For our 12th day on our 14-day trip, we got to visit the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB), which is a leading research institution in the Czech Republic. We got to view four different labs, which involved everything from using radiation to characterize isotopes for pharmaceuticals to analyzing plant cells. At the IOCB, they have principal investigators, post-docs, doctorate students, master students, undergraduate students, and even high school students. Additionally, the institute is very diverse, with many of the labs having multiple researchers from countries outside of the Czech Republic.
After our tour, we piled into a tram to visit the Prague Castle, which is home to a gorgeous cathedral. The site is a UNESCO-protected and extremely well-maintained. Everyone can walk through the gates of the castle and around the outside of all the buildings without a ticket. People only need to pay if they plan on going through specific areas, making the site easily accessible for everyone. Another interesting thing is that the President is commonly at the castle because he has an office there. So, while walking around the castle, you could potentially be walking by a window that has his office!
With my free afternoon, I decided to work on some of my souvenir shopping for my family. With our busy schedule, I haven’t had much time to look! I went through the Palladium mall, which has 5 floors and so, so many stores. After that, I grabbed dinner with friends, got our last ice cream cone of the trip, and walked to the Charles Bridge to enjoy the view. Finally, we ran into a supermarket, Billa, and purchased a LOT of different Czech snacks to bring back to our families.
With an early start for our last full day, we decided it was best to run back. Can’t believe the program is almost over!
Swanson School of Engineering 