In this round table discussion, the topic was should institutions or governments regulate the use of computational modeling in brain studies, why and why not. The stand given by the group was very clear, giving many examples of the positive side of the technology and also conceding a few points on the negative side.
This technology which analyzes the brain has many applications, from the hospitals to the military. Firstly, this technology is a great tool to detect Autism (a brain disorder that impairs a person to think, feel and communicate) in babies. Using this brain imaging tool, it is easy to detect autism as children with autism tend to be born with brains that are smaller then average. This can lead to early awareness of the child's condition and allows proper care early.
Another good application is to let people in coma-like state be heard again. This is using the fact that people who are in a coma, might still be consciously awake and have the ability to communicate. Hence using these tools, it might be possible to establish communication by reading the brain of a patient. This will also help reconnect these patients with their families and loved ones, and provide a clear resolution in legals battles over a decision to continue or discontinue life support.
In the court of law, this brain scan technology has many applications, it has the ability to determine accurately the witness's mental state, evaluate the truthfulness of the testimony and memories. This will be crucial in providing an accurate verdict. In the area of national security, this technology can be freely used to question terrorist and criminals to determine information swiftly and accurately.
However there are a few disadvantages to this technology, firstly current privacy laws might not provide enough protection against scanning requests from the courts and government, causing an invasion of privacy and unwillingly revelation of information by the questioned. Abuse of this technology will also be a great disadvantage. However the advantages outweight the potential risks of such a technology.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Green Chemistry
With the increased onslaught of global pollution, there has been a heightened sense of awareness and growing activism amongst the population to curb the damage mankind is inflicting on Earth. Thus the term “Green Chemistry” has of late been commonly spotted in various forms of media, as it is touted to be the sole answer to protect and maintain the sustainability of our life on Earth. It is invented to minimise and eradicate the emission or usage of harmful matter.
A supporter of Green Chemistry, Mary M. Kirchoff states in the first article “Promoting sustainability through green chemistry” that should mankind which to benefit from increased living standards and not result in detrimental effects on their health or the environment, implementing green chemistry is an unavoidable issue. It is so because mankind’s current way of life and large volume of daily emissions are depleting the Earth of its natural resources more rapidly than they can be regenerated. According to Kirchoff, the tripartite consisting of the academia, the industry and the government is crucial if green chemistry is to bear its fruit of labour. Academia, which consists of research and the edification of mankind, together with the Industry (a main culprit of toxic emissions) and the Government, will be able to implement and uphold policies made while simultaneously educating the population. Further proving her point, she also listed various inventions that were the brainchild of the above-mentioned tripartite such as biocatalyst and super critical carbon dioxide.
In the second article “Green chemist shows the way for Singapore” by Shobana Kesava, it focused on the cross-cultural collaboration between Japanese Research Institute – Riken and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star). It mentioned the unique importance of Singapore’s position in the world of green technology as Singapore has positioned herself to be the petrol refining hub of Southeast Asia. As so, there is a possibility to branch into further green technology related areas and to hopefully use Singapore as a launching pad to influence and to harness green technology in the countries around us.
Both articles mention the importance of Green Chemistry with the first stating the need to implement this technology and the second article citing the actual implementation of the very inventions brought to fruition by the Green Chemistry theory. As such both succeed in presenting a clear stand on green chemistry and the immense benefits it has on mankind as well as the pressing need to implement this technology as soon as possible.
Bibliography:
1. Kirchoff, M. M. (2005) - Promoting sustainability through green chemistry.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling 44 , 237-243.
2. Kesava, Shobana. (2007, May 19) - Green chemist' shows the way for Singapore.
The Straits Times, http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/20070506/070519-2.htm
A supporter of Green Chemistry, Mary M. Kirchoff states in the first article “Promoting sustainability through green chemistry” that should mankind which to benefit from increased living standards and not result in detrimental effects on their health or the environment, implementing green chemistry is an unavoidable issue. It is so because mankind’s current way of life and large volume of daily emissions are depleting the Earth of its natural resources more rapidly than they can be regenerated. According to Kirchoff, the tripartite consisting of the academia, the industry and the government is crucial if green chemistry is to bear its fruit of labour. Academia, which consists of research and the edification of mankind, together with the Industry (a main culprit of toxic emissions) and the Government, will be able to implement and uphold policies made while simultaneously educating the population. Further proving her point, she also listed various inventions that were the brainchild of the above-mentioned tripartite such as biocatalyst and super critical carbon dioxide.
