Post on 02-Jan-2016
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Experimental design – The Scientific MethodAsk a question
Do background research
Construct hypotheses
Conduct experiments & collect data
Analyse results & draw conclusions
Hypothesis is true
Hypothesis is false/partially true
Think again
Report Results
(Web report/ppt presentation)
Project IdeasIdeas should be:• Feasible• Preferably have application• Addresses current problems of the
nation/world• Interesting and Novel (if possible)
• Online resources- Science Buddies www.sciencebuddies.org- Science Fair Projects & Experimentshttp://www.juliantrubin.com/fairprojects.html- All Science Fair Ideashttp://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/ -How to do successful science fair projects
http://www.sciencenerddepot.com/Science_Fair_Projects.php
-Science fair project resource guidehttp://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide/choosingatopic.html
Where to find ideas?
• HCI projects day websites- Web report archives. Browse through to find out what has been done. Project ideas can be obtained by modifying existing ideas or extending them.
Where to find ideas?
ExampleArchive: Removal of toxic dyes using fruit peels
Possible ideas: • Removal of toxic dyes using withered leaves• Removal of heavy metal ions using fruit peels
Where to find ideas?• Search engines
- google- Google scholar (Scholarly paper)- Pubmed (Scholarly paper)- Elsevier – browse journals by subject - Scirus (http://www.scirus.com)
• Science books/magazines/newspaperBrown tap water still safe for drinking Rusty look may be from iron silt in a building's older pipes but is not health hazard: PUBVictoria Vaughan, Straits Times 17 Jul 09;
IT JUST looks dirty. On average, two Singapore households a day have been reporting brown or rusty tap water, but the Public Utilities Board (PUB) says it is still safe to drink.
Older buildings are more likely to be affected as they could still be using iron water pipes. PUB stopped the use of such pipes in 1980.
'Over time, iron sediment can accumulate in these pipes. Water flowing through the pipes may pick up the sediment,' said a PUB spokesman.
Where to find ideas?
• Rationale- Is there a clear rationale?- Is the project relevant to the target audience?- Does the project increase knowledge in the
field?- Is there application/ interest value in your
project?- Is there room for future expansion on the
project?
Feasibility of ideas
Approach & Methods•Can a workable outline of your methodology be formulated?•Do you have preliminary data/ other research work to support your methodology?•Can your experiments be performed in our SRC? If cannot, can you get external help? •Do you or the lab technicians/lab managers have the necessary skills, or can you identify and get co-operation from specialists you will need?•Are the equipment and materials required available for your use? Check with lab manager/lab techician/SMTP co-ordinator
- Is it possible to collect quantitative data?- Is it possible to collect sufficient data within 3-6
months?
Feasibility of ideas
• Originality- Is your project simply a repetition of others’ work? Did you make any modification?- Have you referred to for similar projects?
Feasibility of ideas
• Safety issue- Have you done risk assessment? Are the chemicals/organisms allowed in our SRC?- Is there a need to obtain SRC approval? (For projects which deal with vertebrates, microoganism)
Feasibility of ideas
Cost• Have you checked the availability of the
chemicals/materials required in your project?
• Have you checked the cost of the chemicals/materials?
Feasibility of ideas
• Which brand of detergent is most effective in removing stains?
• Effect of oxygen on rusting• Effect of music on plant growth• Synthesis of biodiesel from algae• Effect of running on blood pressure• Effect of colours on emotion
Comment on the following ideas
Writing of proposal• Introduction (Rationale, Objectives,
Hypotheses)• Literature Review• Outline of Method (Methods, safety, time
frame)• Risk assessment
Example on rationaleRemoval of heavy metal ions using clam shells
Heavy metal ions
Health hazard
Non-biodegradable
Clam shell Contains calcium carbonate
Has potential to remove metal ions
list what you will set out to do/measure to test your hypothesis
Question: Do fruit peels contain anti-tumour compounds?
Objectives:1. To prepare extracts from fruit peels2. To screen fruit peel extracts for anti-tumour
compounds3. To identify anti-tumour compounds in the
fruit extracts
Objectives
Hypothesis:• A hypothesis is a possible explanation for
something you have observed.• Turn your research questions into hypothesis
(statement)Question: Do fruit peels contain anti-tumour compounds?Hypothesis: Fruit peel extract contain anti-tumour compounds
Hypothesis
• Question: Does chitin from crab shells have a greater ability to bind to fats than chitin from prawn shell?
• Hypothesis: Chitin from crab shells has a greater ability to bind to fats than chitin from prawn shell.
