Start to add grad school blog posts for sunscreen project

_config.yml

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ atom_feed:
   path: # blank (default) uses feed.xml
   hide: true
 
-include: ["_pages"]
+include: ["_pages", "_posts"]
 
 # Build settings
 remote_theme: "mmistakes/[email protected]"

_layouts/custom-blog-post.html

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+---
+layout: default
+---
+
+<link
+  rel="stylesheet"
+  type="text/css"
+  href="/assets/blog-post-assets/blog-post.css"
+/>
+
+<div id="main" role="main">
+  <div id="blog-post-header">
+    <h1>{{ page.title }}</h1>
+    <div>{{ page.date | date: "%B %e, %Y" }}</div>
+  </div>
+
+  <article class="splash" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/CreativeWork">
+    <section class="page__content" itemprop="text">{{ content }}</section>
+  </article>
+
+  {% if page.original-post-link %}
+  <div>
+    Originally published here:
+    <a href="{{ page.original-post-link}}" target="_blank"
+      >{{ page.original-post-link }}</a
+    >
+  </div>
+  {% endif %}
+</div>

_pages/blog-posts.md

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+---
+layout: splash
+permalink: /blog-posts
+---
+
+<div class="posts">
+  {% for post in site.posts %}
+    <article class="post">    
+      <h1>
+        <a href="{{post.url | relative_url}}">
+          {{post.title}}
+        </a>
+      </h1>
+      <div>{{post.date}}</div>
+    </article>
+
+{% endfor %}
+
+</div>

_posts/2022-10-19-daily-practice-day-1.md

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+---
+title: "Daily Practice – Day 1 (2022-10-19)"
+date: 2022-10-19
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/10/20/daily-practice-day-1-3/
+---
+
+I’ve recently decided to re-dedicate myself to a skincare routine, and as part of that research I found myself in a rabbit hole learning about sunscreen. As an avid sunscreen user, I was surprised to realize how little I know about how sunscreen. For this project, I’m planning to focus on sunscreen in general, and am aiming to find a critical view point as I continue my research. One thought to focus on is to investigate the different rating systems that are used to measure the ability of the sunscreen to block UVA rays. In the US, we generally just see SPF ratings on our sunscreen, which I believe is only measuring how effective the sunscreen is at blocking UVB rays, without any mention of UVA rays explicitly.
+
+For my first day of making I drew some diagrams while I read an article about how sunscreen actually works. I’m planning to continue this sort of process this week of drawing diagrams or system diagrams based on research resources that I’m reading.
+
+<img src="/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-1-1.png">
+<img src="/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-1-2.png">
+
+Source: <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-how-does-sunscreen-work-what-is-spf-and-can-i-still-tan-with-it-on-88869">https://theconversation.com/explainer-how-does-sunscreen-work-what-is-spf-and-can-i-still-tan-with-it-on-88869</a>
+
+

_posts/2022-10-20-daily-practice-day-2.md

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+---
+title: "Daily Practice – Day 2 (2022-10-20)"
+date: 2022-10-20
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/10/21/daily-practice-day-2-2/
+---
+
+Today I began reading a journal article, [Sunscreens and Photoaging: A Review of Current Literatures](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-021-00632-5), which touched a bit on the different wave lengths of light on the Electromagnetic Spectrum. I realized a few connections that this topic has to previous interested of mine in the past, which is kind of cool – it’s seem there is an underlying theme that I hadn’t realized.
+
+- Over the summer, I had a general idea of focusing some of my work on invisible forces, or things that effect our lives but can’t necessarily be seen or experienced in a tangible way. By focusing my research on sunscreen, I unintentionally am choosing to focus on screening another invisible force!
+- At my first job as a software engineer, the company’s name referenced infrared light, and the intention was to emulate a force that is strong but can’t necessarily be seen or felt. I loved this association, and here am I looking at light rays again!
+
+
+From that article, I was really interested in getting to compare the wavelengths of rays that are visible vs ones that are not. And seeing which wavelengths are harmful vs ones that are helpful. It’s such a small difference in the length of a light ray that can change it into something really dangerous.
+
+<img src="/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-2-1.png">
+<img src="/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-2-2.png">
+
+Updating to add some [notes](https://www.figma.com/file/V7SJWS0cVWiBcIhvkhuP29/Daily-Practice-2?node-id=0%3A1) I took while reading the article and to provide some further explanation of the image above. The color spectrum + the gray on either sides is illustration the different wave types, in order of their wavelengths, from smallest to largest. The blue is sunscreen – I’ve been playing around with the idea of what it would be like if in the future, fashion evolved to valued brightly pigmented face makeup with sunscreen properties. I don’t think that this future is that far off, and am interested to dig more into that line of thought. And the pink circles are the skin, with different rays effecting different parts of the skin layers.

