Weightless Wonder: Lessons Learned

The students who flew aboard NASA's Weightless Wonder didn't just learn how to conduct an experiment in lunar gravity, says Samantha Kreppel, '10. "Each stage of the process provided its own lessons," Kreppel said.

Research

"While researching our experiment topic, I learned how to read journal articles and research papers," Kreppel says. "This may seem insignificant, but it's an important skill to have in order to understand previous research done on your topic and new cutting-edge research currently taking place."

Engineering

"During the design phase, I learned the complex but extremely important process of systems engineering," Kreppel says. "Much to my surprise, the design phase carried through our whole experiment, as we were constantly modifying our original plans."

Building

"During the building process, I learned to use several machines in the machine shop, which I also believe will be useful skills for the future."

Writing

"I also learned to write grant proposals and research reports, which are again very important skills for a scientist," Kreppel says. "To sum up, I'd say that I had gained experience that would be otherwise unattainable in a classroom. I gained hands-on, life experience."