Category: Science

  • The biodiversity crisis and climate change

    The biodiversity crisis and climate change

    By Rabia Kahn

    Nobody can run away from the climate. It is indeed a crisis that everyone is affected by, and that means all of humanity. Pollution, a spiralling population, and wars contribute to the planet’s mass extinction of many, many known and unknown, and unexplored species of plant life and animal life. Climate change has hit hard on biodiversity.

    Forest fires have increased, and storms, typhoons, hurricanes, and droughts have wrecked immense damage to this beautiful Mother Earth. And we cannot forget poaching too. Animals and birds have also lost their homes to deforestation. These species are facing extinction. Our ecosystem is being destroyed and destabilized because of irresponsible human activities.

    Civilization is at risk because humans have not learned to coexist with nature. We have been overusing our natural resources. The seas and oceans have taken the brunt of experiments that have most often been carried out illegally by powerful factors that control the world economy.

    The future may seem dark because our natural sources of nutrients are being destroyed. Nature in many ways regulates the necessities of humanity, like drinking water, and the harvesting of healthy crops; all these things are now becoming luxuries and may soon disappear forever if we do not take heed of the way we humans are treating our natural resources. Our environment is crying for attention.

    We have to fight for our nature to be pure and clean. Ultimately nature will help our survival. We can survive on love and fresh air, can’t we?  But this love has to be channeled into integrating and implementing surefire tactics to keep our environment safe and unpolluted.

    Many countries all over the world have banned plastic, which is a great step forward. We need to recycle more, we need to protect our birds and bees, trees and forests, and use our water systems more efficiently.

    Governments of all countries need to come together and tackle this issue. It’s not one person’s job and it is not one country’s responsibility. It is the responsibility of each one of us as citizens, and as children of the soil to protect, defend, and preserve our land.

    This crisis is critical and has put a strain on the economy of our world. Rising prices of almost everything has frustrated the common person. I believe we all need to take a stand in safeguarding what is important to our well-being.

    Let’s help our communities by looking after our ecosystem. Otherwise, biodiversity which is so essential for life on our blue planet is simply going to crumble.

    Our physical and mental health depends on our biodiversity. Let’s begin to question what is wrong with what we are doing and what hampers this environment from being healthy, and take the right approach to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. Every person, every individual, can make a difference and that is the joy of looking after our earth.

  • Technical Achievements in Electronics for Persons with Disabilities

    Technical Achievements in Electronics for Persons with Disabilities

    Within the last year many amazing advancements have been made in the world of electronics. Specifically, there have been technological achievements that will no doubt enrich the lives of those with disabilities. Here are a few very big advancements that will only be built upon and fine tuned within the near future:

    The DynaVox EyeMax System

    This system gives people with paralysis, cerebral palsy and stroke victims the ability to join in actual spoken communication using simply their eyes. This extremely sophisticated creation uses an eye tracking system that permits users to interact with an on-screen keyboard—this lets them enter words and phrases which are in turn translated into actual spoken text that is emitted by the devices own text-to-speech mechanism. The easy freedom that this gives to those with disabilities cannot be expressed.

    The Kapten PLUS Personal Navigation Device

    Transporting oneself if you are visually impaired can be very difficult even if you have been doing it for years; there is always the chance of getting lost in the traffic of busy pedestrians or taking an unfortunate wrong turn. Your reactions might be predictable, but the world and your immediate surroundings are never predictable The Kapten is a tiny GPS locator that was manufactured to be carried by those who are visually impaired. The device actually speaks to the user as they walk down the street, giving accurate and thorough location and direction. The user of the device will always know where they’re heading and they can share routes, plan trips and tag locations for finding again later on. It’s affordable and gives the user a sense of security.

    Google’s Driverless Car

    This car is a big deal in the world of technological advancements right now, and has been talked about constantly within the last year in the world of electronics and automotive. It could help with independent and safe transportation for the visually impaired and those with mental and physical limits. The vehicle operates on a combination of Google Street View information—this information is gathered by numerous sensors and cameras mounted upon the vehicle. This car isn’t quite ready yet, but it will be very soon and it will be life changing for many.

