There are always two sides to a coin. This logic applies to research subjects, such as brain mapping and nuclear fusion. On one hand, if the technology is used as intended, it can reap many benefits, such as the treatment of mental illnesses and the aversion of the energy crisis. However, if the technology is abused, then devastation would most likely follow. Hence, there is a pressing need for researchers to predict and minimize potential unethical abuses of their work.
One way to predict and minimize potential unethical abuses of one’s research work will be to hold periodic conferences with other researchers to brainstorm for possible channels of abuse, very much like how the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) run their meetings. Conferences with other researchers will congregate ideas based on research literature as these are the people who create the technology and are the few who truly understand its capabilities and shortfalls. These conferences should most likely be a global audience of fellow researchers, as many different groups of people can offer a diverse set of ideas to predict and minimize potential unethical abuses.
The second way would be to conduct a series of tests to study its possible abuses. By going through the set of procedures, one might discover new avenues that are possible for exploitation. One example is the rigorous testing of software, where the software is subjected to many forms of testing to maximize its efficiency. Hackers may also be invited to find possible exploitation in the algorithm. This method is useful for discovering loopholes that viruses may possibly exploit. A similar idea could be deployed to study any possible abuses of one's research subject.
A third solution would be to work together with different governmental agencies to pass Bills that prevent the exploitation of the technology. Through the protection of these exploitations with rules and regulations enforced by the government, potential abusers may be deterred. Strict penalties and enforcement should keep the abuse to a low level.
Although much can be done, one must understand that there will always be available avenues for abuse. However there has to be a conscious effort from the public to realize that abusing the technology may have devastating effects, and to refrain from abusing it.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Portfolio 4
The engineering classes that I am under-taking this semester do not require much writing in the English language. Besides EG1471, I have no other modules that require me to write essays. However, there are still some difficulties in writing that I am still facing, mostly due to a transition from a Junior College style of writing.
Academic writing requires citation and referencing, and coming from a Junior College education, I must say that this additional aspect is rather difficult to grasp first time. Although I have done many readings that include in-text-citations, I have not written one myself. Citation and referencing in APA style has many rules to follow, and there is little time to fully grasp the citation and referencing techniques. However many of my peers are able to reference and cite effectively in APA style, so it can get quite embarrassing sometimes. To correct this perennial mistake of mine, I will do a direct comparison with the APA style website provided whenever there is a need to do academic writing. Furthermore, whenever there are academic articles to read, I will take note of their referencing style and do an APA style conversion. Hopefully this will help me improve in the areas of citation and referencing.
Another difficulty that I am facing is having the lack of vocabulary especially during paraphrasing. The strong stand the University takes on plagiarism, plus the requirement to submit your assignments to turnitin.com forces me to paraphrase. Sometimes I find it difficult to find suitable replacement words or phrases due to the lack of vocabulary, and I often substitute these words with more general forms that cause the sentence to lose part of its meaning. I could resolve this difficulty and continue to improve by analyzing how my other peers paraphrase and by participating in paraphrasing exercises during class.
I feel that EG1471 is a very useful course in helping students transit from Junior College to University and after resolving these difficulties that I am currently encountering, I will be able to successfully tackle writing assignments in my future engineering classes.
Academic writing requires citation and referencing, and coming from a Junior College education, I must say that this additional aspect is rather difficult to grasp first time. Although I have done many readings that include in-text-citations, I have not written one myself. Citation and referencing in APA style has many rules to follow, and there is little time to fully grasp the citation and referencing techniques. However many of my peers are able to reference and cite effectively in APA style, so it can get quite embarrassing sometimes. To correct this perennial mistake of mine, I will do a direct comparison with the APA style website provided whenever there is a need to do academic writing. Furthermore, whenever there are academic articles to read, I will take note of their referencing style and do an APA style conversion. Hopefully this will help me improve in the areas of citation and referencing.
Another difficulty that I am facing is having the lack of vocabulary especially during paraphrasing. The strong stand the University takes on plagiarism, plus the requirement to submit your assignments to turnitin.com forces me to paraphrase. Sometimes I find it difficult to find suitable replacement words or phrases due to the lack of vocabulary, and I often substitute these words with more general forms that cause the sentence to lose part of its meaning. I could resolve this difficulty and continue to improve by analyzing how my other peers paraphrase and by participating in paraphrasing exercises during class.
