|
| Select Framework:
|
|
| Select Grade: | |
 |
| Loading...This may take few minutes. |
|
|
Title
|
Chirag Pathre
|
|
Type
|
Primary: Student Argonaut
|
|
Operation
|
Resilient Planet
|
|
Mission:
|
Mission 1: Invaders , Mission 2: Survivors , Mission 4: Paradise Found
|
|
|
Created On
|
3/10/2008
|
 |
From: Resilient Planet Mission 1: Invaders , Mission 2: Survivors , Mission 4: Paradise F> (and more) |
 |
|
|
Chirag Pathre Read more about Chirag Pathre, a Student Argonaut from Operation: Resilient Planet. |
|
|
|
Chirag Pathre
Student Argonaut,
Troy, MI
|
|
|
Chirag is interested in trying out everything and JASON thinks he can do it all - from being the Freshman Class President, to the FIRST Robotics team, to acting in the Troy High School Theater Ensemble, to being in Gymnastics Competitive Level 8. However, he finds robotics to be the most exciting. What makes it exciting to him is what robotics can do for others, such as supporting the exploration of remote places, giving mobility to individuals with disabilities, designing and building structures to live in outer space, and even Dr. Ballard's ability to use it to explore the Titanic. Chirag participated in the FIRST LEGO and Robotics programs where he learned to connect robotics with computer technology. He hopes that his experience with The JASON Project will take him to the next step and connect these technologies to science.
Does Chirag ever face challenges to accomplish the activities that he is involved in? He remembers one time when he was preparing to compete in the Michigan State Men's Gymnastics Championship. He was running a fever and feeling sick two days before the event. His parents were not sure he should go, but Chirag convinced them he should go anyway. He related how he could barely complete the routines that normally he could do with precision and began to give up hope. The vault horse, which is usually his best event, loomed in front of him as an avenue of possible failure. He made a decision to stop thinking about himself and think about his team and how hard they worked to be there. To his surprise he did the routine on the vault and it was his best yet. The medals were announced and he won first place on the vault and his score contributed to his team taking overall first place. What he learned was not to give up, remember your goal, and most of all stop thinking of yourself - think of others, too.
In his own words
On his Operation: Resilient Planet experiences
We were given our assignments and future teams for the next field assignment. I was very excited to learn I got to go to the Gulf of Mexico with Polly, Conrad, and Brittany. I can’t wait to go on the next mission. Boot Camp and Mission 1 Great Lakes was already one of the best times of my life and I could only imagine what the field mission would bring!
Thoughts on Dr. Russell Cuhel
Today, in Boot Camp, we met our Host Researcher Dr. “Cool” Cuhel. He is really cool, not like any other scientist I’ve met before. He is very passionate about his work and actually specializes in a study of phytoplankton.
Thoughts on Dr. Robert Ballard
Another great thing about going on this expedition to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is that our lead researcher is Dr. Bob Ballard. I have always been amazed with all of Dr. Ballard’s work and have also looked up to his perseverance and dedication to following his goals. It is awesome to actually be able to work with him. This afternoon, he gave us a short presentation on how he got to where he is today and what his future goals and ambitions are. He is an excellent presenter and told us that we should follow our hearts to reach our goals but also enjoy the journey. He quoted Joseph Campbell in telling us that, “Life is the act of becoming.” On this trip I have learned three very defining things about Dr. Ballard: that he is very knowledgeable, that he has to listen to his sports teams play, and that he is always hungry.
Thoughts on Dr. Enric Sala
Today, we began our work with Dr. Enric Sala at the La Jolla Children and Seal Pool, which was a pool created as a safe place for children to play and is now an important area for harbor seals to live and breed. Dr. Sala gave us a chance to get very close to the seals, and it was amazing to see the way they moved and how they responded to humans being even 50 feet away from them. Luckily, we were able to film all we needed with the seals without getting too close to them or disturbing them. However, we were forced to stop and start over again every time a plane or helicopter would fly overhead, which happens about every minute in California. The major conflict between humans and the seals in this ecosystem was very clear to us as we simply watched different peoples’ reactions to the pool. We had several people tell us how they desperately wanted to save the seals as we did, and one man came and interrupted our filming exclaiming that the beach was public property and the seals should be kicked out. I was shocked at how much of a debate was going on over the small, but very important area.
What JASON means to me
Operation: Resilient Planet was truly an eye opening experience for me. I hope to share the new knowledge that I have gathered from my missions with others in order to help increase awareness about our degraded ecosystem and how we can help. I know that if we all work towards it, someday we can live in a world in which humans and the ecosystem live in a healthy balance.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|