In Sudbury and Being Ordinary

When one becomes a PhD student the first thoughts may be of arduous exams and hours of study and coffee. These visions are not far from reality. When I decided that I was going to pursue a PhD in physics little did I know that world travel, fancy underground labs, and mine training would be thrown into the deal. It all sounds rather exciting, does it not? This is my ordinary life.

I am presently in Sudbury, Ontario Canada and I am working the installation of the MiniClean dark matter detector. This detector will use cryogenically cooled liquid argon to search for the elusive dark matter particle. The detector is located in SNOlab. This is a government lab located one mile underground in an active nickel mine. To access this lab, one must receive extensive training in underground mining, gear up in mine cloths, then one rides down in the mining cage elevator. Once the destination has been reached, one must walk a mile into the mine to reach the lab.

SNO lab is a class 2000 clean lab. This means that there are fewer than 2000 particles per cubic meter of air. To get into lab there is a barrage of cleaning that must take place. Mine boots are sprayed and removed, showers are taken, hairnets and clean suits are donned and then finally one can begin their work. Most of this work consists of cleaning equipment. It is truly a unique experience.

It truly becomes ordinary quickly. I soon realized that while environment is exotic the pressures are ordinary. The deadlines are still present, the office banter still mindless drones on, and there is the omnipresent air of politicking and bragging that infests every work environment. There are the jovial jokes and playful conversations. There is the pleasantness that accompanies a day productive day well spent. I would postulate that humans need the ordinariness to function well. An exotic environment hinders productivity, and once the novelty has worn off, we return to sameness and what is comfortable. However, this is what enables us to survive and thrive as a species in a variety of environments.

Fulcrum Point

The fulcrum point is one of the earlier physics concepts that is covered in primary curriculum. It is the balance point. For example if you take a broom that has the mass of the head on one end and is lighter at the other, there is still a point in the middle of the stick where everything is perfectly balanced.

My earliest encounter was on the teeter-toter. I most encountered the fulcrum again in my undergraduate studies in calculus.

I wish that I had recalled the fulcrum when I began graduate school. I had moved to a new country to attend the school of my dreams. I was going to work with the best and I was terrified to preform. There were exams to pass. So I studied, day in and day out. I neglected my running, my biking, that which brought me joy. The nights grew darker and colder and muggings were common, so avoiding running became easier I was too far away from friends and I was lonely. Still I studied and I passed my exams.

Now I am alone and out of shape. I am tired and lacking the desire. I am unbalanced. I am seeking the fulcrum point before it all comes crashing down.