    The DEKA Robotic Arm

    A sophisticated prosthetic arm originally created for injured soldiers returning from the Middle East, this invention is less than eight pounds and exhibits such precision and control that it has really been unprecedented, It has customizable controls and modular components that are tailored to the person’s individual needs. This robotic advancement can be used by those who require only a hand, a shoulder socket or an entire arm. Its sensory feedback system is highly advanced and features hand sensors that measure the strength of a hand grip. This allows the user to learn what level of grip strength is needed for certain tasks and how much pressure to apply. In short, with enough practice the robotic arm will give disabled users the exact same amount of freedom as anyone else.

  • How the Motion Picture Hidden Figures is Inspiring Women to Consider STEM

    How the Motion Picture Hidden Figures is Inspiring Women to Consider STEM

    Hidden Figures is based on three incredible female trailblazers in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM during the Space Race against Russia led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the early 1960s.

    This film was a breath of fresh air for moviegoers. For one, it brought into the spotlight three strong female characters namely Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, all of whom did not get the recognition they deserved for helping John Glenn become the first astronaut in history to orbit the earth three times. The trio was wonderfully brought to life by talented actresses Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae, and while the film was a lighthearted take on their real-life challenges, it nevertheless made people aware of the disparity of males and females in the STEM industry and how we can do something to change that. Pundits are hopeful the film has taken the right step in inspiring women of today to join STEM.

    Surprising ratio

    There is a poignant scene in the movie when NASA mission specialist Karl Zielinski poses the question “If you were a white man, would you wish to be an engineer?” to Mary Jackson. The latter answers in a matter-of-fact manner, “I wouldn’t have to. I’d already be one.”

    Of course, the hurdles Jackson had to overcome to be an engineer were one of the film’s focal points—and to see her triumph was one of the film’s most heartwarming moments. She aspired to be an engineer and had to fight tooth and nail to gain admission to an all-male educational institution that offers graduate-level courses in math and physics to be qualified for the job, filing a petition with the City of Hampton.

    While there are a sufficient number of colleges and universities that offers STEM curriculum for both males and females, there remains to be an imbalance because of the stigma that this area is only for men.

    According to ITWorldCanada.com, Statistics Canada reported that at the end of 2015, there was a low percentage of female university graduates aged 24 to 35 with a STEM degree (only 39 per cent), and after graduation, these women are less likely to have a career in the STEM fields than their male counterparts. Men with STEM degrees have lower unemployment rates and enjoy higher wages.

    The global figures are not any different. According to a November 2015 report published by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Institute of Statistics, women only account for less than a third of the total number of employees in scientific research and development, pegged at 28.4 per cent.

    What is keeping them away?

    In Canada, there is certainly no shortage of well-established schools that offer outstanding STEM degrees to both males and females. In fact, in 2015, the University of Toronto had a record number of 30.6 per cent of female first-year students enrolled in the engineering programs. There are even all-girls’ high schools with a STEM focus such as St. Margaret’s School in Victoria, British Columbia and Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan, British Columbia.

    However, while there is a substantial rate of students completing STEM degrees, only a few of them will actually go for a STEM career after graduation, and those who do join are likely to leave because of feelings of isolation and difficulty in adopting to a male-dominated environment.

    Time for a change

    While there are adequate resources for young Canadian women who aspire to have STEM careers, Canada’s Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan deduces that the low number of females who actually establish careers in the STEM field is largely due to the fact that there are rarely any champions to lead the way. By champions she means not enough women in senior leadership positions.

    Duncan says that for a recent round of nominations from Canadian universities for the Canada Research Chairs, men gained twice the number of nominations over women.

    Duncan is hopeful things will change as she believes “Science opens up a wonderful world.” And as the three amazing “hidden figures” have proven, that wonderful world is within reach, we all just have to work together to achieve it.