In the second article “Green chemist shows the way for Singapore” by Shobana Kesava, it focused on the cross-cultural collaboration between Japanese Research Institute – Riken and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star). It mentioned the unique importance of Singapore’s position in the world of green technology as Singapore has positioned herself to be the petrol refining hub of Southeast Asia. As so, there is a possibility to branch into further green technology related areas and to hopefully use Singapore as a launching pad to influence and to harness green technology in the countries around us.
Both articles mention the importance of Green Chemistry with the first stating the need to implement this technology and the second article citing the actual implementation of the very inventions brought to fruition by the Green Chemistry theory. As such both succeed in presenting a clear stand on green chemistry and the immense benefits it has on mankind as well as the pressing need to implement this technology as soon as possible.
Bibliography:
1. Kirchoff, M. M. (2005) - Promoting sustainability through green chemistry.
Resources, Conservation and Recycling 44 , 237-243.
2. Kesava, Shobana. (2007, May 19) - Green chemist' shows the way for Singapore.
The Straits Times, http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/20070506/070519-2.htm
Sunday, February 1, 2009
E-Port #3: Response to 'Climate Change Lecture'
The lecture on friday evening was on climate change, the problems associated with it and how they should be addressed. The aim of this lecture was to provide students with more background knowledge on this crisis that the earth is facing, thus allowing students to not only aid with the upcoming writing assignment but more importantly to create awareness that many are lacking. The lecture was divided into three parts with three different speakers, each part covering different aspects of climate change, from environmental to political viewpoints.
The first speaker, Professor Andrew Palmer from Cambridge, focused on the various measures we can take to mitigate climate change. Examples include increasing fossil fuel efficiency, seeking and converting to alternative energy sources such as hydro and solar energy. He also proposed an idea of using today's technologies to capture and store carbon dioxide in depleted gas field in membrane bubbles and place them at the ocean bed. However as beneficial it sounds for the environment, i find it not feasible and unrealistic. Apart from the huge cost needed which might already turn off many government bodies and environmental companies, there is a risk for the ecosystem of the ocean if somehow the membrane bubble was to burst. Hence it is counter-productive to solve containing the greenhouse gas, but introduce another environmental risk to the oceans.
The second speaker, Assistant Professor Benjamin, lecture was focused on energy problems we face today and how Science and Technology studies can help solve these problems. In addition, he discussed on the various challenges that might arise by coming up with these solutions. To illustrate this he talked about two case studies, namely electric cars and renewable energies. Many obstacles in these case studies were identified, such as market failure, political hindrance and cultural resistance. I find what the professor said to be very true, especially in the context of today, any new technology introduced in today's market, will be firstly scrutinized on its ability to sell and reap in profits then on the extent it can benefit the environment.
The last speaker, Assistant Professor Bala, dived back into the general idea of climate change. He mentioned how climate change has become a global fact and the consequences growing more dire with each passing year. Solutions must be found as quickly as possible so as to halt or more realistically slow down the effects of global warming. 'Think globally and act locally" was his ending quote to the lecture, i find this quote meaningful, but however to only a small extent.
To conclude, it is interesting to know the different methods suggested to help contain and slow down the effects and process of climate change. However some of these suggestions and proposed solutions are at best just an idea, and cannot be formulated in real life. This lecture however does provide great knowledge on the broad topic of climate change and touches on many political, cultural and economic aspects that we as engineers might tend to overlook.
