Scientific Impact vs. Job Creation

As a very soon to be graduate student, grant proposal writing and funding from the National Science Foundation is very important to me since the NSF (NSF) is a great contributor of scientific research.NSF currently provides grants to approved research proposals based on various factors including impact to the science community and laymen community outreach. I find these two conditions especially important because they ensure the quality of the research they are funding and not just science for the sake of science. By requiring an impact to the existing science community, researchers funded by the NSF are well versed in the literature of their topic enabling them to recognize a gap in the knowledge and fill that gap with the results of their project, ultimately leading to innovative and novel scientific contributions. With the community outreach requirement, the NSF shows their interest in not only the scientific community, but the layman members of our country as well. For graduate program funding, they look for research coming from labs that have undergraduate students working in their labs and larger programs that collaborate with smaller programs that don't have the extent of resources that they have. This is the way the NSF has chosen projects to fund for years and, in my opinion, it has proven to be an efficient way of making sure the research being done is well rounded and beneficial in more ways than one.

However, not everyone feels as I do. Sponsor of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), Lamar Smith (R-Tx) has proposed a bill that revises the NSF's process of grant funding in a way that removes the peer-review requirement. This adjustment was proposed on the idea that the research NSF funds should be geared more towards creating jobs for citizens instead of impacting the science community. The bill suggests that the NSF director should make sure all funded research proposals are advancing U.S. national health, prosperity, or welfare and significantly different than any other research already existing and being funded. I believe this is a valid concern to have for such a large amount of tax dollars being spent, but I also believe the current form of proposal acceptance is adequate for national benefit.The peer review process provides expert opinion of the research in question and is an accurate measure of merit.Without this critical step in grant approval the quality of research being funded will decrease significantly.

Fortunately, President Obama has promised to "protect our rigorous peer review system" to ensure tax payers' dollars go as far as possible and the research it supports is as prosperous as possible. With this being said, I hope the peer review process stays in place and the politicians who are against it realize the importance of having experienced and knowledgeable scientists approve of a research project before it is funded with thousands of dollars.

Media

Activist journalism is not the dominate method of journalism in our nation's history but after the notorious Watergate Scandal along with the growth of national skepticism during the Vietnam War became very popular. This form of reporting is more manipulative because it leads the audience towards a certain conclusion Investigative journalism a process that can include the collaboration of other parties within the media. This form of journalism doesn't really alter public opinion or change it, but rather it further polarizes peoples views and ideologies. The three main objectives investigate journalism tries to use is to excite the audience in order to draw in numbers of viewers, secondly gain recognition from other journalist and third to trigger a reform or change.

Due to the nature of socialization especially when concerning politics media does not change political belief but were it can definitely be felt is through the polization of peoples existing position regarding an issue. Most adults are fixed on believing a certain idea that the use cognitive misers when analyzing information being reported. In turn further validating their own beliefs. This may not be the case when taking racial or gender issues in to consideration because the media in these cases are educational and can change some beliefs, but often times this is not the case. This being the case media influence acts as polarization tool rather than research has proved to be problematic because it is impossible to wholistically measure how people react to what the media outlets report. Until the day comes were we will be able to effectively evaluate how individuals are influenced by the media and to what degree it will continue to be problematic. There are some incidents were correlations can be drawn by finding out who uses what types of media. For example we knew that Blacks and Hispanics rely more on television and high income and older populations use print media more than low income populations. Along with people who watch four or more hours of T.V. a day are more worried of being attack victims, Correlations can be drawn but we still are unable to effective find out to what degree people are influenced.


Posted by: Ivan Benitez

Sometimes the apple does fall far from the tree...

In CNN's article, A Killer in the Family by Sarah LeTrent, the old saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" arises. The article is about people who are related to killers, in particular killers who are serial or committed nationwide, grief-striking murders. I found the article interesting due to the title, but found the actual content even more so upon reading it. The article discussed the feelings that family members of the killer experience after their loved one has committed these heinous crimes. It struck me as interesting because I always wonder about the family of a killer when I hear of a murder crime. It leads me to wonder what type of home did they grow up in?...were they close with their parents?....did they have siblings?....what were their family members like?....did something happen in their family that caused them to commit such an act? 