• Objectives: 1. To extract chitin from crab and prawn shells for
comparison.2. To compare the abilities of chitin from
crab and prawn shells to bind to fats
Exercise
Writing a proposal• Submit as a group to mentor after prelims judging (T2, wk 4)• To improve/edit after mentor gives comments. May take
several rounds• 30 % of your research grade• Refer to rubrics & sample proposal
• Students to fill in parents consent for lab work (submit by today, 9/2)
• Mentors to assess nature of project if it involves the following:• Biohazard materials/organisms• Chemical hazards• Potentially hazardous devices/equipment
• Apply for approval by Science Research Council (SRC, SSEF) after prelim judging (i/c – Mrs Goh Cheng Wai)
Standard Operating Procedure
Approval of research plan by teacher-mentor.Obtain parental consent for laboratory work.
Projects not involving potentially hazardous
biological agents, substances or
devices
Proceed with experimentation
Yes
Can the project be carried out
using the school’s
resources?
Proceed with experimentation
Are there any available external
resources ?
No
External experts vet through protocols to ensure all safety requirements are met
Projects involving potentially hazardous
biological agents, substances or
devices
Seek approval from SRC and external experts***
*** submit after prelim round
General• Students can only work in the lab in the
presence of a teacher or lab staff.• Booking of equipment and requests for materials
must be made to at least 3 days prior to experiments, with mentor kept informed.Mdm Lim: Bio lab (limcf@hc.edu.sg)Mdm Xia: Chem lab (xiaying@hc.edu.sg)Mdm Chua: Physics/Photonics
• SRC Tel. no.: 64680379
General rules• Please keep lab tidy at all times.• Spills must be cleaned immediately to avoid
contamination.• Gloves must be worn when handling hazardous
materials.• Chipped or broken glassware should never be
used. Please give these to lab staff for disposal.
Scientific Review Committee (SRC) Approval
• Apply for approval (through your mentor) from the Scientific Review Committee if your project involves any of these:• Potentially hazardous biologial agents (e.g. bacteria)• Vertebrates
Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval required for studies involving• Human Subjects
• An IRB must include• A science educator• A school administrator (Principal or VP)• A medical doctor, physician’s assistant, registered nurse,
psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed social worker or licensed clinical professional counsellor
SRC Approval• Approval from must be submitted to Mrs Goh Cheng Wai
before the commencement of your projects ( see Mrs Goh’s EMB msg)
• SMP groups will submit forms to Mr Chia KP
Research Projects• Students working in
Research labs must wear a lab coat. These should be folded and placed on designated shelves when not in use (ref. Lab staff).
• In bio labs, laminar hoods --- perspex shield must be in place if UV light is turned on.
Microbiology Projects
• All microorganisms must be treated as potential human pathogens.
• Only Biosafety Level 1 (BSL 1) organisms can be used.
• Microorganisms should not be isolated from potentially hazardous sources e.g.s polluted water, human mucus, pus and faeces
• All microbial cultures and culture media must be labelled: date, name of student & teacher.
Microbiology Projects• BSL1: low risk to individual and the community• BSL2: moderate risk to individual but low risk to the
community. Can cause diseases in human but unlikely to be serious hazards to lab users under normal circumstances.
• BSL3: high risk to individual but low risk to community. Usually cause diseases in human, treatable with anti-microbial agents, not contagious.
• BSL4: high risk to individual and community. Usually cause serious diseases in human, untreatable and contagious.
Prohibited workStudies involving:• Fresh tissue, blood or body fluids from humans or
vertebrates.• Human or animal blood or blood products.• Human or vertebrate/mammalian cell tissue cultures
Approved work
Studies involving:• Plant tissue• Cheek cells (but not cultures)• Meat or meat by-products obtained from food stores,
restaurants or packing houses.• Hair• Sterilised teeth
Disposal of sharps
• Sharps --- needles, scalpel blades, micropipette tips, glass slides, cover slips
Sharps bins
Decontamination
• Autoclave or bleach all cultured organisms esp. microbes before disposal
• Disinfect work surfaces if microbes were used --- swab with 70% alcohol
Reminder• Young Explorers’ Fund (YEF) for groups which require
expensive items• Capped at $2000 a group• Can apply any time – submit forms to mentors• Forms on SMTP webpage
• Risk assessment is needed for all Cat 1 projects• To be completed by students, reviewed and approved
by mentor.• Before experiments begin, risk assessment to be
submitted to SRC - Mdm Lim (for bio projects)- Mdm Xia (for chem projects)- Mdm Chua (for phy projects)
• SMTP students will complete risk assessment and attached it to proposals. A copy to be given to SRC.
Risk assessment
Useful sites for biology projects
• http://academic.marion.ohio-state.edu/sciencefair/BSL.htm
• http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Micro_Safety.shtml
• http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_src_biological_agents.shtml
• http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_src_vertebrate_animals.shtml