What does the mysterious phrase “scientific research” mean to an undergraduate?

Prof. Liu Jing was my physical chemistry teacher during my undergraduate study. As early as in the undergraduate course study, she encouraged those students who had the spare capacity to learn to enter research laboratory as soon as possible, to learn in practice and practice in learning. With the expectation of doing research, I joined her research group.

I always keepProf. Liu Jing’s instruction in mind: Keep up with your research group and do your own experiments instead of synthesizing and characterizing aimlessly. She even adjusted the time of the weekly laboratory meeting in order to meet my and my classmates’ schedule, making it possible for us to participate. After attending group meetings for nearly one and a half semesters, I have had a deeper understanding of the group’s research direction and laid a theoretical foundation for me to begin my own research work.

During this summer vacation, I applied to stay on campus and really entered the big family of 1627, and began my “real” research. From the first synthesis, the first characterization, to the first performance measurement, every small step forward was filled with excitement and a sense of accomplishment. However, I soon discovered that the experiment was not always running smoothly. I could not solve the problems I encountered by reviewing the literature. Prof. Liu discussed the relevant literature with me, corrected my mistakes and pointed out the right directions to me, which enabled me to have a deeper understanding of knowledge points such as PICT and TICT.

Once I carelessly broke a rotary evaporator in Prof. Liu’s laboratory, and the damage of a small component of which should bring about a loss of nearly one thousand yuan. I was very uneasy but had to tell her about this. Unexpectedly, she just smiled softly and said “Scientific research entails consumption. This is not unusual.” It seemed she understood I was nervous, so she told me some interesting anecdotes during her postgraduate study. Before I was aware, the gloom and tension of damaging equipment dissipated into laughter, and another night of research work with full spirit and energy ensued.

Scientific research could be summarized in one sentence in analogy to the “The Peach Blossom Spring”: “At the beginning, the entrance was very narrow and could barely allow one person to squeeze through" is the process of scientific research and difficulties, and if “Then the path abruptly opened up” or not depends on our efforts and learning. “Thinking alone only brings difficulties, but doing brings the answer”, this is the words I want to say to the undergraduate students who still hesitate at the laboratory door.

Although the road is tortuous, but the future is bright; Despite the difficulties, I am happy to go meet them.