Our targeted issue is whether institutions or government should regulate the use of one inter-disciplinary technology, computational modeling in brain studies. Regarding this, two articles from IVLE work bin provide some helpful information.
Summary:
The first article titled “A computer that can ‘Read’ Your Mind” introduced an important breakthrough in understanding the brain and developing new computational tools.
Two researchers, a computer scientist, and a cognitive neuroscientist developed a computational model that enabled a computer to correctly determine what word a research subject was thinking about by analyzing brain scan data. Combining the brain scan information with the analysis of the text corpus, the computer then predicted the brain activity pattern of any concrete noun. This computational model provides insight into the nature of human thought. The work could eventually lead to the use of brain scans to identify thoughts and could have applications in the study of various mental diseases such as paranoid, schizophrenia, and semantic dementias. The article indicates the research in the field of computational neuroscience is promising and meaningful, which “opens up all sorts of new possibilities for looking into the fine structure of how patterns of brain activity relate to human thought process.”
The other article named “Ethics and mapping the brain” discusses legal and ethical questions such research as above raises and expresses concerns over its likely consequences.
Beginning with another article “Bioethics and the Brain”, a hypothetical scenario is given. It describes a pilot is fired by the airline due to her potential to develop schizophrenia based on her brain images. Then there is an example of such technologies in their basic form: fMRI, which shows significant correlations between lying and truth telling and the metabolic activity in the brain. However, institutions like the CIA and the FBI have not adopted this due to its immature development.
After the introduction above, ethical issues associated with brain imaging technology come up sequentially: setting bioethical standards for who should be tested, setting technological standards for what is ready to be used in the marketplace, agreement about the admissibility of this evidence in court, consent of a presumed testee, access to brain imaging data, and most controversially, a brain testing juggernaut for children.
At last, the writer emphasizes the importance of those ethical questions, which are to be answered by society, for the more and more reliable predictions from brain image may provoke reductionism, leaving influence of learning and environment ignored.
APA citation:
Marano, L. ( 2003, June 3). Ethics and mapping the brain ( An abridged version of the original in The Washington Times). Retrieved August 6, 2008, from the Centre for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics Web site:
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/neuro/brain_mapping_ethics.htm
National Science Foundation. ( 2008, May 30). A computer that can ‘read’ your mind [ Press release 08-091].Retrieved August 6,2008, from
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111641&org=olpa&form=news
Evaluation:
The first article provides comprehensive introduction to computational modeling in brain studies, explaining explicitly the knowledge of this system and how it helps to understand brain activities related to human thought process. Obvious benefits of this technology can be drawn from the content and these could be used to argue why institutions or government should adopt the application of computational neuroscience.
The second article focuses on bioethical aspect of this technology. It could be argued that institutions or government should regulate the use of it, in order to address the problems mentioned in the article and minimize negative consequence. Several standards suggested in the article, should be set to achieve the proper application of the brain imaging.
5 relevant definitions:
1.Functional magnetic resonance imaging, or FMRI, is a technique for measuring brain activity. It works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity – when a brain area is more active it consumes more oxygen and to meet this increased demand blood flow increases to the active area. FMRI can be used to produce activation maps showing which parts of the brain are involved in a particular mental process.
(By FMRIB Centre,Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford. http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/education/fmri/introduction-to-fmri/introduction)
2.Bioethics is the philosophical study of the ethical controversies brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, philosophy, and theology.
3.computational model is a mathematical model in computational science that requires extensive computational resources to study the behavior of a complex system by computer simulation. The system under study is often a complex nonlinear system for which simple, intuitive analytical solutions are not readily available. Rather than deriving a mathematical analytical solution to the problem, experimentation with the model is done by changing the parameters of the system in the computer, and study the differences in the outcome of the experiments. Theories of operation of the model can be derived/deduced from these computational experiments.
4.Neuroimaging includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function/pharmacology of the brain. It is a relatively new discipline within medicine and neuroscience/psychology.
5.Neuroscience is a field devoted to the scientific study of the nervous system. The Society for Neuroscience was founded in 1969,[1] but the study of the brain started a long time ago. Such studies span the structure, function, evolutionary history, development, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, informatics, computational neuroscience and pathology of the nervous system
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Lectures on Global Warming
Last Friday, three experts gave their lectures respectively on multiple aspects of global warming, providing us a good opportunity to gain some insights on this famous issue.
