Developing critical thinking in STEM: A proposed tool

Background Within the university sector, there is a strong consensus that critical thinking is essential with a vast majority of educators stating that developing students’ ability to think critically is an essential goal of undergraduate education. But in effect, critical thinking is in general not widely or efficiently taught in higher education (Arum and Roska, 2011). Aims To demonstrate: ● that employers of STEM graduates expect critical thinking skills in graduates, ● that students are not necessarily aware of their critical thinking skills or struggle to articulate them, ● that a pilot tool focusing on fostering critical thinking had positive impact on student disposition towards critical thinking, and, Description of intervention A model of critical thinking in STEM has been developed and a corresponding pilot teaching tool has been designed. The tool contains icons, short videos and quizzes aimed at explaining and assessing the understanding of the main concepts of critical thinking in STEM context. This tool is designed to be used in conjunction with authentic, ill-structured assessment tasks and has been tested in 2015 and 2016. The present study present qualitative and quantitative results that have been used to validate the relevance of this project. Design and methods Qualitative and quantitative data have been collected in this study. An anonymous online survey was conducted on industry representatives (n=17) looking at their company’s expectations concerning graduate critical thinking skills. Students were anonymously surveyed (n = 33) and completed the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (n=115) to assess perception of critical thinking education, skills and articulation of their skills. Results Relevant Industry survey results indicate a need for increased university education of critical thinking skills, especially within context. STEM students’ survey showed the awareness of the students about the discrepancy between the skills required as graduates and those being explicitly developed. In focus group and survey, students indicated understanding the importance of critical thinking in employability but many did not feel confident in articulating examples or instances of critical thinking. Pre and post-intervention analyses provide positive initial results indicating an increase in student disposition and awareness around critical thinking (2015-PreTest, n=50, median=302.5; 2015-PostTest, n=42, median=315.5). These positive results align with in-class pre-post intervention assessment indicating increased understanding of critical thinking concepts. Conclusions This proof-of-concept study shows the relevance and effectiveness of the critical thinking tool and justifies its extension and further collaborative development amongst interested parties in the university sector in order to increase students’ employabilty. Arum, R. and Roska, J. (2011), Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses. University of Chicago Press This Project has been financed by Monash OVPLT

Comparison of high pressure water systems for fire protection

Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1923.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-79).by Chester O. Avery & Laurence E. Barstow.B.S

Pyrazinoic acid-Poly(malic acid) biodegradable nanoconjugate for efficient intracellular delivery

International audienc

Ejemplos de deformación producto de la tectónica extensiva en las zonas de Huambo-Cabanaconde en Arequipa y Calacoa-Huaytire en Moquegua, de los Andes Centrales vistos por Interferometría Radar – Insar

En este trabajo se presentan los primeros resultados obtenidos por el método InSAR para la detección y medida del campo de deformación co-sísmico asociado a eventos sísmicos ocurridos en el sur del Perú. Interferogramas calculados sobre la zona de los poblados Huambo-Cabanconde (departamento de Arequipa) y sobre la zona de Calacoa (departamento de Moquegua), han permitido registrar procesos de deformación del suelo asociados a la tectónica extensiva superfi cial, la que viene actuando en los Andes Centrales desde el Mioceno medio. El primer ejemplo de deformación ha sido detectado en la zona Huambo-Cabanaconde. El interferograma calculado con imágenes adquiridas el 06/12/2002 y 12/09/2003, muestra una subsidencia en la Pampa Mojonpampa, hacia el sur de la falla normal Solarpampa, que forma parte del sistema de fallas Huambo-Cabanaconde. Esta subsidencia habría sido producida por sismos de magnitud Mb > 4 ocurridos entre el 13/12/2002 y 14/12/2002, los mismos que se producen por esfuerzos extensivos que actúan en dirección N-S. Un segundo ejemplo de deformación ha sido detectado en dos interferogramas de la zona de Calacoa (departamento de Moquegua), calculados con imágenes adquiridas entre el 01/12/2004 y el 13/05/2006. Esta deformación está muy probablemente relacionada a un sismo de magnitud Mw 5.4 que corresponde al evento principal de la crisis sísmica ocurrida en octubre del 2005 en la región del volcán Ticsani. Esta crisis sísmica consiste en una sismicidad superfi cial intracrustal asociada a la actividad de una falla local N155º. El área de deformación producida fue de 15 x 12 km aproximadamente, y registró una amplitud máxima de 14 cm a 3.5 km al NO de la cima del volcán Ticsani. Las características de la falla N155º han sido puestas en evidencia por los datos interferométricos. Un tercer ejemplo de deformación ha sido observado a 25 km al SE del volcán Ticsani, en un área elíptica de aproximadamente 24.5 x 11.7 km orientada en dirección NO-SE y cuya amplitud máxima de deformación fue de 5.5 cm (subsidencia). Esta deformación se habría producido entre diciembre de 2004 y mayo de 2006 y puede ser atribuida a la ocurrencia de una crisis sísmica durante este periodo

Report of the JRC’s Descriptor 2 workshop in support to the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good Environmental Status for NIS