    SOURCES:

    http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-supports-young-scientists-and-engineers-through-promoscience-at-science-odyssey-launch-622088113.html

    http://www.itworldcanada.com/article/lets-talk-about-women-in-stem/391215

    http://www.macleans.ca/society/canadas-science-minister-speaks-out-on-women-in-stem/

    https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2017/02/08/hidden-figures-highlights-the-ongoing-legacy-of-women-and-minorities-in-stem/

    https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/13/hidden-figures-inspiring-stem-heroes-for-girls/

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/noodleeducation/2017/02/24/encouraging-todays-hidden-figures-in-stem/#64b6ddae4c39

    http://www.livescience.com/43296-what-is-stem-education.html

    http://www.npr.org/2016/12/16/505569187/hidden-figures-no-more-meet-the-black-women-who-helped-send-america-to-space

    http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-006-x/2013001/article/11874-eng.htm

  • Career Profile: Medical Laboratory Assistant

    Career Profile: Medical Laboratory Assistant

    Medical laboratory assistants are also known as medical laboratory technicians, and as the name implies, these health care professionals work in medical laboratories. There is some overlap in the roles of medical laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technologists, so read on for more information!

    What is the role of a medical laboratory assistant?

    Medical laboratory assistants work under the supervision of physicians, medical laboratory technologists, or other health care professionals. A common task is processing specimens for analysis by a technologist in the same lab. Educational programs often emphasize phlebotomy skills, as medical laboratory assistants are primarily responsible for collecting blood samples. In addition, the ability to perform ECGs (electrocardiograms) Holter monitoring means medical laboratory assistants have a certain degree of patient interaction.

    What is the difference between a medical laboratory assistant and a medical laboratory technologist?

    Though the names of these careers are similar, they are not the same. Medical laboratory technologists are trained to perform more tasks than medical laboratory assistants (hence their programs of study are longer). In addition, the work of medical laboratory assistant centers on pre-analytical and data-entry tasks. Technologists perform the actual analysis of specimens, using various analyzers and special tests.

    Where do medical laboratory assistants work?

    Most medical laboratory assistants find employment in hospitals, working in their laboratories and phlebotomy teams. Because they are trained to take blood, they may also work in doctor’s offices and blood donor testing centres.

    How do you become a medical laboratory assistant?

    There are many medical laboratory assistant programs across Canada. These programs are typically found in community colleges, and last around a year. When comparing programs, don’t look at just the tuition costs, but ensure that the program you want to enroll in offers a clinical placement. Clinical placements give you invaluable work experience and a start on career networking.

    Becoming a medical laboratory technician is for those interested in a combination of lab work and patient interaction. The added advantage is the educational programs are typically short, allowing you to hit the workplace as soon as possible!

    References:

    1. http://www.medixcollege.ca/Programs/MedicalLabAssistantTechnician
    2. http://www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/full-time/medical-laboratory-technician/
    3. http://www.cmlto.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1356&Itemid=281
    4. http://www.osmt.org/content/index.php?pid=2&cid=24
    5. http://michener.ca/program/medical-laboratory-science/

    https://www.trade-schools.ca/programs/medical-lab-technician.asp

  • Career Profile: Cardiovascular Perfusion

    Cardiovascular perfusion is probably one of those health care professions you have never heard of. These individuals are an integral member of open-heart and thoracic surgery teams. Now let’s dive into the details of what cardiovascular perfusionists do and how to become one.

    What is the role of a cardiovascular perfusionist?

    The primary responsibility of cardiovascular perfusionists is to operate a heart-lung machine (1). In open-heart and thoracic surgeries, these machines take over breathing and blood pumping for the patient, whose heart needs to be stopped in order to be operated on. In addition, cardiovascular perfusionists monitor the patient’s breathing and circulation. If anything is irregular, they must take the necessary corrective actions. The scope of practice of cardiovascular perfusionists also include administering intravenous fluids, blood products, and anesthetic drugs.

    Where do cardiovascular perfusionists work?

