UnitTaskWritinganevaluationofscientificresearchprojects

UnitTask?Workingroupsoftwoorthreeandfindsomerecentorongoingresearchprojects.Followthesuggestions:Lookatonlinenewspapersandprintedmediaforideas.Theymaybenationalorinternationalprojects.Youmayalreadyknowofsome,inwhichcaseyoucantargetyourresearch.Arrangetheprojectsindifferentcategories,egmedicine/transport/spacetravel/homeappliances.

UnitTaskExamples1OneconcernedsurfercameacrossahugemassoffloatingplasticinthePacific.Heistryingtofindoutmoreaboutit.Hisresearchsofarsuggeststhereisthreemilliontonesofplasticwasteatthesite.Othersitesareknowntoexistbutlittleworkhasbeendoneonthem.2Honda’sResearchInstituteofInnovativeTechnologyisresearchingethanolandvehicleswhichuseitasafuel.

UnitTaskExamples3TheUniversityofAdelaidehasateamresearchingthesmellsemittedbystressedtreefrogs.4AteamattheUniversityofCaliforniaisinvestigatingconnectionsbetweenvolunteeringandhealthintheelderly.

UnitTaskExamples5TheBillandMelindaGatesFoundationisfundingresearcharoundtheworldintothetreatmentandpreventionofmalaria.6AnAmericanteamisresearchingconnectionsbetweensleepinmammalsandthestrengthoftheirimmunesystems.

UnitTaskExamples7TheBritishAlzheimer’sResearchTrustistryingtofindwaystodetectthediseaseearly.8AnAmericanteamisdiscoveringtakingvitaminsasanti-oxidantsmayactuallydoharm.

?Discusstheprojects,thinkabout:UnitTaskWhatistheaimoftheproject?Whoisitlikelytobenefit?Howmuchisitlikelytocost?Howusefulisit?

UnitTask?Writeanevaluationofthescienceresearchprojects.Useascaleof1-5.1uselessresearch,probablyawasteofmoney2aprojectwhichislikelytohaveverylimitedbenefits3usefulorinterestingresearch,butpossiblylimitedapplications4aprojectwhichislikelytocontributealot