The MSFD workshop on non-indigenous species (NIS, MSFD D2), held in Ispra JRC (10th-11th of September 2015) aimed to provide clear proposals and conclusions on some of the outstanding issues identified in the D2 review manual (May 2015 consultation version: D2 review manual: https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/cd4bbd6a-454a-40db-b805-52fb195d4e56/COMDEC_Review_D2_V6.pdf) in the broader context of support to the review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. This report is complementing the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU review manual (JRC96884) and presents the result of the scientific and technical review concluding phase 1 of the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 2. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy (agreed on at the 11th CIS MSCG meeting). The main issues addressed and tackled in this workshop’s report are: - Proposed changes in D2 assessment criteria; - Indicators and methodological standards; - GES threshold values and reference points; - Way forward.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Preparation and optimization of a titanium-based feedstock for Fused Deposition Modeling

In this work the preparation and optimization of a titanium-based metal injection moulding (MIM) feedstock for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is presented. The composition of the plastic binder system, consisting of a backbone polymer, a water-soluble polymer and a lubricant was optimized and MIM feedstocks with titanium contents ranging from 50 to 68 vol.% were prepared in a laboratory-scale internal mixer. During the feedstock preparation the torque of the mixing screws of the internal mixer was recorded, which allowed to determine an optimum Ti content of 59–61 vol.%. The morphology, thermal and rheological properties of the prepared MIM feedstocks were characterized using various techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM, FTIR, DSC, TGA, MFI and oscillatory rheometry. This study contributes to the emerging research on additive manufacturing of MIM feedstocks with the aim of producing pure titanium components with complicated shapes and high density from novel MIM feedstock as the starting material

What does it take to redesign a degree? A case study

BACKGROUND The Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science course at Monash University is presently in the second year of a three-year redevelopment. Initiated to address the recommendations of a 2015 course review, the redevelopment has grown into a full course redesign with multiple aims including the deep embedding of skill development, authentic learning and lifelong learning skills into the curriculum; strengthening integrated and interdisciplinary learning; and improving the student experience. AIMS This case study maps the key stages in the full redesign of an applied science degree with the aim of identifying internal and external factors that have shaped its conception and implementation. METHODS Multiple data sources (institutional data, planning documents, personal notes and recollections) are used to describe the redesign process over a four-year period. The elements of the process are analysed with respect to literature examples and models of educational change and curriculum design. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The present case has employed a mixed approach, addressing both institutional and individual practices, that is mostly consistent with an integration strategy of curriculum change

Report of the JRC’s Descriptor 2 workshop in support to the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good Environmental Status for NIS

The MSFD workshop on non-indigenous species (NIS, MSFD D2), held in Ispra JRC (10th-11th of September 2015) aimed to provide clear proposals and conclusions on some of the outstanding issues identified in the D2 review manual (May 2015 consultation version: D2 review manual: https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/cd4bbd6a-454a-40db-b805-52fb195d4e56/COMDEC_Review_D2_V6.pdf) in the broader context of support to the review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. This report is complementing the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU review manual (JRC96884) and presents the result of the scientific and technical review concluding phase 1 of the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 2. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy (agreed on at the 11th CIS MSCG meeting). The main issues addressed and tackled in this workshop’s report are: - Proposed changes in D2 assessment criteria; - Indicators and methodological standards; - GES threshold values and reference points; - Way forwar

Report of the JRC’s Descriptor 1 workshop to support the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good Environmental Status

The MSFD workshop on biodiversity (MSFD D1), held in Ispra JRC (7th-9th of September 2015) aimed to provide clear proposals and conclusions on some of the outstanding issues identified in the D1 review manual (May 2015 consultation version: https://circabc.europa.eu/w/browse/46d2b7ba-d2fd-4b3c-9eaf-18c7cb702b53) in the broader context of support to the review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. This report is complementing the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU review manual (JRC96521) and presents the result of the scientific and technical review concluding phase 1 of the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 1. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy (agreed on at the 11th CIS MSCG meeting). The main issues addressed and tackled in this workshop’s report are: - Common lists of elements for the biodiversity assessments (species & habitats) o Review of the “Biological Features” in Table 1 in the MSFD Annex III in relation to D1 requirements o Review of the “Habitat Types” entries in Table 1 in the MSFD Annex III in relation to D1 requirements - Selection/deselection criteria for the inclusion of species and habitats in a group - Updated criteria and indicators for D1 - Habitat/Bird Directives, WFD, Common Fisheries Policy and D1 o Use of species and habitats for the MSFD needs that are already included in other legislation and agreements o Links between status classification approaches (FCS vs GES, GEcS vs GES) - Streamlining of assessments, including scales of assessments - Cross-cutting issues related to D1 implementation o Aggregation rules within D1 criteria/indicators o Final GES integration across descriptors assessments Steps forward and technical needs for D1.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) for the Subaru Telescope: Overview, recent progress, and future perspectives

PFS (Prime Focus Spectrograph), a next generation facility instrument on the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope, is a very wide-field, massively multiplexed, optical and near-infrared spectrograph. Exploiting the Subaru prime focus, 2394 reconfigurable fibers will be distributed over the 1.3 deg field of view. The spectrograph has been designed with 3 arms of blue, red, and near-infrared cameras to simultaneously observe spectra from 380nm to 1260nm in one exposure at a resolution of ~1.6-2.7A. An international collaboration is developing this instrument under the initiative of Kavli IPMU. The project is now going into the construction phase aiming at undertaking system integration in 2017-2018 and subsequently carrying out engineering operations in 2018-2019. This article gives an overview of the instrument, current project status and future paths forward.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Proceeding of SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 201