    Cardiovascular perfusionists work in hospitals, specifically ones that perform open-heart and thoracic surgeries.

    How do you become a cardiovascular perfusionist?

    This is a rather specialized health care profession, so currently Canada only has three training programs, offered by the Michener Institute of Education at UHN, the University of Montreal, and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. You should check the specific details of each program, but generally, they last two years and require applicants to have at minimum a Bachelors of Science degree. Registered nurses and respiratory therapists can also upgrade their skills using one of these programs.

    Now that you know more about this health care profession, you should consider the field of cardiovascular perfusion if you are interested in health care, especially surgery, cardiology, and physiology.

    References:

    1. http://www.uhn.ca/healthcareprofessionals/Meet_Professions/Cardiovascular_Perfusionists
    2. http://michener.ca/program/cardiovascular-perfusion/
    3. http://www.bcit.ca/study/programs/6820ascert
  • Career Profile: What is a Bioinformatics Scientist?

    Career Profile: What is a Bioinformatics Scientist?

    Bioinformatics is an exciting, emerging field of science that combines two seemingly unrelated fields: biology and computer programming. A bioinformatics scientist is someone who is trained to analyze biological data using computer software. Computers have become so ubiquitous and their capabilities so advanced that we can apply their power to helping answer questions regarding gene function, protein structure, molecular evolution, drug targets, and disease mechanisms. If this sounds like something you would be interested in pursuing, read on for more information on this career.

    How do I become a bioinformatics scientist?

    Bioinformatics scientists require extensive education. After earning a four-year undergraduate degree in biology or computer programming, the aspiring scientist would pursue graduate studies. It is usually during this time that you would specialize in bioinformatics. To work as a bioinformatics scientist, you need at least a Master’s degree or preferably a PhD in this field—note that these programs are a minimum of five years. Alternatively, you may attend medical school and then after graduation, enroll in further training specifically in bioinformatics. All in all, bioinformatics is a complex field and you need to be prepared to study for several years.

    Where do bioinformatics scientists work?

    Bioinformatics scientists are in high demand! They may work for a variety of employers, including universities, hospitals, private corporations, and government agencies. Bioinformatics scientists, given their specialized knowledge, are commonly asked to consult with other scientists and researchers. If hired by a university, they may have their own lab, supervising laboratory technicians and mentoring students. The working hours are typical nine-to-five, but longer hours or weekend work may be required.

    What is the career outlook for bioinformatics scientists?

    Very positive, in fact! The average US salary is a very comfortable $75,000. A quick search on Glassdoor indicated that in Canada, average salaries are around the same figure. Salaries are likely to increase as demand goes up—and demand is expected to rise. In the US, this career has grown by 16% since 2004 and 7,170 vacancies are expected to be filled by 2018.

    Becoming a bioinformatics scientist is a difficult but rewarding career choice. If you love biology and you love computers, this may just be the perfect fit for you!

    References:

    1. http://www.senecacollege.ca/fulltime/BIF.html
    2. http://study.com/articles/Bioinformatician_Job_Description_Duties_and_Requirements.html
    3. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-engineering-careers/health/bioinformatics-scientist#keyfactsinformation
    4. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-engineering-careers/health/bioinformatics-scientist#onthejob
    5. https://www.sokanu.com/careers/bioinformatics-scientist/
    6. https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/bioinformatician-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm
    7. https://www.recruiter.com/careers/bioinformatics-scientists/outlook/
  • Eco Trades

    Eco Trades

    Imagine helping to save the environment, just by going to work. Working in an eco-trade might not help you to change the world, but it could make a difference. Working in an area such as solar energy, for example, can be a good career while also helping to improve the world.

    How much do you know about the trades? When your home or school has a problem with lighting, an electrician can help fix the issue. If the sinks are plugged, a plumber is the one who knows what to do. Tradespeople deal with all kinds of issues related to the buildings that we live in and the machines that we use.

