can start take part in laboratory only when we are junior or senior students. We have to (I want to) do research and attend classes simultaneously.

In all honesty, I do not have enough experience to compare U.S. with Japan (I recognized the fact this week.) However, in many fields including science, Japan and U.S have been recognized. Both the U.S. and Japanese way can be the best way.

Question of the Week
Why people in Houston wear tank top in March?

• Students in the U.S. tend to dress more casually overall than students in Japan, and certain cities in the U.S. are more casual than others too.  Houston is overall known for being a more casual city than, say, Washington, DC in dress/fashion. Also the summers in Houston are very hot and humid so you often don’t want to spend time outside during the day.  By comparison the spring weather is warm and sunny but not too hot or humid, so its not uncommon to see students sitting outside in shorts and tank-tops or short sleeved shirts enjoying the spring weather in March and April.

Research Project Update
Last week, Dr. Santosh gave me a demonstration about purification. This week, I had to do that as not a demonstration but an experiment by myself.

In the first meeting, Dr. Barrera explained the importance of my laboratory notebook and keeping good notes. At that time, I understood it would be the evidence that I did my best to experiment.

As I mentioned last week, chemical experiments need a lot of time to finish each part of the experiment. Last week, the time between experiments made me feel pressured but I did not have such a feeling this week because I could accept that it was one of U.S. research styles. This time I mentioned what I did and what I happened like when I write down a laboratory book.

 

I did two heat treatments and two acid treatments, which means I used two products. Now I named product1 and product2.

(If you are interested in more details on the steps, please check my report in week 2 )

 

①product1

• I did step1~3 on Monday, March 7. I used the following product.
• Weight:15.0mg/Purity >95wt%
• When I was doing step1 (I was stirring products), I saw product 1 sparking fly.

March 8, 2016, I weighed product 1, and it was 6.79mg. That means we lost 8.21mg (more than half of 15 mg). This is a big problem but I do not know why it has happened, but I guessed sparks led to this problem. I did step 4 on March 8 2016. We used 37.2ml water and 37.8 HNO_3. Finally, I did step 5 on March 9 2016,and step 6 on

March 13 2016. It is not tough to break (Last time’s products are very tough), so I was surprised.

②:product2

I did step1~3 on Thursday, March 10. Put carbon nanotubes into a container and put them into furnace which is warmed at 410(change from 420)℃ in four hours.

I did step 4 on Friday, March 11. Put HNO₃ into a container which is carbon nanotubes in. We use 4N, 8N and 12N HNO₃. N means normality. Normality of HNO₃ is 63.0. (reference: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemistry/stockroom-reagents/learning-center/technical-library/reagent-concentrations.html) I did step 5 on Saturday, March 12.

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Week 04: Final Week at Rice

This week was the last to conduct my research but I focused on preparing for my final research presentation and PPT.

TOMODACHI STEM @Rice made me strong in terms of studying, doing, research, living myself….and so on. First, I mentioned my style of practicing. Mr. Lucas gave me a lot of advice. He is a native English speaker. When I was making the manuscript for presentation, he said “Never try to write in Japanese. Do not think contents of presentation in Japanese. Do not search difficult English words on the Internet. You have to think everything in English. You have to use the English words you learned.” This is a great hint to me because it helped me to organize what I want to say. Also, our mentors prepared for a great room to practice me. I practiced again and again.

To be honest, I have been confused again and again and talked to myself “Why are you here? Why are you at Rice?” because I am never assigned to difficult part, easy part only. In other words, I have to study science and English harder in order to be trusted.　Before I started my research, my purpose is “Learn more about Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science & Nanoengineering. I want to understand a lot of the science behind the research. If my understanding and activities lead to help the research move forward, it is the best outcome. However, my knowledge is not yet at the level that I can achieve that purpose. Also, other TOMODACHI students are really smart and interested in physics. They motivated me to do research and to study harder at Rice. I am proud of member of this program.

By the way, my major is not material science but mechanical engineering, so I think it is the last time to wear lab coats, glasses, masks during experiments. One of the research I will miss is to put my hands into machine which is warmed 400℃. It is a part of heat treatment (week2) and exciting to me!

Also, I wanted to mention other program except research. I got to know some Rice students and they will come to my home university, Sophia University, this summer on a program organized by Dr. Naoko Ozaki, in the Center for the Study of Languages. I want to support them in Japan in the same way that Keiko-san, our graduate student assistant, supported us.

Question of the Week
Why hot meals in U.S. hotel is same? During this program, I stayed at two hotel. I always eat waffle and cranberry.

• Yes, since most guests only stay at a hotel a few days the included breakfast is often the same or very similar each day.  This is true of hotels in Japan too.  However, since the hotel is right next door to a grocery store and the rooms have a full kitchen, it is easy for students to buy some breakfast items of their own choosing and have breakfast on their own in the room if/when they get tired of the hotel breakfast options.

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Final Research Project Presentation

On Friday, March 18 all TOMODACHI STEM students gave a research project presentation at Rice University. Click the project title to download a PDF of the student’s presentation.

Research Host at Rice
Prof. Rick Barrera, Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science & Nanoengineering

Research Project Title
Carbon nanotubes functionalization for various applications (PDF)

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Week 06: Science & Technology Policy Study Tour in Washington, DC

Not yet submitted

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Final Report

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