Professor Andrew Palmer mounted the rostrum first with his topic “Carbon dioxide capture and storage: technology and politics". His opening remarks involved other urgent problems like population expansion, food shortage and regional conflicts. Yet another challenging problem is coming, which already gives dangerous consequential implication globally, according to scientific research. That is climate change. Focusing on this problem, Professor Palmer discussed several respects: technological application, political resistance and public concerns, personal response. With the rapid increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, feasible application of existing technology can come into play, in order to mitigate the situation. Besides adopting alternative energy, including nuclear, solar, wind and biomass energy, an impressive example given is the capture and storage of carbon dioxide. This could be achieved by storing liquid carbon dioxide in depleted oil or sealing it with membrane under the ocean. However, the possibility of carbon dioxide leakage may lead to catastrophic effect on marine ecologic system. Furthermore, political barriers overtake technical difficulties. Generally, high-cost methods to reduce greenhouse emissions may affect company profits, industrial interest, even economic growth, thereby influencing people’ daily life, which is great concern of leaders and the public. Professor Palmer commented technological application like carbon dioxide capture and storage is feasible only there is political will. Thus at present, individual efforts to improve energy efficiency seem crucial. Although it is still controversial whether we should make largest investment in reducing greenhouse, necessity of international collaboration on this issue is always valued.
Dr Sovacool introduced Science and Technology Studies (STS) to address energy problems. He started with traditional analysis of technology which is subjected to four different stands of determinism, namely structural determinism, autonomous determinism, consequential determinism and normative determinism. He gave the first case study on renewable power industry. As he pointed out, the spread of renewable power is faced with market failures and barriers, political and regulatory obstacles, cultural and behavior challenges due to psychological resistance, public misunderstanding and other environmental concerns. The second case study presented is electric vehicles which require electricity from batteries and charging station. This limitation keeps people from widely accepting this way of transportation, though electric vehicles are much more environmental-friendly. At last, Dr Sovacool concluded that STS provides a useful lens to evaluate new technologies.
Associate Professor Bala Rajasekhar focused on assessment and mitigation of climate change. Firstly, he presented evidences from the changes in glaciers that support global warming. The enhanced greenhouse effect leads to global warming, followed by dramatic temperature changes and potential natural disasters like droughts, floods and accelerated species extinction. To mitigate this situation, the public should improve energy efficiency and adopt renewable energy; governments may impose tax on greenhouse emissions and subsidize technological projects on research and application. Inevitably, to address global warming may influence current economy and familiar lifestyle. A/P Bala encouraged governments to cooperate internationally.
During the lectures, professional insights on global warming were provided by Prof. Palmer, Dr. Sovacool and A/P Bala. Interestingly, not one of their topics left out a remarkable complication: political resistance, which has a close relationship with the pursuit of short-term benefits. However, who is able to enjoy any benefit without our survival environment on earth? The message conveyed from lectures calls upon us to act, warily and caringly, locally and gloablly.
Professor Andrew Palmer mounted the rostrum first with his topic “Carbon dioxide capture and storage: technology and politics". His opening remarks involved other urgent problems like population expansion, food shortage and regional conflicts. Yet another challenging problem is coming, which already gives dangerous consequential implication globally, according to scientific research. That is climate change. Focusing on this problem, Professor Palmer discussed several respects: technological application, political resistance and public concerns, personal response. With the rapid increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, feasible application of existing technology can come into play, in order to mitigate the situation. Besides adopting alternative energy, including nuclear, solar, wind and biomass energy, an impressive example given is the capture and storage of carbon dioxide. This could be achieved by storing liquid carbon dioxide in depleted oil or sealing it with membrane under the ocean. However, the possibility of carbon dioxide leakage may lead to catastrophic effect on marine ecologic system. Furthermore, political barriers overtake technical difficulties. Generally, high-cost methods to reduce greenhouse emissions may affect company profits, industrial interest, even economic growth, thereby influencing people’ daily life, which is great concern of leaders and the public. Professor Palmer commented technological application like carbon dioxide capture and storage is feasible only there is political will. Thus at present, individual efforts to improve energy efficiency seem crucial. Although it is still controversial whether we should make largest investment in reducing greenhouse, necessity of international collaboration on this issue is always valued.
Dr Sovacool introduced Science and Technology Studies (STS) to address energy problems. He started with traditional analysis of technology which is subjected to four different stands of determinism, namely structural determinism, autonomous determinism, consequential determinism and normative determinism. He gave the first case study on renewable power industry. As he pointed out, the spread of renewable power is faced with market failures and barriers, political and regulatory obstacles, cultural and behavior challenges due to psychological resistance, public misunderstanding and other environmental concerns. The second case study presented is electric vehicles which require electricity from batteries and charging station. This limitation keeps people from widely accepting this way of transportation, though electric vehicles are much more environmental-friendly. At last, Dr Sovacool concluded that STS provides a useful lens to evaluate new technologies.