    Plumbing and electrical work are some examples of regular trades, but eco-trades are different. Although they still deal with the places where people live and work, they use materials and techniques that leave the earth as unharmed as possible. The might work with natural materials or energy-efficient sources of power, but they try not to use up too many resources or to create problems for the natural world.

    One of these eco-trades involves solar energy. You probably know that some of the traditional types of energy, such as coal or gas, can be very dirty. Fossil fuels produce a lot of pollution, and they will eventually run out since the world’s supplies are limited. Solar energy is part o the solution. The sun warms the earth, but its rays can also be converted into energy for heating buildings or running machines. People who work with solar energy help to provide a very important option for our society.

    Becoming a solar energy specialist usually requires both education and experience. Certification as an Environmental Professional is available for people who have at least five years of experience in environmental work and who have a diploma or degree in the field.  Many universities or colleges have courses related to eco-trades, including the Canadian Solar Institute in Ontario. Online courses are possible, but students also need to get practical experience through working with other tradespeople.

    People working in this field can make good salaries. Solar energy system installers earn about $49,000 per year, and the system designers can make about $55,000 per year. Installation work is more physically demanding, and it can involve work in bad weather conditions. Solar panels are often on the roofs of buildings, and installers should not be afraid of heights. Design work is mostly indoors, but people in this area might sometimes have to visit the places where the solar panels are installed.

    Solar energy and other eco-trades are growing fields, although jobs are likely to be limited to bigger cities in only certain areas of the country. Ontario has a lot of work related to solar energy, but other provinces might have fewer opportunities. If you are willing to move to where the jobs are, working in eco-trades such as solar energy can be a good career choice.

    Bibliography:

    Blackwell, Richard. Solar Power Surging to Forefront of Canadian Energy.”

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/solar-power-surging-to-forefront-of-canadian-energy/article19786759/

    Canadian Solar Institute. “About.” http://solarinstitute.ca/about.html.

    Eco Canada. “Environmental Professional (EP®) Certification.”

    http://www.eco.ca/certification/.

    Payscale.com. “Solar Energy System Installer Salary (Canada).”

    http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Solar_Energy_System_Installer/Hourly_RatePayscale.com. “Solar Energy Systems Designer Salary (Canada).”

    http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Solar_Energy_Systems_Designer/Salary.

  • New Discoveries in Space

    New Discoveries in Space

    2016 was a big year for space news! While there was one unfortunate blunder—the ExoMars mission sent a lander and an orbiter to Mars but unfortunately the lander crashed into the surface of the planet—a lot of missions last year went extremely well. Scientists are constantly discovering new things, and as we get more technologically advanced the discoveries will only keep piling up. So advanced, in fact, that we may get to one day live on other planets. So what exactly is new in space news?

    Gravitational waves

    In February of 2016, the first ever direct detection (or finding) of gravitational waves were discovered. What this means is that scientists have found ripples in space that stretch and flatten space itself. While these are invisible, they are extremely powerful and very, very cool. These ripples (or waves) carry information about objects and the events that created them. These waves came from black holes that were swirling and running into each other. Stay tuned for plenty more news about this finding in the coming years.

    A new planet beside the nearest star to Earth’s sun

    In August scientists found a planet orbiting the star Proxima Centauri. This star is the nearest star to Earth’s sun. Scientists have called this new planet Proxima b, and it has the mass of about 1.27 times Earth’s mass. What this means is that there is a very strong possibility that the planet could be habitable. In other words, it may be possible for organisms to live on Proxima b.

    Ices deposit found on Mars

    A very large ice deposit was found on Mars. It is about the size of New Mexico (which is huge!) and its volume is close to the same as Lake Superior’s volume. What that means is that humans would find the ice deposit extremely helpful for drinking water purposes if they ever settled on Mars. One step closer to a real life Star Wars situation…

    Water plumes on Europa

    The Hubble Space Telescope found what looks like plumes of water spewing from the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa. What this means is that there may be a portion of liquid water ocean deep below the surface of Europa. Wherever there is water there is the possibility of life. NASA may want to launch an orbiting mission to sample this water. They have plans to send an orbiting probe to study Europa in the near future.

