On our way from Baltimore to Shenandoah National Park, we stopped off to visit our friend Sebastien and see his lab at HHMI’s Janelia Farm. As we stepped from the heated parking garage into the aerodynamically sleek interior of the research center, I got the impression that this wasn’t your typical lab facility. We met Seb outside on, what I believe is called, Helix Drive, and there got a better view of the building. It’s glassy three terraced floors are lodged in the side of one of Virginia’s many rolling hills. There are large metal sculptures planted all over the grounds of the old farm and hunched scientists walking quickly through the halls and awkwardly waving at each other. But the hint that we may have actually stepped into the most recent model of the Starship Enterprise just waiting to launch from the hills of Virginia and take the whole lot of its scientists with it didn’t actually come up until Seb started to show us all the features of Janelia Farm. Apparently, when designing the facilities, HHMI included all necessities and luxuries that might keep any number of people from having any desire to leave the Farm. These amenities include, among others, free coffee, tea and popcorn, cushy chairs at even intervals, high class (and nearly free) cuisine available from early in the morning until late at night, a fully equipped gym, pool table, ping pong, tv room and free office supplies. I mean, it’s a seriously self contained machine….and, to boot, it really resembles a Star Trek set. So, thanks Seb for letting us get a look around the ship before your final launch day.
We also got a look at a different kind of vessel while visiting Seb….our friend is building a boat in his garage. The pictures below don’t do justice to the awesome nature of Seb’s design, but you can get some kind of idea of how much work has already gone into this soon-to-be sea worthy piece of craftsmanship.
Hahaha… Run for your LEAVES!