The first speaker, Professor Andrew Palmer from Cambridge, focused on the various measures we can take to mitigate climate change. Examples include increasing fossil fuel efficiency, seeking and converting to alternative energy sources such as hydro and solar energy. He also proposed an idea of using today's technologies to capture and store carbon dioxide in depleted gas field in membrane bubbles and place them at the ocean bed. However as beneficial it sounds for the environment, i find it not feasible and unrealistic. Apart from the huge cost needed which might already turn off many government bodies and environmental companies, there is a risk for the ecosystem of the ocean if somehow the membrane bubble was to burst. Hence it is counter-productive to solve containing the greenhouse gas, but introduce another environmental risk to the oceans.
The second speaker, Assistant Professor Benjamin, lecture was focused on energy problems we face today and how Science and Technology studies can help solve these problems. In addition, he discussed on the various challenges that might arise by coming up with these solutions. To illustrate this he talked about two case studies, namely electric cars and renewable energies. Many obstacles in these case studies were identified, such as market failure, political hindrance and cultural resistance. I find what the professor said to be very true, especially in the context of today, any new technology introduced in today's market, will be firstly scrutinized on its ability to sell and reap in profits then on the extent it can benefit the environment.
The last speaker, Assistant Professor Bala, dived back into the general idea of climate change. He mentioned how climate change has become a global fact and the consequences growing more dire with each passing year. Solutions must be found as quickly as possible so as to halt or more realistically slow down the effects of global warming. 'Think globally and act locally" was his ending quote to the lecture, i find this quote meaningful, but however to only a small extent.
To conclude, it is interesting to know the different methods suggested to help contain and slow down the effects and process of climate change. However some of these suggestions and proposed solutions are at best just an idea, and cannot be formulated in real life. This lecture however does provide great knowledge on the broad topic of climate change and touches on many political, cultural and economic aspects that we as engineers might tend to overlook.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
E-Port #2 (An Inconvenient Truth)
Government polices in Singapore have both helped and harmed the environment in a multitude of ways. However the balance of this situation tends to swing more towards that of harming the environment. This can be seen in both the local scene as well as that of the international stage.
Global warming is acknowledged as a major problem today, however the policies of Singapore just pays lip-service to the commitment to preserve the environment and preventing global warming.
This can be seen firstly in the international stage.
Singapore's policies, especially industrially, is pragmatic and aimed at attracting MNCs which include engineering and chemical industries, which inevitably expels tons of pollution and greenhouse gases, which contributes and worsens global warming. Singapore's foreign economic policy depicts Singapore as still a developing nation, and thus would be disadvantaged if she followed the bigger nations' international environmental treaties. Such an examples is the Kyoto
protocol, which is aimed to control the concentration of harmful greenhouse gases and to prevent adverse climate change. However compared to other countries and bigger nations, which not only signed the treaty but also promised a yearly commitment plan, Singapore did neither, but merely accepted the existance of such a treaty.
Locally, Singapore has made attempts to help the environment and the global warming crisis, but its effects are at best minimal to futile. Singapore created the Ministry of environment and water resources to handle this problem. Their 5 poilices include "Green Procurement and Partnership with Suppliers", "Pollution Prevention" , "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," , "Efficiency in Environmental Management" and "Compliance". All this measures do help to a certain degree in preventing and helping to minimalise the damage on the environment, however to attract more investors in the industrial sectors, this regulations cannot be too strictly enforced, as pollution prevent cost money apart from just awareness.
Global warming is acknowledged as a major problem today, however the policies of Singapore just pays lip-service to the commitment to preserve the environment and preventing global warming.
This can be seen firstly in the international stage.
Singapore's policies, especially industrially, is pragmatic and aimed at attracting MNCs which include engineering and chemical industries, which inevitably expels tons of pollution and greenhouse gases, which contributes and worsens global warming. Singapore's foreign economic policy depicts Singapore as still a developing nation, and thus would be disadvantaged if she followed the bigger nations' international environmental treaties. Such an examples is the Kyoto
protocol, which is aimed to control the concentration of harmful greenhouse gases and to prevent adverse climate change. However compared to other countries and bigger nations, which not only signed the treaty but also promised a yearly commitment plan, Singapore did neither, but merely accepted the existance of such a treaty.