    Works Cited:

    http://www.space.com/35099-most-amazing-space-astronomy-discoveries-of-2016.html

  • STEM Career Profile: Environmental Engineer

    STEM Career Profile: Environmental Engineer

    Do you like researching, testing and then finding solutions to things? Do you care about lakes, forests, air pollution and just the environment in general? These things could make you a great career and, truthfully, a lot of money! A STEM career (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in the field of environmental engineering is extremely rewarding and perfect for the person who wants to continuously be challenged in meaningful ways.

    As an environmental engineer you may deal with issues surrounding public health, recycling, waste disposal as well as issues related to water and air pollution control. This is a career for the science lover and the problem solver. Not only will you need to create solutions to environmental problems, but also work with existing solutions to make them even better. This means that you have your entire career to get better. Not only does your job make the world look better, but it keeps people healthier. As an environmental engineer you will analyze specific data, design municipal water supplies, prevent environmental catastrophes by designing regulations, perform quality checks, and correct and control malfunctioning equipment and research.

    Most environmental engineers work in architectural management or scientific and technical consulting firms; but there are also places for environmental engineers in state government or federal and local government offices. So what kind of education do you need? As a minimal, you will need a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in either environmental engineering, civil or chemical engineering. It does not hurt to get a Master’s degree for maximum salary potential, but not always necessary. The most important thing is to get yourself in to internships or cooperative engineering programs. Rack up that credit and experience- for once you do, the possibilities are endless and your wages will climb. A typical salary for an environmental engineer is between $57,000 and $95,00. This career promises to be satisfying on a personal, political and environmental level- go for it!

  • Career Profile: Chemical Engineer – Plastics Moulds

    Career Profile: Chemical Engineer – Plastics Moulds

    Chemical engineering is a field of engineering that encompasses aspects of the physical sciences such as physics and chemistry, along with applied mathematics and production economics, to design products and processes that change chemicals, raw materials and energy into useful things.

    People working as chemical engineers can participate in the research, design and development of chemical processes and equipment, or they can operate and maintain industrial processing plants for chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, or food production.

    One common career for chemical engineers is in the plastic injection moulding manufacturing industry. Plastic injection moulding is a manufacturing process where a melted plastic material is forced into hollow moulds, where it takes the shape of the mould as it cools. This process is used to make many common products including toys, plastic parts, bottle caps, and almost any other plastic product that requires large volumes of parts that are all exactly the same.

    Chemical engineers play many roles in this industry. They can help design the product itself, or work to create the specific type of plastic material that will be injected into a mould. Their knowledge of chemical interactions, chemical processes, and the characteristics of various materials mean that chemical engineers are valuable in ensuring that the product being moulded will have the right properties; for example, that the plastic product is strong enough, can resist temperature changes, or will last a long time.

    To work as a chemical engineer for plastic moulding, you will need a minimum education of a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline. There are also opportunities to specialize in plastics engineering during your undergraduate schooling, or through post-graduate studies. Depending on where you want to work, or how far you want to advance your career, you may also require a master’s degree or even a Ph.D. in chemical, plastics or another related engineering discipline.

    Not all jobs related to plastic moulding will require a degree specifically in chemical engineering, however. In many cases, engineers from the environmental, biochemical or mechanical fields will also pursue this occupation.
    Also, since engineering is a regulated profession in Canada, you may also be required to pass the Professional Engineering (P. Eng.) licensing exam.

    Wages for engineers in this field span from approximately $20-25 per hour at the low end, such as for apprentices, engineers-in-training for their P.Eng. designation, and entry level positions. Compensation can range as high as about $60-80 per hour for experienced positions, or for those people willing to work in more remote areas of the country.

    Sources:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injection_moulding
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_engineering
    http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=9219&lang=eng&noc=2134&action=final&ln=n&s=1&source=2&titleKeyword=chemical+process+engineer#report_tabs_container2