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Advanced DIY Science for Students?
Adam Wise asks: "I'm a high school senior planning a career in science, and I don't have any plans for the summer. I'd like to put these two facts together to entertaining and educational results of the do-it-yourself variety. Reading about the home made electron microscope got me thinking along the lines of a similar project. Are there any resources specifically geared towards DIY scientists beyond baking soda and vinegar volcanoes?"
You're a high school senior - about to graduate. Perhaps you could begin your carreer in biology with a minor in sociology. To get started in these fields, first put down the microscope. OK. Now you're ready to begin the experiment. You need sample subjects. Go meet some people. "Make friends" with them. By this, I mean talk to them, socialize with them, see how they act. That takes care of the sociology part. Now for the Biology part. Choose a someone in your sample population who happens to be of the opposite sex as yourself. Socialize more with this one than with the others. Do what it takes to get this one to want to socialize more with you. Continue this until it the socialization becomes much more than that of the other members of the sample population. Eventually, you will learn about biology via the anatomy of the opposite sex. Perhaps you'll even get to see boobies! (Or flying sperm, if you prefer.)
How are you going to keep them down on the farm once they've seen Karl Hungus?
Build something that makes measurements.
A lot of what a scientist ends up doing is making quantitative measurements. Understanding the drawbacks and limitations of analytical devices will do wonders for your future scientific career.
Start simple. Make a ruler that can measure something down to a millimeter precision. You can't use an existing ruler to get you started. All you get is a stick, some paper and a few tools. Maybe you can have ONE object with an accurately known length. Figure out how to do it, then actually build it.
Next, use your rule to measure something small. Start your measurement from different parts of the rule and plot the results. Figure out what the results mean, and what the flaws are with your measurements. Since you're working with length, conceptually this shouldn't be too hard.
Still want an easy one? Try measuring mass next. Take one accurately known mass and build a balance. Same idea as before. Build something. Use it to measure. Find out your precision and accuracy. Make it better if you want.
You're doing a little math, some engineering, and working with some generally applicable scientific principles. Remember that in this case it is the mistakes that teach you the most.
Like doing this kind of stuff?
Build a spectrophotometer out of a webcam. That should be a fun one. Tons of limitations, but the possibility of decent results.
Make your own microphone. What kind of frequency response can you get? Can you make it more linear?
Volumetric measurements can be interesting. Learn the difference between "To Contain" and "To Deliver" first.
This all might seem like too much engineering. Think of it as applied science. Learning what measurement is all about will probably make your labs seem less cookbook and more interesting.
Come up with you're own ideas. This is science after all. Forget what the art majors will tell you, this is where the creativity lies.
And now for something cynical (also known as advice from the real world):
Unless you plan on getting a PhD, don't major in science. In research labs and interesting industry positions, non PhD's are usually peons. Even a masters in some fields is largely viewed as a 'booby prize' for a washed out PhD student. Chances are that without the PhD you'll be better off working outside the field.
Here's more unsolicited advice: If you aren't going to work in the field, don't get the degree. You will have more fun in college if you don't spend it in a lab. Major in business and make your favorite science a minor instead. At least pick engineering over the hard science. The primary reason to get a science degree is to do research, and that career track begins with a PhD. If that isn't your destination it's probably easier not to begin the journey.