Associate Professor Bala Rajasekhar focused on assessment and mitigation of climate change. Firstly, he presented evidences from the changes in glaciers that support global warming. The enhanced greenhouse effect leads to global warming, followed by dramatic temperature changes and potential natural disasters like droughts, floods and accelerated species extinction. To mitigate this situation, the public should improve energy efficiency and adopt renewable energy; governments may impose tax on greenhouse emissions and subsidize technological projects on research and application. Inevitably, to address global warming may influence current economy and familiar lifestyle. A/P Bala encouraged governments to cooperate internationally.
During the lectures, professional insights on global warming were provided by Prof. Palmer, Dr. Sovacool and A/P Bala. Interestingly, not one of their topics left out a remarkable complication: political resistance, which has a close relationship with the pursuit of short-term benefits. However, who is able to enjoy any benefit without our survival environment on earth? The message conveyed from lectures calls upon us to act, warily and caringly, locally and gloablly.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
An Inconvenient truth: Responsible? Reluctant to change? Take action !
In the film, Gore's persuasive argument exposes “an inconvenient truth”. That is we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is the biggest moral challenges facing our global civilization.
Again, we are discussing one of the most controversial problems: global warming. Compared to other problems like terrorism, disease or financial crisis, whose effects show up in front of our eyes and influence our daily life directly, global warming seems somewhat remote, invisible or mild. Despite the temperature going up to some degree, Our routines keep undisturbed as usual, with air-conditioning on, with fancy neon lamps on, with private cars running, with budget-flight ticket, with all the electronic blessings from modern technology. Resources are reachable and affordable, even to meet those luxurious high-class needs. Human beings are unprecedentedly good at consumption, for a more comfortable and convenient so-called modern lifestyle. Taking a step further to society, factories’ mass production, dynamic business, soaring economy (in developing countries like China), or generally steady prosperity in advanced countries ( let alone financial fluctuation in these days), ambitious political will for Great Power, all the phenomena above comfort us with the thought of a convenient world, a promising future for human civilization. Unfortunately, what is convenient may not be the truth. While we each are enjoying our facilitated life at the expense of sped-up consumption, we each are contributing to depriving posterity of a secure earth. We each are responsible.
Scientific researches on global warming has been carried out worldwide for decades of years, based on integrity, accuracy, elaboration and objectiveness of scientists’ attitude. It is those factual statistics data or charts according to long-term observation that we should take a serious look at, rather than conceived assumptions or debates by some eloquent speakers who never received scientific training nor bothered to read “academic” information, not to mention understanding the actual situation. Gore assured none of the reports from scientific studies disagree with alarming trend of global warming.
So why do people still doubt or hesitate? Undeniably, it takes pain to address global warming, either by slowing down energy consumption, or by wide application of renewable energy. Certain government members are afraid to lose their country’s competitive power or their own power from supports of industry, due to limiting energy consumption. Certain industrial companies are afraid to reduce their profits if production cost goes up with energy price. Crucially, people who are accustomed to dependence on new technology, but still keep old habits or attitude (sadly including majority of us) are reluctant to make a big change of the living way that they are familiar and comfortable with. It demands clear thinking and strong determination to overcome our inertia and take our initiative. Difficult? Never forget nowadays we are ready for most of technological preparations. Without action, we never know what obstacle lies in the way of recovery, but what we definitely know is the danger in the way of human civilization.
Again, we are discussing one of the most controversial problems: global warming. Compared to other problems like terrorism, disease or financial crisis, whose effects show up in front of our eyes and influence our daily life directly, global warming seems somewhat remote, invisible or mild. Despite the temperature going up to some degree, Our routines keep undisturbed as usual, with air-conditioning on, with fancy neon lamps on, with private cars running, with budget-flight ticket, with all the electronic blessings from modern technology. Resources are reachable and affordable, even to meet those luxurious high-class needs. Human beings are unprecedentedly good at consumption, for a more comfortable and convenient so-called modern lifestyle. Taking a step further to society, factories’ mass production, dynamic business, soaring economy (in developing countries like China), or generally steady prosperity in advanced countries ( let alone financial fluctuation in these days), ambitious political will for Great Power, all the phenomena above comfort us with the thought of a convenient world, a promising future for human civilization. Unfortunately, what is convenient may not be the truth. While we each are enjoying our facilitated life at the expense of sped-up consumption, we each are contributing to depriving posterity of a secure earth. We each are responsible.
