Notes 20110630

Members Attending: Philip Wrage, David Rostcheck, Chris Seifert, Joe Southwell, John Haskins, Andy Blagg (guest, PhD Physiology), Steve Rainwater, Nicole Greeley, Kent Bowling, Jonathan Shook, Erik)

• Discussion of how liquid chromotography works
• Joe is interested in recognizing intensity of biological concentration using imaging software. Philip suggests ImageJ, a java program that does this
• David went to Silicon Valley and while there met Thiel Foundation 20-under-20 fellows Alexander Kiselev and Laura Demming.
• Alexander is working on creating new open-source DIY-bio hardware (beyond OpenPCR). He is looking at doing liquid chromatography projects.
• Laura had competed in IGEM as a student and has many contacts
• Could sponsor a high-school team to compete in IGEM using our lab
• Will need a legal document for under-18 to have parental permission to engage in bio projects
• David also met w/ Raymond McCauley from Biocurious.
  • He notes it is much easier to operate as a program within a makerspace than a stand-alone bio space:
    • Common infrastructure
    • Easier zoning, better understood
    • Logistical support for fixing equipment and making things (mechanical engineering, electronics, software, photography)
  • BioCurious advises accepting donated stuff that will appear when you are a bio 501(c)3 because some equipment depreciates very rapidly
  • He notes if you accept bio equipment even if you don't want it, you can sell it to an equipment broker and use the proceeds. Some consumables may make equipment expensive to run.
  • Note, we don't have 501(c)3 yet, but can operate as DPRG project under their 501(c)3 for now, see Doug and Peter)
  • McCauley notes that it is a bad thing to mention any involvement (even proactive) with the FBI; public perception of "being involved with the FBI" is not good. We shall henceforth refer to them as "government regulatory authorities".