As stated in the article, many family members of murderers go into a state of silence after their kin commits the crime. They often experience feelings of grief, guilt, shame, and remorse. They have to go through therapy to ultimately convince themselves that they are not to blame. But then that strikes up another topic, are they to blame? Of course that question is completely subjective and everyone will probably have a different answer, but it is a topic I have personally heard multiple times regarding the family, parents specifically, of a mass murderer. I've heard the argument, "well if their parents had chastised them more firmly as a child they wouldn't have done that." That, too, is a purely opinionated statement. I believe a child's upbringing is directly related to the person they grow up to be, but I also believe that sometimes people experience personal illnesses that are independent of anything they have experienced in life. Sometimes people go through depressions simply because of a chemical imbalance in their brain. Of course I am leaning on my scientific background for this opinion, but I do genuinely believe people sometimes lose control of what goes on in their bodies. Call me crazy, but I don't think people who experience neurological diseases make a conscious effort to contract that disease. With that being said, I do not believe these things make people innocent of the crimes they have committed, they should be dealt with according to their sentences from  judge and jury, but I do believe, many times, that the parents and other family members of these people are not to blame for their conditions. As I stated earlier, out of emotional thinking and shock of gruesomely atrocious crimes, I have questioned the family life of murderers, but only out of sheer curiosity. No one should be blamed for the actions of another human being just for the sole purpose of being related to them.

"What's In a Name"

Naming a baby can turn into being one of the hardest decisions for parents, but what if you are only allowed to pick names from a list the government gives out?  It sounds like some sort of "future world, dictatorship" type of government you'd see in a movie. But it's not.  New Zealand has actually released a list of banned baby names. The list is actually quite extensive and some of the banned names that are include: Justice, Lucifer, Christ, Majesty, and Anal (really... You wanted to name your child Anal?!)  New Zealand isn't the only country to ban names. however.  Sweden has a naming law in place, and in 2009 the Dominican Republic thought about creating a similar law after parents begun naming their children after fruit! In the United States most of the name changes are among adults and the appeals court ruled against a man who wanted his name to be "F*** Censorship."  

This article got me thinking... If a government can control what you can name your child, what else can they control?  I don't feel that the naming law is too crazy, but I don't think the United States would be successful in passing a law like that.  The U.S. is way too big on freedom and our freedom of speech, so a law of that nature may cause some riots.  It's a little frightening to think how much control a government can have over their country.  What are some of y'alls thoughts on this matter?

Posted by: Kara Rivas

Sarin in Syria

This past Thursday, there has been evidence that sarin gas has been used by the President of Syria,  Bashar al-Assad, against the rebels who want to overthrow him.  But first off, what is sarin gas?  Sarin is a man-made chemical warfare agent which is classified as a nerve agent.  These are the most toxic and fast acting of the known chemical warfare agents.  It's a clear, colorless, and tasteless liquid that has no odor, in its pure form, and can evaporate into a gas (not cool!)  In the past, it has been used during Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s and in two terrorist attacks in Japan in 1994 and 1995. People can be exposed to sarin through skin or eye contact, by contaminated food or drink, through the air, and even through clothing if that other person has been in contact with it.  What is does is prevent the body's "off-switch" from functioning properly and it makes glands and muscles be constantly stimulated.  Large exposure to the gas can cause paralysis and respiratory failure.

Now that we know more about sarin, let's get back to the topic of it being used in Syria.  We've been discussing a lot about the war going on in Syria, and now with this chemical gas being used, Obama needs to make a decision on whether the United States will be involved. This video from ABC News gives a little explanation about what's happening overseas.

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CNN reports that the Obama administration is working to gather more information on the reports of the sarin gas use, and now the UN is doing further investigation.  So how is the U.S. involved with what's happening in Syria anyways? We first got involved by offering food and medicine to the country.  Obama has also signed off on non-lethal aid to the country and those supplies include body armor, night-vision goggles, and other military equipment.  Just last week there were 200 U.S. troops sent to Jordan.  NATO has also stated that there will be no military intervention is the U.S. decides to get involved.  There are a number of different options that the military has for the Syria situation. These included targeting the Syrian aircrafts, airstrikes, and ground troops.
But what do politicians say about getting involved?  Senator John McCain of Arizona is really pushing at finding a strategy to secure all of Syria's chemical weapons if their government were to fall.  Though he is quick to secure the weapons, he states that the U.S. still needs to take caution if they plan on sending troops to the country of conflict, because that could lead to the Syrians resentment of the "aid." This video is a small clip of McCain's interview and it also leads to other videos with his discussion.

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My thoughts on U.S. involvement? I agree with the no-fly zone that have been brought up.  It stops troops from being on the ground and ensures that Syria won't use any type of air defenses on the rebels.  It also prevents the Syrian nation from being upset with the United States for getting too involved.  I also agree with McCain saying that if the government is overturned the U.S. should go in and secure the chemical weapons that way no one else is using them. However, President Obama did state that if chemical weapons were used it would be a "red line for us" to take action and move in.  Ultimately, the decision is up to our government leaders, but a decision needs to be made quickly to prevent any other chemical, or even biological, weapons from being used.