_posts/2022-10-21-daily-practice-day-3.md

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+---
+title: "Daily Practice – Day 3 (2022-10-21)"
+date: 2022-10-21
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/10/22/daily-practice-day-3-2/
+---
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-3.png)
+
+link to figma: [https://www.figma.com/file/1Xjhb3xRgs6SPTfEyFZ35t/Daily-Practice-3?node-id=0%3A1](https://www.figma.com/file/1Xjhb3xRgs6SPTfEyFZ35t/Daily-Practice-3?node-id=0%3A1)

_posts/2022-10-22-daily-practice-day-4.md

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+---
+title: "Daily Practice – Day 4 (2022-10-22)"
+date: 2022-10-22
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/10/22/daily-practice-day-4-2/
+---
+
+For today’s daily practice, I wanted to push myself to do something less digital. Something that has always perplexed and frustrated me about sunscreen is how imperfect it is. I have a family history of skin cancer, and have struggled with skin damage myself. It’s discouraging to drench myself in sunscreen and still get burned, so I was playing with that idea. In the last painting, I’m poking fun at that a bit by envisioning that the whole world of the character is covered in sunscreen, and they still get burned. How do we enjoy the outdoors without risking our health?
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-4-1.png)
+
+I’m also including a photo of myself at the beach this past summer because I find it amusing, and it was partially my inspiration for today’s practice. Completely covered by several layers of sunscreen, a long sleeve shirt, a hat, a towel, just to enjoy being outside.
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-4-2.jpeg)

_posts/2022-10-23-daily-practice-day-5.md

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+---
+title: "Daily Practice – Day 5 (2022-10-23)"
+date: 2022-10-23
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/10/23/daily-practice-day-5-2022-10-23/
+---
+As I finished reading Sunscreens and Photoaging: A Review of Current Literature, I was struct by how much jargon there is in not only this article, but also a lot of articles discussing skincare in general. It makes the decisions we make about what sunscreen is best for us, and the environment extremely difficult. This word cloud is representative of an idea to display all of the jargon, scientific and chemical words that a consumer has to wade through while making this choice. For this representation, I parsed the words from Sunscreens and Photoaging and spent a bit of time deciding a set of words to not include in the image – mostly removing common words that were not specific to sunscreen research. This process itself was pretty interesting. From the perspective of data integrity, this feels like cheating – I was manipulating the data which changed the outcome of the representation which leads into some questions I had with project 1 regarding scientific accuracy within art projects. Maybe this is okay, if the intention and process is clear to the audience?
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-5-1.png)
+
+I created a small ruby script to manipulate the data, that I’ll also include here:
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-5-2.png)

_posts/2022-10-24-daily-practice-day-6.md

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+---
+title: "Daily Practice – Day 6 (2022-10-24)"
+date: 2022-10-24
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/10/25/daily-practice-day-6-3/
+---
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/daily-practice-6.gif)
+
+Updating this post to add a bit more context. This graph is based on one from [Critical Wavelength and Broad-Spectrum UV Protection](https://drdembny.com/critical-wavelength-and-broad-spectrum-uv-protection/) by Dr. Dembny. Critical Wavelength (CW) is a standard used by the United States FDA to determine if a sunscreen can be deemed “broad-spectrum”.  Wavelengths ranges correspond to different types of UV waves: wavelengths 280 nm – 320 are UVB, 320 nm – 400 are UVA. Broad-spectrum sunscreen aims to protect against UVA and UVB rays. The CW is calculated by looking at how much UV is absorbed by the sunscreen at different wavelengths. The CW is calculated by figuring out the area under the full curve, and then determining how far to the right on the x-axis you can go to account for 90% of the area under the curve. This point on the x-axis is the CW. If that CW is greater than or equal to 370, the sunscreen is broad-spectrum, and provides sufficient coverage from both UVA and UVB rays.
+
+Here is the figma doc where I threw some notes and links to the resources I looked at: [https://www.figma.com/file/Ws8WkXzwuJcjSXYfbOQ4hE/Daily-Pracitce–Day-6?node-id=0%3A1](https://www.figma.com/file/Ws8WkXzwuJcjSXYfbOQ4hE/Daily-Pracitce–Day-6?node-id=0%3A1)

