Portfolio 5

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.

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.

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