Link to statistics
https://secure.worldcommunitygrid.org/ms/viewMyMemberPage.do
Samantha Keeling,
Boxing
cans, serving up soup, or helping out in a daycare are typical images one
conjures up when thinking about service projects. This semester in evolution
class, we had a chance to do a whole new style of service. We contributed to
research through grid computing. We downloaded some software and throughout the
semester we have been contributing to the World Grid. It is kind of mind boggling
to think that we are helping researchers learn more about diseases just by
letting some software run on your computer.
Our group
chose to learn more about Parkinson’s disease. From learning exactly what a
grid is, to reading a research article on Parkinson’s I have learned a lot
about the disorder. Overall the entire experience has been very enlightening
Marium Choudhry
This class
has given me the opportunity to provide to our community whilst learning about
a new disease as well. In evolution our group was introduced to the concept of
grid computing. Through this software we contributed to the energy that
researchers need to conduct their studies. We were also able to learn more
about Parkinson’s disease by posting on the blog every few weeks about new
findings or interviews that we had done. I find it important to be aware of
such diseases since it has become a growing issue. While the first part of the
semester consisted of us gathering info and learning more about the disease, we
were able to analyze research that had been done about the disease and then
also were able to use the information to relate to evolution.
Zach Kramer,
During this semester in our
evolution class, we have been able to assist in research for Parkinson’s
disease during a service learning project. This semester of work has been very
systematic and eye opening. We started the semester by just getting the basic
information of Parkinson’s disease and grid computing, to receiving more
precise information from an expert in the field. And to cap off the semester,
we finished by relating the information we had learned during the project to
the information we had learned in the class.
And all that had to be done to help
research in the field of Parkinson’s was to have a program run in the
background. Advances in technology like this can further research in many
fields of medicine and science as a whole. By the combined power of a program
running on many computers, the ability is more powerful than a supercomputer.
This illustrates how we as a society can and should come together because
together we are stronger/smarter than when we are separate. Through continued
projects such as this one, diseases which have plagued mankind for too long
will soon meet their end.
Andrew Martin
I was glad that our group chose
Parkinson's disease because it is a disease that is greatly affecting the
elderly population in America. It is a disease that we have not found a
definitive cause, nor cure for so joining in on the grid computing network we
hoped to find one of these factors. I had a grandparent that suffered from
Parkinson's and I'm sure there are several other people in the class that have
known someone go through this disease. It is a very debilitating disease
because they slowly lose the things that made them independent. Whether that
may be being able to control their walking and grabbing motions, to even being
able to form words. Parkinson's slowly degenerates their brain until they are
essentially locked into their body. Because it is more likely to happen to the
older generation (the numerous number of "baby boomers") this is a
disease that I will most certainly come in contact in my medical career. Maybe
through grid-computing it will not be such a mystery by the time I'm treating
patients.
Sean Steinmetz
In this semester’s
evolution course, my group and I are participated in our first ever grid
computing project with Parkinson’s research as our subject of choice.
Grid computing, a constantly running algorithm that uses the CPU and data of
one’s laptop combined with many others to run mathematical experiments, was a
great way to first learn about what Parkinson’s was and to then help in
researching a cause, and hopefully a cure.
As the semester went on, we learned more and more about the complexities of the
Parkinson’s disease, and we even got to interview an expert in the field of
neuroscience, Rockhurst’s very own professor Sturgill. With all the
information amassed and the concepts that we have learned in class, our group began
to understand the evolutionary background of the development of diseases,
specifically Parkinson’s. Using the grid computing software and doing a
bit of our own research, we gained insights into how scientists are currently
working to fight burdensome and life-threatening disease and illness, and most
of it rests on the shoulders of ordinary people simply participating in these
many grid computing projects. Continued use of this technology will open
the door to a massive amount of data that can be used to advance the fields of
medicine and science as a whole, and will lead to a healthier, safer tomorrow.