Locally, Singapore has made attempts to help the environment and the global warming crisis, but its effects are at best minimal to futile. Singapore created the Ministry of environment and water resources to handle this problem. Their 5 poilices include "Green Procurement and Partnership with Suppliers", "Pollution Prevention" , "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," , "Efficiency in Environmental Management" and "Compliance". All this measures do help to a certain degree in preventing and helping to minimalise the damage on the environment, however to attract more investors in the industrial sectors, this regulations cannot be too strictly enforced, as pollution prevent cost money apart from just awareness.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Portfolio Task 1: The Pefect Training : Engineering
From the article by Prof. Ramakrishna, i feel that engineers today have been not only versatile but also successful in almost every field they have diversified into, be it banking, business or even in the arts scene. All the qualities that help an engineer succeed can be traced back to their roots of the education of an engineer.
Throughout the learning process in the universities, engineers are taught skills which are very different or perhaps even alien when compared to that of other disciplines. Besides learning their majors (Chemical, Electrical, etc), engineers are exposed to a thought process that places emphasis on analysis and to be systematic during problem solving. The discipline of engineering has endowed its learners with the gift to analyse problems and situations logically, systematically, from all aspects so as to achieve quality solutions compared to just mere brainstorming.
Complex situations and problems exists in every industry, and to an engineer, these problems are fundamentally similar and can be solved easily and effectively. Throughout the undergraduate years, an engineer would have learn the art of breaking down huge and complex problems, analyzing each part thoroughly so as to understand the problem fully, formulate multiple solutions which are not only effective, but help save costs, time and labor as well.
An engineer's analysis will full show the advantages and disadvantages of a certain solution so as to decide on the overall best choice. Perhaps another important point is an engineer's strict adherence to rules and regulations cultivated by years of study in the universities. This makes an engineer very desirable in many fields such as banking and services sectors as well. Its a known fact that many engineers are being employed by banks, this is a testament to an engineer's versatility, demand and usefulness.
Apart from just the mindset of systematization, an engineer of today also has much exposure to management problems and team-building situations from their various modules taken throughout their university life. This equips them with skills that is sought after by almost all companies seeking employees who can function well individually but as well as in teams. Engineers are also well equipped with global knowledge as well as social skills needed to survive and thrive in the modern working world of today. Projects, overseas trips and attachment have not only strengthened the engineer's core knowledge and management skills, but also knowledgeable in many critical aspects of today's working world.
Throughout the learning process in the universities, engineers are taught skills which are very different or perhaps even alien when compared to that of other disciplines. Besides learning their majors (Chemical, Electrical, etc), engineers are exposed to a thought process that places emphasis on analysis and to be systematic during problem solving. The discipline of engineering has endowed its learners with the gift to analyse problems and situations logically, systematically, from all aspects so as to achieve quality solutions compared to just mere brainstorming.
Complex situations and problems exists in every industry, and to an engineer, these problems are fundamentally similar and can be solved easily and effectively. Throughout the undergraduate years, an engineer would have learn the art of breaking down huge and complex problems, analyzing each part thoroughly so as to understand the problem fully, formulate multiple solutions which are not only effective, but help save costs, time and labor as well.
An engineer's analysis will full show the advantages and disadvantages of a certain solution so as to decide on the overall best choice. Perhaps another important point is an engineer's strict adherence to rules and regulations cultivated by years of study in the universities. This makes an engineer very desirable in many fields such as banking and services sectors as well. Its a known fact that many engineers are being employed by banks, this is a testament to an engineer's versatility, demand and usefulness.
Apart from just the mindset of systematization, an engineer of today also has much exposure to management problems and team-building situations from their various modules taken throughout their university life. This equips them with skills that is sought after by almost all companies seeking employees who can function well individually but as well as in teams. Engineers are also well equipped with global knowledge as well as social skills needed to survive and thrive in the modern working world of today. Projects, overseas trips and attachment have not only strengthened the engineer's core knowledge and management skills, but also knowledgeable in many critical aspects of today's working world.
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