George Whitesides: A lab the size of a postage stamp

STR 2009-2010 Lab Guidelines

STR2 2009-2010 Lab Guidelines

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STR1 Presentations

Introduction To Research

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Research Process

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The Library As A Research Tool

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Statistics in Research

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Methodology

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Hypothesis Testing

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STR1 Presentation Schedule

Oral presentations begin on February 17, 2009. Please prepare a 5-minute slideshow presenting us your project, including an introduction of what you are doing, the methodology you used and whatever results you have gathered.

Rubidium

1. White
2. Grey
3. Orange
4. Blue
5. Red
6. Violet
7. Green
8. Yellow

Sodium

1. Orange
2. Gray
3. Red
4. Violet
5. Yellow
6. Black
7. Green
8. Blue
9. Clear
10. Pink

Strontium

1. Pink
2. Red
3. Black
4. Grey
5. Orange
6. Purple
7. Green
8. Yellow
9. Blue
10. Clear

Third Quarter 3rd Year GRADES

Some students have asked for a recalculation of their grades based on sheets posted. First of all these sheets are not official and I will have to check with the grades I wrote down first. Second, I just realized that all sheets were not the most recent revision as the "Research Work" column all had perfect marks, which is the default until deductions are considered.

Here are the most updated and recent list of grades. The only point of error will be if YOUR PREVIOUS GRADE is not what is written on the sheet. Please call my attention if that is the case.

Note: Light blue highlight means your grade has changed after being updated from the previous post. Blue green/Teal highlight means your grade has changed from the previous post because of a "greater than 100%" formula error in your grade.

RubidiumSTR1

SodiumSTR1

StrontiumSTR1

YMSAT Poster

Just to clarify things since I've been hearing some wrong information regarding the THIRD YEAR STR1 POSTER...

1. Poster size is half of a full cartolina. I do not want to give you the specific dimensions as it would be better if you do not spend on printing and use a perfectly fine piece of cartolina. By the way, you may present it in portrait or in landscape as long as it is half the size of a cartolina.
   
2. I am requiring only 3 things in your poster: title, objectives and a flowchart of your methodology. You can insert other information such as your background of study and significance but this is not required. I also suggest that you decorate your poster with pictures to make it more attractive.
   
3. Poster judging will be on the afternoon of Tuesday next week. You may be required to be there after your other activity in the afternoon. Top 3 groups per section will be called for a brief Q & A by the judges so BE ON STANDBY Tuesday after Bio games.
   
   

   CRITERIA FOR JUDGING THE POSTER: §  CONTENT                                                                                      10 pts o    Clarity of the Title (1 pt) o    Background & Real Life Problem (2 pts) o    Main and Minor Objectives (3 pts) o    Significance of the Study (2 pts) o    Methodology Flowchart (2 pts) §  EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTENT IN COMMUNICATING IDEAS          10 pts o    Use of appropriate words (2 pts) o    Conciseness and simplicity of text (3 pts) o    Readability of text (5 pts) §  ORGANIZATION OF ELEMENTS                                                       5 pts o    Organized Flow of information (3 pts) o    Overall coherence of content (2 pts) §  OVERALL IMPACT / APPEARANCE                                                 5 pts o    Color scheme (2 pts) o    Use of visual objects (3 pts)

   
   
   
4. Oral presentations of selected STR1 projects will be on Wednesday morning. All 3rd year students are required to attend this at the gym. Be prepared with a short 5 minute Powerpoint presentation explaining your project and what you hope to achieve in case you are selected. You will only know if you are going to speak on the day itself.

Good luck! Any question? Please comment on this post or email at the usual address.

STR1 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT

Problem:

Alfred, Jeff and Ryan are working on a scientific investigation to prolong the life of man. They searched far and wide to gather promising samples either by confirmed by science or found in folklore. Ryan gathered the samples traversing the regions of the earth while Alfred and Jeff prepared their materials and searched for the equipment they needed in accomplishing this monumental feat. After six months, Ryan came back with a truckload of plants, animals and some nasty things. He approached Alfred with a disdainful countenance and asked, "Why did I have to go through this?!" Alfred and Jeff looked puzzled and were out of words. "One should not discount any possibility with simple prejudice in science," Alfred said knowingly as Ryan muttered. With the samples collected and materials and equipment ready, they were now ready to begin.

A year into experimenting each sample with lab mice, Jeff realized something was wrong but could not pinpoint what. His gut was telling him something he could not understand. "I should have listened more intently then I guess." Jeff said and shrugged of the feeling. Besides they successfully tried out all the various samples and have narrowed the candidates to a more manageable number of 10. While Jeff was rationalizing to himself, Ryan and Alfred were in deep thought. "We now just have 10 samples, all effective in varying degrees, but we can't pursue all 10. We already almost went bankrupt just testing the others", Alfred thought. Ryan was equally perplexed at the matter. He thought of several factors that could affect their life-changing decision such as effectiveness, side effects, taste and even marketability. "Science alone could not make us rich", he thought and chuckled lightly. Faced with a decision with innumerable factors, the three decided to solve it the "old fashioned" way - randomly select 3 from the 10 and keep the others in storage.

Two years have passed and they are no closer to their objective with no end in sight. Alfred, Jeff and Ryan have turned indifferent to each other. Lab work has just become rudimentary labor. Gone are the laughter and the horse-playing and the pranks. They couldn't give up because their pride wouldn't let them and yet every minute more becomes ever so less tolerable. Ryan thought of trying out the other samples in cryogenic storage, only to be disappointed that they have become unusable. Jeff began to question their methodology and read back back on their journals to no avail. Alfred seemed to be most affected as he has simply stopped talking. He wished for an end to an endless search without realizing the pursuit of science is a ceaseless journey to seek the truth.

