When the average college student thinks of Holland a few things might pop to mind like windmills, cheese, clogs, bikes, soft drugs, or Van Gogh. But you say, what about world-renowned science?? As a typical college student a few years ago, I admittedly didn't know too much about The Netherlands. Amsterdam has an infamous red light district, The Hague holds the International Court of Justice, and the country is well below sea level, but that was about it. When I ventured out for my first BRAVO! experience, I began to understand the culture with first hand experience of living in The Netherlands for five months. I have returned from my second BRAVO! experience and have come away with an even better and unique understanding of the Dutch culture.

My second experience took me again to the Laboratory of Microbiology at Wageningen University in Wageningen, The Netherlands. This time I worked with Dr. Hauke Smidt, leader of the Molecular Ecology group. My project involved investigating the process of microbial perchlorate reduction. Perchorate is an anthropogenic contaminant used in propellants, munitions, and lubricant industries that affects the thyroid of mammals by inhibiting iodine uptake. It is particularly in the spotlight in the western US -- Utah, California, Nevada, and Arizona -- because of high releases in the past decades. Perchlorate is very bioaccumulative and can persist in the environment because of the stable chemical structure. Biological treatment is becoming an important option for treating ground and drinking water and the laboratory of my mentors at the University of Arizona, Dr. Reyes Sierra and Dr. Jim Field, have been investigating this treatment option using continuous bioreactors.

My project was focused on trying to obtain new isolates of bacteria capable of anaerobic perchlorate reduction. I also worked closely with Dr. Melike Balk, a post doc in the Microbial Physiology group, which specializes in isolating new species of bacteria using anaerobic techniques. Dr. Smidt and his group also specialize in molecular characterization and I was able to validate a set of PCR primers and confirm the presence of the chlorite dismutase (cld) gene in my cultures and reactor samples.

Outside of the lab, my experience was greatly enriched by further interacting with the Dutch people. One of the most central cultural experiences during my trip was the 2006 World Cup in Germany. It enveloped most of the Netherlands for months leading up to the event, covering the country in orange (the national color) and capturing the country for weeks during the tournament play. Many things, usually religion, language, family, customs, and food define a culture. But in my opinion, there is nothing more central to the true spirit of a country than their national sports. And in Europe, along with the rest of the world, there is only one sport, and that is football (football in the global sense = soccer). The country was covered in orange and every person was hopeful for the Dutch chances in the WC. By the time they were eliminated by Portugal in the second round, the tide quickly turned back to the normal, non-nationalistic Dutch people I had grown to know and love. After the end of the World Cup I began to realize the effect it had on this country and how central it is to their way of life. Only a few things can get 16 million people to wear an orange shirt for three weeks and that is football. I was informed that the spirit was even more fervent during the European championship because fighting for pride in Europe is even more important
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It was an interesting experience for an American to be so immersed in a sport that is not so familiar. Watching the games got a bit redundant, but I can't deny that beating at least a few Dutchmen and women in the WC Office pool was slightly gratifying considering I had the US beating the Netherlands in Berlin (the Final), a ridiculous choice I was informed. I was also present for multiple spring and summer street festivals like the Koninginnedag, or Queen's Day, in late April, and the 5th of May celebration in early May. The Dutch know how to celebrate life and their country and like to gather for a good amsterdamertje (glass of pilsner) and frikandel (fried sausage). I was also able to participate in a visit of our lab to collaborating groups in Germany that included visiting the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute in Marburg.

My research resulted in a few cultures nicely degrading perchlorate and nearly isolated. The work will be continued, and I hope that the international collaboration between myself, my undergraduate lab at UA, and the lab of microbiology in Wageningen will also continue. For now, I am off to graduate school with the experience gained from my BRAVO experience. I feel like a true international researcher now with a great appreciation and respect for the different people and cultures I've experience during the travels I've been lucky enough to have so far. The BRAVO! program is truly unique in its ability to expose undergraduate students to an awe-inspiring international experience that can expand the academic and cultural mind in one go. I highly recommend that any UBRP student interested in any kind of international experience look into the BRAVO! program. You certainly won't regret it, and you'll never forget your experience.

I would like to thank the BRAVO! program for allowing me to return to Wageningen for my project. Support from BRAVO! was provided by HHMI grant 52003749. I would like to also acknowledge Dr. Hauke Smidt and thank him for his mentorship and help with funding. Additionally, I am extremely grateful for the advice and constant help on this research from Dr. Reyes Sierra, Dr. Melike Balk, Prof. Jim Field, and Prof. Fons Stams.

Stephanie Freeman, BRAVO! student, in Dr. Hauke Smidt's, Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands and UA undergraduate in Dr. Reyes Sierra's and Dr. Jim Field's lab, Chemical and Environmental Engineering. Stephanie began a graduate program in chemical engineering practice at MIT in September 2006.