I feel that EG1471 is a very useful course in helping students transit from Junior College to University and after resolving these difficulties that I am currently encountering, I will be able to successfully tackle writing assignments in my future engineering classes.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
EG1471 - Portfolio 3
The world is currently facing an energy shortage. Energy consumption levels are expected to double in less than 50 years, and our current energy plan, energy generation through the burning of fossil fuels, is running out fast. The burning of fossil fuels is also placing a strain on the environment through pollution. The world is currently looking for cleaner and longer term alternatives. Among the alternatives considered such as renewable sources, and other carbon free technologies, nuclear fusion comes across as the most efficient and viable solution out of this crisis.
The general idea of nuclear fusion is to force the nucleuses of atoms to fuse together under high heat, combining them to form the waste product while producing a lot of energy. Part of this energy is re-used to start another reaction and that will produce more energy. This continuous process will keep generating energy until the start products have been used up. However, scientists have not found a solution to sustain this reaction or getting huge amounts of energies from the reaction.
Currently there are projects underway to construct generators large enough to sustain such high levels of energy productions. One of the biggest projects currently under construction is the Europe International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), residing in France. This doughnut shaped reactor is a combined effort from the European Union to fund nuclear fusion research. More than seven billion pounds have been poured into this project that is expected to produce a hundred times of the initial energy needed to start the reaction off.
Sceptics of nuclear fusion claim that it is too dangerous a tool to deploy when there are safer sources available such as renewable energy. They also add that even though so much money has already been invested in nuclear fusion research, it is still not deployable. However, there is ongoing research to lessen the risks of nuclear fusion, and renewable energy, though sustainable, hardly produces enough. Furthermore, nuclear fusion is the most efficient energy production identified yet, and if successful, energy crisis will be a thing of the past, and that would justify the billions of dollars invested.
Until the day that nuclear fusion can be deployed commercially, the world could work towards carbon capture and storage (CSS), and other carbon free technologies, while relying less on fossil fuels.
Praities, N. Nuclear Fusion: Energy for the Future?. Retrieved 8th October 2008 from http://www.firstscience.com/home/articles/big-theories/nuclear-fusion-energy-for-the-future-page-1-1_17006.html
The general idea of nuclear fusion is to force the nucleuses of atoms to fuse together under high heat, combining them to form the waste product while producing a lot of energy. Part of this energy is re-used to start another reaction and that will produce more energy. This continuous process will keep generating energy until the start products have been used up. However, scientists have not found a solution to sustain this reaction or getting huge amounts of energies from the reaction.
Currently there are projects underway to construct generators large enough to sustain such high levels of energy productions. One of the biggest projects currently under construction is the Europe International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), residing in France. This doughnut shaped reactor is a combined effort from the European Union to fund nuclear fusion research. More than seven billion pounds have been poured into this project that is expected to produce a hundred times of the initial energy needed to start the reaction off.
Sceptics of nuclear fusion claim that it is too dangerous a tool to deploy when there are safer sources available such as renewable energy. They also add that even though so much money has already been invested in nuclear fusion research, it is still not deployable. However, there is ongoing research to lessen the risks of nuclear fusion, and renewable energy, though sustainable, hardly produces enough. Furthermore, nuclear fusion is the most efficient energy production identified yet, and if successful, energy crisis will be a thing of the past, and that would justify the billions of dollars invested.
Until the day that nuclear fusion can be deployed commercially, the world could work towards carbon capture and storage (CSS), and other carbon free technologies, while relying less on fossil fuels.
Praities, N. Nuclear Fusion: Energy for the Future?. Retrieved 8th October 2008 from http://www.firstscience.com/home/articles/big-theories/nuclear-fusion-energy-for-the-future-page-1-1_17006.html
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Portfolio 2
The English Language has many rules, and one of it is Punctuation. The 4 most commonly used punctuations are the comma[,], the colon[:], the semi-colon[;] and the period[.]. Other forms of punctuations include the question mark[?], the exclamation mark[!], quotation marks[“”], parentheses[()], apostrophes[‘] and dashes[-]. We will look through the 4 most commonly used punctuations in detail.