Scientific researches on global warming has been carried out worldwide for decades of years, based on integrity, accuracy, elaboration and objectiveness of scientists’ attitude. It is those factual statistics data or charts according to long-term observation that we should take a serious look at, rather than conceived assumptions or debates by some eloquent speakers who never received scientific training nor bothered to read “academic” information, not to mention understanding the actual situation. Gore assured none of the reports from scientific studies disagree with alarming trend of global warming.
So why do people still doubt or hesitate? Undeniably, it takes pain to address global warming, either by slowing down energy consumption, or by wide application of renewable energy. Certain government members are afraid to lose their country’s competitive power or their own power from supports of industry, due to limiting energy consumption. Certain industrial companies are afraid to reduce their profits if production cost goes up with energy price. Crucially, people who are accustomed to dependence on new technology, but still keep old habits or attitude (sadly including majority of us) are reluctant to make a big change of the living way that they are familiar and comfortable with. It demands clear thinking and strong determination to overcome our inertia and take our initiative. Difficult? Never forget nowadays we are ready for most of technological preparations. Without action, we never know what obstacle lies in the way of recovery, but what we definitely know is the danger in the way of human civilization.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
How an Engineer expands the world
In the article “The Expanding World of Engineers”, Prof.Ramakrishna stated that “an engineer’s training helps to systematically analyze complex information and apply a holistic approach in designing solutions.”In this sense, while the rapid growth of globalization and technological application is expanding the workplace of engineers, in the meantime, engineers are expanding the territory of human being by systematic and innovative solutions to diversified issues in almost every field, from manufacture to service industry, from system design and management to resolution of new challenges including potential energy crisis.
An engineering education placed the emphasis on problem-solving strategies, which advantages engineers on pragmatic, effective and creative thinking. Engineers with this positive attitude, tend to be more flexible in solution design and decision making, as they base their ideas not only on empirical knowledge accumulated through industrial history, but also on the fresh information base changing at high speed constantly. After seizing the first-hand facts, engineers dare to dream big, beyond any existing convention. What they focus on is how to break restrictive limitations and maximize real benefits, rather than avoid stepping into sensitive area or compromise on an assortment of rules which are traditional concern and thus constraints. All engineers concern about is an optimized solution that provides most promising effects. Under this firm direction, engineers undertake projects by a systematic approach, efficiently and determinedly, according to thorough analysis of current situation. This process is exactly what engineering’s training brings into play. Within every field of society, only in a systematic manner, can a comprehensive study and complex agendas be carried out. More importantly, for engineers who take up jobs in manufacturing and associated sectors, in-depth professional knowledge enables them to meet rigorous technical demands and play a key functional role in leadership of enterprise.
make-up example:
"Dreaming big has paid off for four from NUS at the fourth SMU Lee Kuan Yew Gloabl Business Plan competition.This team impressed with their cartilage-repair biotech business plan and walked away with the first prize."
---- The Business Times,July 14,2008
They are engineering students who dream big
An engineering education placed the emphasis on problem-solving strategies, which advantages engineers on pragmatic, effective and creative thinking. Engineers with this positive attitude, tend to be more flexible in solution design and decision making, as they base their ideas not only on empirical knowledge accumulated through industrial history, but also on the fresh information base changing at high speed constantly. After seizing the first-hand facts, engineers dare to dream big, beyond any existing convention. What they focus on is how to break restrictive limitations and maximize real benefits, rather than avoid stepping into sensitive area or compromise on an assortment of rules which are traditional concern and thus constraints. All engineers concern about is an optimized solution that provides most promising effects. Under this firm direction, engineers undertake projects by a systematic approach, efficiently and determinedly, according to thorough analysis of current situation. This process is exactly what engineering’s training brings into play. Within every field of society, only in a systematic manner, can a comprehensive study and complex agendas be carried out. More importantly, for engineers who take up jobs in manufacturing and associated sectors, in-depth professional knowledge enables them to meet rigorous technical demands and play a key functional role in leadership of enterprise.
make-up example:
"Dreaming big has paid off for four from NUS at the fourth SMU Lee Kuan Yew Gloabl Business Plan competition.This team impressed with their cartilage-repair biotech business plan and walked away with the first prize."
---- The Business Times,July 14,2008
They are engineering students who dream big
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