4 August 2006
Madison
Barkley
Mount Holyoke
College
South Hadley, Massachusetts
Dear Smithsonian Women's Committee,
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude
for the endowment you created several years ago, which now yields annual
payouts to fully support a position in the Research Training Program
(RTP) each summer. I am the grateful recipient of this years award.
Attending a small liberal arts college, I have not had the facilities
or support to pursue my interests in the field of crystal chemistry.
The Research Training Program has allowed me to expand my knowledge
and experience through direct contact with scientists and researchers
in the Department of Mineral Sciences at the National Museum of Natural
History. On top of the contact with researchers in my field, the RTP
program offered a behind the scenes look at other areas of museum life
including exhibit preparation and collections management.
For ten weeks I have worked with Dr. Michael Wise, a research scientist
in the Department of Mineral Sciences. My project focused on the crystal
chemistry of topaz and how the crystal chemistry relates to pegmatite
genesis. I used the X-ray Diffractometer to collect structural data
and the Electron Microprobe and X-Ray Fluorescence equipment to attain
compositional data. If it were not for my participation in the RTP program,
I would never have had the opportunity to use this high-tech equipment
during my undergraduate career. The Department of Mineral Sciences provided
me with more than just state of the art equipment to use in my studies.
The researchers in the Department offered their wisdom and guidance
to all of the future researchers (interns).
Going into the Museum's mineral collection to choose my samples is
an experience I will never forget. The collection is vast, with many
species, colors, and habits of minerals. Being around the collections
as well as the researchers at the museum has encouraged me to continue
research in the field of geology.
Again, I thank you for providing me with this opportunity. With your
endowment, enabling continued support of the RTP Program, many other
students like me will get to experience the life changing experience
of working at the Smithsonian Institution.
Sincerely,
Madison Barkley
Research Training Program, 2006