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THE RESEARCH WING

When you enter the NIP building at its main entrance and reached the lobby, a glassy building would probably be the first thing you'd see. That is the Research wing of the NIP. Many months ago, just before the first semester officially starts we entered the R-wing, we only got to see the "center" of it, took a picture around the big NIP logo on the floor then done.

Weeks ago, we visited it again. Our guides said that there are currently 6 laboratories here in the NIP:

1. Condensed Matter Physics Lab
2. Instrumentation Physics Lab
3. Structure and Dynamics Lab
4. Photonics Research Lab
5. Theoretical Physics Lab
6. Plasma Physics Lab

As we entered each of the labs, I realized that Physics is amazing. No kidding, it's amazing to be a physicist someday. I think I should say my brief insights upon entering. While inside the Condensed Matter Lab, especially the supercon, they showed us a video about a superconductor that levitates or suspends in midair when cooled to a certain temperature. Too bad, it's just a video, not the real thing. :(

The Instrumentation Lab (popularly known as "Instru") deals with the application of Physics in a more realistic way, such as their research on the telecom companies, gas companies, number of characters involved in a tweet, etc. They also have a group called "VISSER" which invents materials (e.g. motion detector / sensors) for high school students. I think that's remarkable because they help students appreciate science! "Instru" has the most groups or clusters among all the labs.

Upon entering Structure and Dynamics Group (SAND) Lab, it looks like a computer shop with a big whiteboard full of equations. (sorry for my first impression :D ). Little did I know, SAND specializes in computer simulations of different kinds of systems. Ah kaya pala..

On our lab tour as a class, we didn't get to see the best of Photonics lab. But they have cool lasers and machines there. But when we were the ones guiding high school students in the Photonics (in short we had the chance to see the lab again) we saw hologram of a girl. Ah, cool. :D

There is one thing that sets Theoretical Physics lab apart from other labs: THERE ARE NO "FANCY" MACHINES. But they have books, equations, books again, and a coffee maker. Yes and  they're proud of it. Also, I wonder why they have a salad book there. 

Finally, the Plasma lab. This lab studies about plasma, of course.The "thing" I remembered about this lab is the plasma pen. It looks like a rocket boost but it's safe for someone to touch it. 

These are just few of the things we did during the lab tour. My favorite labs (I'm thinking of entering one of these if there's a chance) were the Photonics lab and the IPL specifically VISSER. Pero ang Theory ang pinakamabango, amoy kape. In conclusion, all of the labs were really fascinating in their own way. 

And that's what makes NIP the Philippines' best physics institute.  

Kulang nalang ang golden ticket, RFID.