Commas are commonly used for separation to group words together and avoid confusion.
Example: The colours of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo.
The comma can be used in place of the word ‘and’ in between two adjectives.
Example: Tom is a smart, handsome boy.
The comma can be inserted in between statements that are considered not essential after the subject of the sentence has been appropriately identified.
Example: Robert, who has a scar on his arm, is the class chairperson.
The scar on his arm is considered not essential, and therefore is enclosed by commas.
The colon is commonly employed during the listing of items.
Example:
The following are the Pool Rules:
1. Do not run around the pool.
2. Always swim under a supervision of a lifeguard.
3. No diving at the shallow end of the pool.
The semi-colon can be used to replace a period to separate two sentences.
Example: Do call me tomorrow; the goods will be ready by then.
Lastly, the period is used at the end of a complete sentence.
Example: Tom went to the park.
Example: He was on the phone.
Worksheet on the Use of Punctuation:
Level: Basic
Fill in the blanks with the correct punctuation: comma, semi-colon, colon or full stop. If you use a full stop, remember to change the following word into capital letter.
Passage 1:
Before my friends moved out of the city, they usually recite the advantages of suburban life (1)______ green grass, flowers, swimming pools, barbecues, and so on. Yet after my friends have lived there for a year or so, they realize that suburban life is not so pleasant as they were expecting. What causes this change? Their gardens! They soon learn that one unavoidable part of suburban life is yardwork. After they work all weekend in their gardens, they are much too tired to take a swim in their pools or even to cook some meat on their barbecues. And they have another complaint (2)________ they can’t live in the suburbs without a car. Most of my friends moved to the suburbs to avoid traffic, but now they have to commute to work downtown. They sit on a busy freeway two hours every day.
My opinion about urban life are very different from my friends’(3)______I live downtown, and I love it! Why? Well, first, I love nature (4)_______ flowers, green grass, trees and animals. In the city, I have all the advantages of nature (5)________ I can walk through the public park, smell the flowers, and sit on the grass under the trees. I can visit the animals in the zoo. Yet I have none of the disadvantages (6)_______ I don’t have to do yardwork or feed the animals (7) ______ Also, in the city, I can get everywhere by bus (8)_______ if there’s a traffic jam, I can walk home.
Passage 1.
(1) :
(2) :
(3) —
(4) — / :
(5) :
(6) :
(7) .
(8) ;
Exercise taken from http://courses.nus.edu.sg/courseware/ITSELF/
Commas are commonly used for separation to group words together and avoid confusion.
Example: The colours of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo.
The comma can be used in place of the word ‘and’ in between two adjectives.
Example: Tom is a smart, handsome boy.
The comma can be inserted in between statements that are considered not essential after the subject of the sentence has been appropriately identified.
Example: Robert, who has a scar on his arm, is the class chairperson.
The scar on his arm is considered not essential, and therefore is enclosed by commas.
The colon is commonly employed during the listing of items.
Example:
The following are the Pool Rules:
1. Do not run around the pool.
2. Always swim under a supervision of a lifeguard.
3. No diving at the shallow end of the pool.
The semi-colon can be used to replace a period to separate two sentences.
Example: Do call me tomorrow; the goods will be ready by then.
Lastly, the period is used at the end of a complete sentence.
Example: Tom went to the park.
Example: He was on the phone.
Worksheet on the Use of Punctuation:
Level: Basic
Fill in the blanks with the correct punctuation: comma, semi-colon, colon or full stop. If you use a full stop, remember to change the following word into capital letter.
Passage 1:
Before my friends moved out of the city, they usually recite the advantages of suburban life (1)______ green grass, flowers, swimming pools, barbecues, and so on. Yet after my friends have lived there for a year or so, they realize that suburban life is not so pleasant as they were expecting. What causes this change? Their gardens! They soon learn that one unavoidable part of suburban life is yardwork. After they work all weekend in their gardens, they are much too tired to take a swim in their pools or even to cook some meat on their barbecues. And they have another complaint (2)________ they can’t live in the suburbs without a car. Most of my friends moved to the suburbs to avoid traffic, but now they have to commute to work downtown. They sit on a busy freeway two hours every day.