_posts/2022-11-1-janky-prototypes.md

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+---
+title: "Janky Prototypes"
+date: 2022-11-1
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/11/01/janky-prototypes-4/
+---
+
+## Sketch From Class:
+
+### Topic: Sunscreen
+
+### Tech: Live streaming
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/janky-prototypes-1.jpeg)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/janky-prototypes-2.jpeg)
+
+## Prototype 1: Live-streaming sunscreen efficacy
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/janky-prototypes-3.png)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/janky-prototypes-4.png)
+
+## Prototype 2: An At-home testing kit to see how well your sunscreen, or other substances block the sun’s UV rays
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/janky-prototypes-5.jpeg)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/janky-prototypes-6.jpeg)
+
+## Prototype 3: Imaging the future of sunscreen
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/janky-prototypes-7.png)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/janky-prototypes-8.png)

_posts/2022-11-1-systems-maps.md

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+---
+title: "Systems Maps"
+date: 2022-11-1
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/11/01/systems-maps/
+---
+
+I am going to focus my project on sunscreen, and am still working on figuring out a specific point of view. I have a few ideas swirling around, but haven’t yet landed on how to take a critical approach to any of them. 
+
+- It feels like there’s a lot of conflicting information about sunscreen in general, and more specifically the ingredients that are used to protect skin from harmful UV rays. Some information seems to suggest that certain chemical blockers could have some effect on human hormone regulation, but other research mentions that any potential risk outweigh the cost of not wearing sunscreen and the risk of getting skin cancer. Is there a way to zero in on one conflict and dig into that?
+- I have noticed a general belief that if you don’t burn, you don’t need for sunscreen as much as those that burn easily. On one hand, it seems like this is not true, because UVA rays don’t necessarily burn the skin but still cause damage.  On the other hand, there is research that suggests getting sunburnt increases your risk of skin cancer. I wonder why certain people wear sun screen, and others don’t. For me it’s always been a given that it is necessary. 
+- Companies that make sunscreen are companies, and are profit driven. I wonder if there are any systems at play here below the surface. Do companies make sunscreen only last 80 minutes so that users need to reapply more frequently? Or is this truly a limitation of the science and formula development?
+- Some ingredients in sunscreen are detrimental to the environment.
+- Different countries use different systems for determining a sunscreen’s efficacy in blocking UVA rays. In the US it’s determined with the Critical Wavelength, and if it meets this criteria, it is deemed “broad spectrum. In Europe, it’s required to meet a Critical Wavelength, and additional criteria as well. In Japan and Korea, the PA+ rating system is used ( I still need to do some more research to understand how this is determined).
+
+
+The first map is asking the question of who are the stakeholders of sunscreen? What are different stakeholders looking for in a sunscreen? There are a few more ideas in this figma, but the two main stakeholders I explored were humans that use sunscreen and companies that make it.
+
+[https://www.figma.com/file/aW3xVAs1fapX0GyrIgrUc0/system-diagram-1?node-id=0%3A1](https://www.figma.com/file/aW3xVAs1fapX0GyrIgrUc0/system-diagram-1?node-id=0%3A1)
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/systems-maps-1.png)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/systems-maps-2.png)
+
+The other map was vaguely trying to answer why some uses sunscreen and others don’t.
+
+[https://www.figma.com/file/RaIUL76a0gdlBlyKBwmv3H/system-diagram?node-id=0%3A1](https://www.figma.com/file/RaIUL76a0gdlBlyKBwmv3H/system-diagram?node-id=0%3A1)
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/systems-maps-3.png)

