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Samantha Lewis

OMSI: Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

SL: I was born on Royal Air Force Base Lakenheath in England (my father was stationed there) and lived on Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Hawaii until I was 7, then we moved to Springfield OR.

OMSI: What three words best describe you?

SL: Ambitious, hard-working, outgoing.

OMSI: As a child, did you have any hobbies, interests, or experiences that helped prepare you for success in science?

SL: I loved to build things like miniature boats to sail on the stream on our property. My favorite school projects have always been dioramas, I've always capitalized on opportunities to experiment with models and other hands-on projects.

OMSI: Please tell us about a mentor or teacher who helped to inspire your interest in science.

SL: Dr. Skip has been my mentor for the last two years, even before I did my apprenticeship with him. The summer previous I had done some research on viscosity in photoresist fluids for microprocessors and he was always kind to me, encouraging me to explore science in my own way rather than memorize out of a book.

OMSI: What's the worst trouble you ever got into in school? Have you ever blown anything up?

SL: The worst trouble I've gotten in actually has nothing to do with mishaps in the lab. I once got a detention, for the whole story, see the next question.

OMSI: Describe a difficult situation that you were in and how you handled it.

SL: I once was assigned a Saturday School for skipping my literature class sophomore year. The class was so boring, and I had a good grade, so I justified skipping by doing something constructive. I was News Editor for the school paper at the time, and I left class to go work on my pages. I talked my way out of the Saturday School with the teacher by saying I would do an extra paper. But when I didn't go to the Saturday School, I was threatened with suspension by the truant officer! I frantically explained how I had worked it out with the teacher, and luckily got my sentence reduced to a detention. I never did write that paper though.

OMSI: What is your favorite class this year?

SL: I'm taking Roman Life and Culture 202 at the University of Oregon. Its really interesting to learn about a culture that has been dead thousands of years.

OMSI: What is your dream? What do you most hope to accomplish in your career?

SL: My dream job would be working as a polymer scientist at NASA. I would like to use chemical engineering to create an efficient water purification system for the International Space Station using polymer materials. I've had a chance to hear a couple of presentations by NASA Astronaut Don Petit about the need for one. If I could accomplish that, I would feel like I had done something significant, not only for myself, but for everyone in the country.

OMSI: How do you feel about the current state of science education in the U.S.?

SL: I think that current science education is a good foundation. However, for students such as myself who seek specialized instruction in certain disciplines or want more opportunities to gain scientific knowledge in general, the present education isn't nearly up to par. I have had to be very aggressive in seeking out opportunities for enrichment. I think our school would be greatly benefited by incorporating outreach programs for those who are interested.

OMSI: What do you like to do in your free time?

SL: I watch anime, go hiking, or to the movies with my friends. I don't have much free time because I'm involved in a multitude of extracurricular activities, but I make the most of what time I have. I have a relatively stressful life, so I spend a lot of time with family and friends having fun and trying to relax.

OMSI: What do you consider your very best skill?

SL: My best skill is my ability to organize. I've started many projects such as my engineering club that were so daunting at first, but by compartmentalizing and taking things one day at a time I was able to accomplish a lot.

OMSI: Please tell us about your apprenticeship. How did you come up with the idea for your project? How did you go about researching and building your project?

SL: I worked on a project sponsored by the United States Department of Energy. My job was to assist in the design of an adhesive gel repair patch for damaged high-density polyethylene. Polyethylene is a plastic used to make underground natural gas pipes. My research group and I studied different techniques for bonding polyethylene as well as the strength of different adhesives. We also studied the effect of varying environmental conditions (such as sub-freezing temperatures) on bond strength. I basically glued hundreds of pieces of polyethylene together and then pulled them apart with an Instron Tensile Tester so I could graph the data and see which adhesives could withstand the most pressure without warping the plastic. I experimented with four commercial adhesives and then made another just for comparison by dissolving polyethylene in para-xylene. I was able to confidently recommend on of the adhesives for the patch. At the end of the apprenticeship I was hired by OSU as a Research Assistant so I could continue testing the most promising adhesive.

OMSI: If you were to do your project again, would you do anything differently?

SL: I would just try to have more patience. At the beginning of my apprenticeship I had no real concept of how much waiting and perseverance research takes. I would run tests for days only to graph them and find out that they were breaking at such a low pressure they almost weren't worth the time (although I'm glad for every test I ran, for they were good experiences).

OMSI: Please tell us about your educational plans and goals.

SL: I will attend either Stanford University or Oregon State University in the fall. I'm planning to get a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and then perhaps a Masters in Materials Science. I can't wait to get a research position, I love working in the lab more than anything in the world.

OMSI: Have you had any on the job training or science related work experience?

SL: I participated in the Summer Experience in Science and Engineering for Youth Program during the summer of 2002, I did my apprenticeship and worked at OSU during the summer of 2003. I plan to participate in the National Youth Science Camp this coming summer.