My opinion about urban life are very different from my friends’(3)______I live downtown, and I love it! Why? Well, first, I love nature (4)_______ flowers, green grass, trees and animals. In the city, I have all the advantages of nature (5)________ I can walk through the public park, smell the flowers, and sit on the grass under the trees. I can visit the animals in the zoo. Yet I have none of the disadvantages (6)_______ I don’t have to do yardwork or feed the animals (7) ______ Also, in the city, I can get everywhere by bus (8)_______ if there’s a traffic jam, I can walk home.
Passage 1.
(1) :
(2) :
(3) —
(4) — / :
(5) :
(6) :
(7) .
(8) ;
Exercise taken from http://courses.nus.edu.sg/courseware/ITSELF/
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Writing Assignment 1
Although there are many advantages of having a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, there are several disadvantage of focusing on STEM education rather than language arts. Firstly, individuals are not trained to express a personal point of view. This is because STEM focuses on definitions, formulae and concepts, and those have been around for hundreds of years and have somewhat been set in stone. Thus, individuals in the STEM education usually memorize and regurgitate, from having no room for questioning. However, questions asked from a language arts education are usually debatable - one is free to express/ explore one's own view as there are no right or wrong answers. Therefore, through the lack of educational exposure, STEM individuals are not trained to express a personal point of view. The second disadvantage, naturally, would be the inadequancies of STEM individuals in dealing with societal/ human-related problems. Although STEM individuals are able to apply their knowledge to technical questions. Newton's Law, for example, however effective in the realm of STEM, cannot usually be applied to solve most human-related conflicts. By not being exposed to an adequate amount of societal/ human psychology modules that a language arts programme would usually offer, STEM individuals may be less aware of societal/ human needs, and therefore may not be as adept at handling human-related provblems. The third disadvantage is focusing too much on STEM education may develop individuals tha are too 'one-sided'. While STEM makes one smart, history makes one wise, music gives one expression and culture gives one depth. Focusing on other subjects other than science, technology, engineering and math might develop a more complete individual. In conclusion, though docusing on STEM education might be key to resolving the "Grand Challenges", one should be aware that there are possible disadvantages as well.
please comment!
Although there are many advantages of having a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, there are several disadvantage of focusing on STEM education rather than language arts. Firstly, individuals are not trained to express a personal point of view. This is because STEM focuses on definitions, formulae and concepts, and those have been around for hundreds of years and have somewhat been set in stone. Thus, individuals in the STEM education usually memorize and regurgitate, from having no room for questioning. However, questions asked from a language arts education are usually debatable - one is free to express/ explore one's own view as there are no right or wrong answers. Therefore, through the lack of educational exposure, STEM individuals are not trained to express a personal point of view. The second disadvantage, naturally, would be the inadequancies of STEM individuals in dealing with societal/ human-related problems. Although STEM individuals are able to apply their knowledge to technical questions. Newton's Law, for example, however effective in the realm of STEM, cannot usually be applied to solve most human-related conflicts. By not being exposed to an adequate amount of societal/ human psychology modules that a language arts programme would usually offer, STEM individuals may be less aware of societal/ human needs, and therefore may not be as adept at handling human-related provblems. The third disadvantage is focusing too much on STEM education may develop individuals tha are too 'one-sided'. While STEM makes one smart, history makes one wise, music gives one expression and culture gives one depth. Focusing on other subjects other than science, technology, engineering and math might develop a more complete individual. In conclusion, though docusing on STEM education might be key to resolving the "Grand Challenges", one should be aware that there are possible disadvantages as well.
please comment!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Portfolio 1
Which idea in those two articles do you think is the most important to the profession? Briefly explain your choice in about 300 words.
Improving the "quality and quantity of water" is the most important to the profession, as mentioned in the article, "Introduction to the Grand Challenges of Engineering". While engineering is pushing the frontiers of almost all areas of life, the most important aspect of life should be engineering a solution towards improving the environmental situation of the earth. Though advancements in medical science (researching a cure to previously incurable diseases), gaining insights on how the brain works (discovering how it absorbs and recalls information more effectively) are important to the engineering profession, urgency demands the saving of the earth as top priority.