_posts/2022-11-28-development-research.md

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+---
+title: "Sunscreen Project Development: Research"
+date: 2022-11-28
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/11/28/project-2-development-research/ 
+
+---
+
+History: [https://www.figma.com/file/Q8oOySe6E69UJ3JP1gfYXJ/Research%3A-History?node-id=0%3A1&t=zUWdersAJCEpAbmj-1](https://www.figma.com/file/Q8oOySe6E69UJ3JP1gfYXJ/Research%3A-History?node-id=0%3A1&t=zUWdersAJCEpAbmj-1)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/research-1.jpeg)
+
+Colonialism: [https://www.figma.com/file/iTjlV7wYu24j5pnSF1Hvl1/Research%3A-colonialism%2C-people-of-color?node-id=0%3A1&t=dUZLHXRihMKKpZ9K-1](https://www.figma.com/file/iTjlV7wYu24j5pnSF1Hvl1/Research%3A-colonialism%2C-people-of-color?node-id=0%3A1&t=dUZLHXRihMKKpZ9K-1)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/research-2.jpeg)

_posts/2022-11-28-development-wireframes.md

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+---
+title: "Sunscreen Project Development: Storyboard / wireframes / ideas"
+date: 2022-11-28
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/11/28/project-2-development-storyboard-wireframes/
+---
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/development-storyboard-1.png)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/development-storyboard-2.png)
+
+[https://www.figma.com/file/kxc6hvFkjgL926npyejZgJ/wireframe?node-id=0%3A1&t=qdotH5qREgI406hx-1](https://www.figma.com/file/kxc6hvFkjgL926npyejZgJ/wireframe?node-id=0%3A1&t=qdotH5qREgI406hx-1)
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/development-storyboard-3.png)

_posts/2022-11-28-sunscreen-final-presentation.md

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+title: "Sunscreen: Final Presentation"
+date: 2022-11-28
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/11/28/project-2-final-presentation/
+---
+
+Final Website: [https://sunscreen-project.glitch.me/](https://sunscreen-project.glitch.me/)
+
+Final Presentation: [https://www.figma.com/file/UFRqcLe9iMXRv7M2pn89fV/Final-Presentation?node-id=0%3A1&t=aVGmRAEYlLWXHaPl-1](https://www.figma.com/file/UFRqcLe9iMXRv7M2pn89fV/Final-Presentation?node-id=0%3A1&t=aVGmRAEYlLWXHaPl-1)
+
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/final-presentation-1.png)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/final-presentation-2.png)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/final-presentation-3.png)
+![](/assets/blog-post-assets/final-presentation-4.png)
+
+Bibliography: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1amrJ-A2G1_xXWdiuek_yu96Ex8BE-OpWh2GyFMc91ss/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1amrJ-A2G1_xXWdiuek_yu96Ex8BE-OpWh2GyFMc91ss/edit?usp=sharing)

_posts/2022-11-29-development-practices.md

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+---
+title: "Sunscreen Project: Various Development Practices"
+date: 2022-11-29
+categories:
+  - Sunscreen
+layout: custom-blog-post
+original-post-link: https://itp.nyu.edu/lowres/critex-monika/2022/11/29/project-2-various-development-practices/
+---
+
+## Ideas from in-class workshops
+### First description of idea:
+Sunscreen: I’ve recently learned a bit more about UVA vs UVB rays, and how sunscreens in the US seem to only be required to put the SPF rating on the products which is specific to blocking UVB rays. In other countries the UVA rating is put on more products, but the way that rating is captured isn’t standardized yet.
+
+### Refining the idea
+**Topic:** Sunscreen’s ability to block UVA and UVB rays
+
+**Systems Map(s):**
+
+- it may be interesting to work through a feedback loop of sorts to understand how sunscreen filters even work (i.e. when the ray hits the filter it breaks down, so that is why we need to reapply sunscreen periodically)
+- map of the process of regulation/approval of different ingredients. i.e. how does the FDA approve a particular ingredient?
+
+
+**Stakeholders:** all humans, companies that make the sunscreen, governments that potentially regulate sunscreen, environmentalists (chemical filters are detrimental to the environment), dermatologists
+
+**Critical Analysis:** There are a few critical view points that have come up with some really preliminary research, and I’m not sure which is the best to focus on yet:
+
+- some filters used in sunscreens are very good at blocking rays, but bad for the environment, and/or could be bad for humans in other ways (hormone disruptors, etc). Some people think that the potential health risks of these ingredients is worth the risk because we know that UVA and UVB rays are harmful. Is it worth the risk to the environment too?
+- There is a convenience/cosmetic component to this: mineral filters (non-chemical) aren’t bad for the environment or humans (I think), but they are more annoying to apply, create a white cast on the skin which people do not want, may not have the staying power of chemical blockers, etc.