Question:

Scrutinize the problem above and make an essay about your observations of the research. Include as well your opinion on the failures and pitfalls together with potential solutions to these problems. Write down CONCRETE and SPECIFIC steps they could/should have taken to prevent or mitigate their current circumstance. Avoid being too general or simple negation of they procedure as these arguments do not merit credit. Note that vague descriptions and plot are for open interpretation. Analyze and apply your understanding of research to see what went wrong. Lastly, is there any hope for them?

Minimum length of 1000 words (you'll consume more if you understand the problem). Due on Friday January 9, 2009 12pm. Email it at str1kawashima@gmail.com with the subject line "Section - Name - Color - Essay". Ill-formatted subject lined-messages are deleted. THIS IS INDIVIDUAL.

This is a 20-point optional quiz-equivalent.
(For example, it will increase your divisor from over 40 points to over 60 points, ie. 22/40 vs 37/60 given you get 15 points. If you decrease your actually percentage, the extra credit will not count, ie. 22/40= 55% vs 32/60= 53.3% if you get 10 points only)

STR1 Extra Credit Work

Sorry guys I've been on vacation for the past week and I happen not to have a decent connection there. Anyway I'll be posting this SINGLE PROBLEM assignment first thing tomorrow (because I just arrived now)

Continue enjoying your vacation! Don't worry this is EASY. Additional credit will be added to quizzes.
I PROMISE I'LL POST IT TOMORROW. Here's a clue, its not all about statistics!

Announcements for the Christmas Break

1. [STR2 Electron] Submit your final paper with results, discussion, conclusions and recommendations not later than 23:59 December 21, 2008 (+8:00 GMT). Later papers will be deducted 5 points per day late. Follow the format found here >> http://www.freewebs.com/pshsresearchunit/theresearchpaper.htm
2. [STR2 Electron] Interested parties for TAIWAN are enjoined to submit a short (less than 20 slides) and portable (small) Powerpoint presentation together with your final paper by Sunday, December 28, 2008. Indicate what results you have accomplished and what is still to be done. You may also be asked to go to school on December 29, 2008. MAYBE.
3. [STR1K] Submit your final proposal not later than 20:00 December 26, 2008 (+8:00 GMT) using the email address str1kawashima@gmail.com with the subject line SECTION - Group Color - Final Proposal (example:  Strontium - Red - Final Proposal). Make sure to SPELL OUT YOUR SECTION COMPLETELY. If you do not follow these guidelines, your email will be deleted.
   Follow the format found here for your proposal >> http://www.freewebs.com/pshsresearchunit/theresearchproposal.htm
4. [STR1K] Bonus Assignment will be posted here and emailed by Google Groups on December 26, 2008 after your submission. 

If you have any questions, please use the Google Groups facility to field your query. Moreover, if your PLURK, ask it there http://plurk.com/redeemByURL?from_uid=3267462&check=1741924150&s=1

Bring your manual on Monday

Remember to bring your STR manual tomorrow Monday, December 15, 2008.

Please submit your lab notebook and your complete and properly accomplished ISEF forms - deadline is December 15, 2008.

Download your RRL and Methods writeup from the ZIP file in the FILES section. Submit on December 26, 2008 8:00PM (20:00 +8:00 GMT). Make sure its good.

Up Next: Week of December 8-12

• Reporting by groups
• Problem Set HW submission
• Analysis of variance (ANOVA) definition, application and examples
• Chi Square definition, application and examples
• ANOVA and Chi-square HW
• More HW!

Hypothesis Testing

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STR1 Second Quarter Grades

Please check out your grades on the embedded speadsheet. I hope you passed XD (Tip: Click on the upper right button on the box below to view in full screen.)

STR1 2nd Quarter Grades - Upload a Document to Scribd

Methodology example

I've uploaded a journal article in the STR1K Google group for your reference (It's about plant DNA extraction). Please downlaod the file "Puchooa.pdf" and see the "Materials and Methods" section. Note that this is in past tense because it has been done while yours will be in the future tense as you are still going to do it.

STR1 Google Groups

I finally decided to set-up a way to spam all of you. I've invited/added everyone whose email I know to the group, so please accept it.

Check out http://groups.google.com/group/str1k for our new group. 

RRL and methodology

I have finished checking, commenting and grading all your RRLs. I'm sorry I won't be able to return it by email tonight, but I promise you'll have it in your mailbox tomorrow. I will be mailing you back by groups, so I'm sorry if your groupmates will see your grade.

Our deadline on October 5, 8:00 PM is still a go. You have the entire week to do this. I suggest you pass your methodology early to avail of the bonus. However, there will be no bonus points for early RRL submissions.

Last thing, no oral presentations for the second quarter. We've moved it as a third quarter requirement because we have no more time.

Enjoy you looooooooooong weekend.

Methodology and Project Planning

Methodology

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Statistics in Research

Statistics in Research

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STR1 Grades

Rubidium, Sodium and Strontium - your grades for the first quarter are finished (but are not yet final final final). I said I would post it today but something happened to my internet connection (and it gave me time to recheck my calculations)

Before I post your grades (still deciding if I will write your name down), here are some statistics:

• No one got a 1.00
  
• The highest rounded-off percentage grade is 95
• There are 12 students in three sections who got a 1.25
• There are four who failed, with one of them getting a 5.0 because of non-submission of requirements
• Sodium has the best per section average of 1.833, followed by Rubidium with 1.848 and Strontium with 1.917. However, Strontium has the most number of 1.25's.
  

I have yet to post the scores due to certain circumstances, but for sure I will give you your unofficial 100% tally if you request for it personally on Monday.

Bullets kill people, bullet points don't

You have to browse through this at least once! Not just for STR but for dear life. Please stop killing your audience by time-dilation progeria.

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