Posted by: Kara Rivas

Make Earth Day an Everyday Thing!

             

              Our planet Earth is our home, we use all its resources available as well as pollute it with trash and waste. Why let our planet be abducted by waste products and infect the air we breathe in? I know for a fact that I don’t want to breathe in air that can get me sick or infected with a disease. People don’t look into consideration how bad the planet can get if we don’t do our part and take care of it. Does it take something tragic to happen to the environment for people to open their eyes are realize that they need to start taking things more serious about the environment. This brings us to the topic as to why not make every day Earth day.  

                Earth day is a day intended to inspire appreciation of our Earth’s natural environment. But why only celebrate Earth Day on April 22? The main reason behind it is because Arbor Day is celebrated on this day. Arbor Day was created by J. Sterling Morton a Nebraska Pioneer because he planted trees in what was a dusty and treeless prairie. He made this a big event and told people to plant as many trees as they can and prizes would be handed out to those who planted the most. The reason behind it being on the 22^nd was because it was J. Sterling Morton’s birthday and Nebraska felt it seemed natural to have it on this day.  In this article it goes into more depth about why it is celebrated on this day. 

                What is done on Earth Day? On Earth day people plant trees, commute to work by bicycle or walk, pick up trash around the neighborhoods and towns, unplug any electrical device that you are not using, replace light bulbs that save energy, and carry around reusable water bottles.  Basically they are trying to be more earth friendly and take care of the environment for one day only.  Why does it take one day out of the whole year to make people realize how important the environment is?

                In my opinion I feel people need to take this day more serious and make it an everyday lifestyle. If our environment starts to go downhill things can get out of hand. It can possibly lead to a bunch of chaos, riots, wars, and just overall people going crazy not knowing what to do. So where does it all start?

It can start with parents teaching their kids about how to be earth friendly and why it is important for the environment. They can start off by telling their kids to turn the water off when they brush their teeth. This can save about 8 gallons of water. Parents need to explain to their children how important saving water is, especially if we ever hit a drought. When I was younger I was not aware or ever told to turn the water off when I brush my teeth and now I do it every time because I know what the purpose behind it is.           

                I believe if children can see their parents doing the little things like unplugging electrical devices when not in use or turning the lights off in the bedroom. It will be a trend that the kids will follow and as they grow older these little things they have done to become earth friendly would just be habit.

                Make a difference and help keep the environment clean. It doesn't take one person to make the planet clean but the whole population. Try and start a trend to being more earthly friendly, don’t use Earth day as the only day to make an excuse. Be that person to make a difference for your planet. Go Green!

Earthquake in Iran

Last week on Monday there was a terrible act of "terrorism" at the Boston Monday Marathon that killed and injured Americans. Immediately social medias were on overloaded with with pictures and a phrases which is now known around the nation as "Pray for Boston." The catastrophe that took place that Monday shocked most of the nation and gave them a little taste of what we experienced back in 911, our fellow Americans every where were once again reunited once again due to an act of "terrorism." News stations all over t.v. were spreading the little information that was known at the time. The events of that day will forever be stitched in the memory of those who knew people effected by the bombings and the nation seemed to be standing together in another unfortunate tragedy. I for one will grieve for my lost and hurt Americans however I do not favor all the images and videos posted that day.

I deeply believe that they way the media went about informing the nation on what happened that Monday morning is to control the masses. For the next weeks people will watch and repress the Boston incident. They will co-create a reality of fear and anger. If we change the way we think collectively, and repress the right kind of stimuli we can bring change. Not by dwelling and facing a false reality, I chose to be indifferent by no means "turning a blind eye" but to focus on strictly facts not to be easily persuaded on who to blame. Think about how many people are social networking "Pray for Boston" when they genuinely don't care, many posting this like if they are really at home praying or won't give you a straight answer when you ask them about religion. Thousands of people die everyday to countless different things, but you dont see people posting or saying "pray" for them because you weren't told to care.

This is why I blog this, the day after the Boston bombing there was a huge natural disaster in Iran, and earthquake that almost wiped out Pakistan. I understand that the Boston bombing hits home but no matter where another person calls home all lives are equal regardless of way they go. So along with my blog I post an article that talks about what happened in Iran. And to all that have past from a bombing or a natural disaster I say rest in peace.


Posted by Ivan Benitez

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/18/iran-earthquake-2013-pakistan-mashkel-destroyed_n_3112074.html