Week THREE: Getting along

Third week came to an end! Feels like I am bit old here already 

Things are getting more on routine- nevertheless enjoyment is there!
And, I actually had a trip to Bohol this weekend with my office-mate, Chee-Anne. Bohol is probably of the most beautiful places- so being there was a great time out.


Down to Work-

• This week also, I was more involved in Data encoding.
This time around, I was dealing with the data obtained from the Reflectometer to provide a measurement for the calculation of the elemental carbon content of the aerosols deposited on the Nucleopore polycarbonate filters during the sampling period. I was using Black Carbon Log book to update on the work sheet.
After that, I worked on some formatting. It was basically to make an input file for the PMF (Positive Matrix Factorization) and XRF analysis
• On the 24th, I visited one of the sampling sites- Valenzuela. It was my visit to learn the activities like: changing the filters, making readings
At first, we need to take reading of the Meter, Flow Meter (Rotameter) and Vacuum gauge, which are all part in the Gent Sampler. This will act as the final reading for the filter placed in the sampling site the earlier time (Final reading of the exposed filter). The sampling is done on Sunday and Wednesday. This is to maintain uniformity among the RCA/IAEA. So, for this reason, the filters are changed every Mondays and Thursdays by PNRI:
Then, the exposed filter cassette is removed from the Sampling head and a cassette with new one is fitted there. Sampling head is usually few m (6 meters) away from the Gent Sampler.
After the unexposed filter is fitted to the sampling head, the initial reading for this pair of filter is made by taking note of Meter reading Flow meter reading and Vacuum gauge. Later the week, before changing this pair of exposed filter, final reading for the above mentioned parameters are taken in the same way as for the initial one.

Have a look at few pics from Valenzuela site

Week TWO: I’m loving it!

Another appealing week to my count!

The second week was more like recalling my past memories of school. I still remember during the school days, we used to wait for the bell ring of the lunch time to just get into play; similar kind of feeling arose here. Every lunch time, a group of people are gathered at the table-tennis court room, of course to play. I am joining them and doing a bit of practice and playing. It’s really fun! Usually it is a group of 7 to 9. I am playing table tennis after long. I was into it, when I was very young around 9 or 10. I used to play with my uncles and friends back at home in a nearby park-

Another thing that I discovered this week was that they also play volleyball. Yeahh!! It sounds so exciting. We used to play in college and our batch mates and seniors used to make us practice and prepare for the matches. I just miss them a lot, those times! After playing volleyball in college, I think I played it in Hat-Yai during the HOME STAY part of our Prep Course. It was fun to play with FK frens and with the mothers of our Host Family then, but this time I was with a new team- but with as much excitement as it always brings. Oh ya, I also had a good time with the volleyball with few Sri Lankan friends.
What I like the most is they get time after work to get involved in these activities. And I’m really loving it

Down to Work:
For this week, my task was on Data Processing. The samples are analyzed using EDX X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. I worked on the data generated from the XRF which used Ca, Ge and Zr as Secondary targets. I was involved in doing Spectrum fitting using AXIL (Analysis of X-ray spectra by Iterative Least Squares fitting), a subprogram in QXAS (Quantitative X-ray Analysis System developed by International Atomic Energy Agency and Quantitative Analysis of Environmental Samples (QAES) program.

Benj Roa, my counterpart who is posted in Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong came to PNRI to discuss on the Air Quality research scheduled few months later in the Philippines and find out potential scope for partnership for the research.

On the 15th March, I attended a Stakeholders Consultation on Metro Manila Traffic and Transport organized by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). It was a good opportunity for me to learn about their transport challenges and afterwards proposed priority action from the stakeholders.


Leaving you with few pictures from the Metro Manila Traffic and Transport Consultation :)

Week 1: Getting into NEW team

Week ONE: Getting into a NEW Team

As you have known that I was keen in joining in my new assignment, Finally, I joined on March 7, 2011 Monday! Here is how I went through the first week in PNRI.

The very first day was about the orientation. I had had two orientations on the same day, the first one by Mr. Michael Hernandez, from Human Resources Management and Record and Communication Unit. To be honest, I was not expecting a detail presentation but he proved me wrong. He gave me a details presentation about the organization starting from history, its mandate, vision, mission, organizational function and all- you can say. I had gone through some information from the website but it was a very useful time for me, knowing more about the organization I am going to be affiliated for a couple of months. I have to know and fit into feet into the new shoe. Also, more relevant for me was the details on the OJT- what they call in short for On the Job Training Program. And, my affiliation is of this kind. Of course, the rules and regulations explained later were good to know. Then I knew about the office hours (7a-5:30p). I was thinking why so long?? But that was not applicable to me. I had to report to my assignment so my supervisor would be the one directing me about my reporting time. I am given a time sheet for DTR (daily time record)- and I have to get it signed from the guard in duty every time I enter and exit the office!! Yess…

In the office, they have dress color code> I immediately asked with Mr. Michael if I need to follow, well that is for staffs, not an obligation for me. But then I thought I can try to follow the thing they are doing-after all I am a part in there! So I checked the color for each day-

Monday- white> Tuesday- yellow> Wednesday-Purple> Thursday- Green and for Friday-Free..for color!!

After the first orientation, we went out for a lunch..it’s got to be Sea Food Island! Yup- my first impression- I liked the waiters in “Pirates” look..hehe ;)

I liked the way the food was served! Big big tray or plate- food in the middle in the banana leaf..and everybody can serve to their side! Ma Sarap..talaga!! (Eng translàtion- really very delicious)

Shortly back after lunch, I had another orientation by Ms. Sony Pabroa. It was basically to introduce with the division and unit I am affiliated and to also with the team working there. I am in the Nuclear Analytical Techniques Application (NATA), Nuclear Services Division. This unit not only works for AIR which I am into but also work in the Water and Food sectors. Details on the presentation included more on AIR for me ! to have a better idea on what they are doing, and also the science and techniques behind that.

DOWN TO WORK

I started off with some of the work as well:

1. Filter Preparation:
~I learned how to assemble filter in SFU, how and where to place it and pre-requisites of this.
~The filters should be kept in room temperature for about 24 hours.
~Coarse filter is placed on the upper part while the fine filter in the inner part, while placing the filter- the shiny part of the filter should be placed upward(outwards).

2. Calibrating Microbalance
~Microbalance is used to weigh the filter- to get initial weight of the filter and weight of the exposed filter.
~Before using this, micro balance should be warm up for about 30 minutes i.e., keep it on for 30 minutes before weighing.

3. Weighing of filter paper
~Then the weight of the balance both for 50 micro gram and 10 micro gram is calibrated!
~Finally the weight of filter is taken



So, week one went well with the new exciting team.

P>S> Photos to be uploaded soon!!