Our service learning
project was dedicated to contributing research power to the Fight AIDS at Home
project in conjunction with the first World Community Grid project. The
Fight AIDS at Home project is determined to use the computational power to research
new drugs that have the correct shape and chemical characteristics to block the
HIV protease. These blockers, called
"protease inhibitors", are a way of avoiding the onset of AIDS and
prolonging life. It was cool to see how we were contributing to
scientific research with the extra processing power from our computers. Our BOINC grid completed 412.87 units of work
over the semester. We enjoyed doing this service learning project,
especially when we got to meet with our expert, Dr. Carole McArthur. Being given the
opportunity to ask her questions about her dedication to research to HIV and
working with people in Africa to fight AIDS was an amazing experience.
Hearing her stories helped apply what we were discussing in class and the
ability of HIV to mutate and evolve to become AZT resistant with what we were learning
in class. It’s incredible to see how
just by simply running a program behind the scenes of your computer you are
contributing to top of the line medical research. Grid computing makes it very easy for
everyone to get involved with the latest scientific research and was a great
way for us to relate everything we learned in class with the world around us.