The earth is currently facing many problems, from global warming, to the depletion of natural resources. However, the conditions of the other elements are not as urgent as water shortage. The world’s freshwater supply is depleting at an unsustainable rate and by 2025, it is estimated that almost three-quarters of the world’s supply may be used up. (www.panda.org, 21st Aug 2008)
Without water, human beings will die. However, the amount of water we consume for our daily survival is miniscule compared to the amount of water we use for societal needs, mainly agriculture, which takes up nearly 70% of earth’s freshwater supply. While the human body needs about 8 litres of water a day, crops require a lot more (to produce a kilo of rice takes about two cubic metres). Due to the large requirement of water in this industry, famers are pumping up groundwater at a rate 160 billion cubic metres more than what the earth can replenish in an entire year. (www.wateryear2003.org, 21st Aug 2008) Other industries that use large volumes of water include manufacturing, where water is used to cool machinery.
There are two ways to solve the water crisis. The first is to increase the supply of freshwater in the world. This currently done through desalination processes, reverse-osmosis, and most recently, nano-osmosis, but engineering can strive to make these processes more effective and affordable. The second is to increase the efficiency of water in societal uses. Through more effective cooling systems for manufacturing industries, to possibly genetically-modifying crops that require less water, the water situation on earth could improve.
With the eventual depletion of water supply looming, the onus is on the engineers to tide us through one of earth’s biggest problems yet again.
[References]
Jamie Pittock (31 Jul 2002). "Fixing the global water,"
Retrieved from http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater/news/index.cfm?uNewsID=2628
International Year of Freshwater 2003 (Nov 2003). "Facts and Figures: The Different Water Uses,”
Retrieved from http://www.wateryear2003.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=1607&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Note to all: please feel free to comment!
Improving the "quality and quantity of water" is the most important to the profession, as mentioned in the article, "Introduction to the Grand Challenges of Engineering". While engineering is pushing the frontiers of almost all areas of life, the most important aspect of life should be engineering a solution towards improving the environmental situation of the earth. Though advancements in medical science (researching a cure to previously incurable diseases), gaining insights on how the brain works (discovering how it absorbs and recalls information more effectively) are important to the engineering profession, urgency demands the saving of the earth as top priority.
The earth is currently facing many problems, from global warming, to the depletion of natural resources. However, the conditions of the other elements are not as urgent as water shortage. The world’s freshwater supply is depleting at an unsustainable rate and by 2025, it is estimated that almost three-quarters of the world’s supply may be used up. (www.panda.org, 21st Aug 2008)
Without water, human beings will die. However, the amount of water we consume for our daily survival is miniscule compared to the amount of water we use for societal needs, mainly agriculture, which takes up nearly 70% of earth’s freshwater supply. While the human body needs about 8 litres of water a day, crops require a lot more (to produce a kilo of rice takes about two cubic metres). Due to the large requirement of water in this industry, famers are pumping up groundwater at a rate 160 billion cubic metres more than what the earth can replenish in an entire year. (www.wateryear2003.org, 21st Aug 2008) Other industries that use large volumes of water include manufacturing, where water is used to cool machinery.
There are two ways to solve the water crisis. The first is to increase the supply of freshwater in the world. This currently done through desalination processes, reverse-osmosis, and most recently, nano-osmosis, but engineering can strive to make these processes more effective and affordable. The second is to increase the efficiency of water in societal uses. Through more effective cooling systems for manufacturing industries, to possibly genetically-modifying crops that require less water, the water situation on earth could improve.
With the eventual depletion of water supply looming, the onus is on the engineers to tide us through one of earth’s biggest problems yet again.
[References]
Jamie Pittock (31 Jul 2002). "Fixing the global water,"
Retrieved from http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater/news/index.cfm?uNewsID=2628
International Year of Freshwater 2003 (Nov 2003). "Facts and Figures: The Different Water Uses,”
Retrieved from http://www.wateryear2003.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=1607&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Note to all: please feel free to comment!
Friday, August 22, 2008
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