Dr. Xiomarie and the future Dr. Andrea volunteered this year to serve as judges at the Undergraduate Research Forum. Here, they stand in front of L@S Ganas office, an UIC organization were they both mentored and taught younger students the basics of science.
Today, on Monday April 8 at 1 pm, we all paused our experiments and quickly went outside to witness the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024. A crowd of people had already gathered in front of the MBRB building staring directly at the Sun in special smoked glasses or looking at its shadow coming through little holes in cardboard boxes. At 2:07 pm our surroundings suddenly darkened, and an unpleasant cold wind blew over our heads. It was the exact time when the Moon blocked over 93% of the Sun in Chicago! We are all looking forward to the next Solar Eclipse of this caliber that will be visible in Chicago in 40 years! But don’t try to save the smoked glasses you have used today until then, as their vision-protective properties are guaranteed for only 3 years.
Today was Jerry's last day at the Freitag Lab. Tomorrow, he starts a new position in the biotech start-up. To celebrate the great lab mate that he was, Nancy treated us to a lunch at Adda Indian Cuisine restaurant on Taylor, located where Francesca restaurant used to be before Covid. We had a great time!
Chicago winter this year started mild but just past the Holidays it became frigid cold with icy blasts and wind chill bringing subzero temperatures and the University closures. Our Holiday Lab Party was postponed twice. Finally, in January we gathered at the Flight Club to celebrate. Here Andrea, Xiomarie, and Dee Dee enjoy sunny cocktails on this chilly day.
The Flight Club had a cozy feel, comfortable benches and homey interior resembling a British pub. The name of the club refers to the game of darts which was new to some of us. Here, Ashley and Jerry wait before the general competition begins.
We often think of Nancy, with all the patience and kindness in the world, as our angel. No wonder that a halo manifested around her head at the party. “Ta da! It’s not a halo you silly, it’s a dart board behind my head!”
