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[pendragoness]

I have trouble talking about what I'm doing here in Germany, even to friends of mine that study biology, chemistry, or biochemistry.  I'm always afraid that I'm boring them because I need to explain a lot before I can begin to explain exactly what it is that I'm doing.  Forget friends that aren't involved in science or my parents.  It's just very

Comments

[chaostheory635]

Figure out a way to work it into an absurdly simple sentence, and then explain more if they ask.

"I exploit bacteria and make them make chemicals for me." Maybe?

[pendragoness]

the second question is "what's the point of doing this?"

to which I usually respond "it's a way of generating possible antibiotics and other biologically active potential drug targets, but mostly it's just interesting."

[chaostheory635]

How scaleable is the biosynthesis?

I have it easy in terms of describing my research:
"I make solar cells!" (and then i go on and on about printable/flexible electronics)

[pendragoness]

uh, I think someone did a 20 L fermentation and just barely got enough for an NMR

[aria_muse]

no one ever knows what i do in school, either. it's kinda embarrassing.

[jennekirby]

Someone asked me recently why my project is particularly important, and ultimately all I could come up with was, "It isn't, really." Heh.