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Keynote Speaker Presentation
In attendance for the Keynote presentation about cancer at NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, I have substantially gained new insights about the issue.
In Dr Soo's presentation, he first began by emphasizing the importance of good clinical trials in biomedical research, as only successful clinical trials would allow the new cure, of formula to be introduced for human consumption or use.
Cancer has, according to statistics in Singapore, responsible for 33% of annual deaths. In recent research conducted on cancer, scientists have reason to believe that cancer may be caused by our malignant stem cells, of which are the cells which differentiate to specialized cells. Current therapies to get rid of cancer tumors include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and photodynamic therapy, of which Dr Soo briefly describes as the most commonly used methods to cure cancer.
Besides his talk on cancer, Dr Soo has also shared with us the reasons for entering the field of biomedicine. According to him, working in the field has been emotionally satisfying, intellectually challenging, and that scientists in biomedical research are re-inventing the economy, which is inclining towards this field of research.
To conclude, Dr Soo gave us a few essential points and questions to think about.
> Engines of tomorrow are based on today's research
> Only competition in biomedical field is for human talent
> Whether we can compete with the best
> Can we (Singapore) afford NOT to compete with the best
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Student Presentation (1)
The girls presented on the effects on stress levels on performance level in two different simulations of hot seat training for trainee anesthetists with the ultimate goal of achieving the maximization of resource use during training. They showed systematic and good planning of their experiments, and ensured reliable results by having two dependent variables that could be accurately measured. Their results were also well-organized, in that graphs were plotted to be able to clearly display analyze their findings.
Student Presentation (3)
The student had done a very broad-based reading on the subject of gene technology, and has utilized the information gleaned from the readings to create a project based on the analysis of current available information, which is missing key and vital information necessary to further research for a cure. His research has encompassed the entirety of the information he wishes to discover, from the initial research until the actual, solid findings which proved valuable to research being conducted in the area of study. The depth of the initial readings have greatly benefited the student in the later course of the project, and hence, the importance of broad-based reading is emphasized here.
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Poster 1
The project was regarding the effect of sleep deprivation on reasoning. The team had come up with the project with the basis that in the real world context where many companies operate 24/7, and that short-term sleep deprivation would result in poorer reasoning in high-level cognitive performance operations has substantial relevance. The research the team conducted was thorough, and since little research has been done in this particular area of study, the results would be a value.
Poster 2
The team had at first an intention to find ways to preserve soya pulp in order to transport it for recycling without it rotting too quickly. As the experiment progressed, they found a new direction, for they discovered the fermented soya pulp had smelled relatively similar to soya milk, while the unfermented pulp had rotted. Without being able to further their project, they came to a conclusion that fermenting soya pulp could reduce emission of greenhouse gases from cows. This could potentially help solve part of the problem of global warming, from a simple project.
Poster 3
This team of students conducted a study on the various volatile profiles of fruits in Singapore in relation to their aroma with the basis that consumers puchased fruits based on their aroma. Their study yielded useful results, where in future, aroma components of the fruits which are popular among consumers may be applied to the flavouring and fragrance industry where these aromas may be mimicked in the products.
