STEM Education in the United States and Singapore

One of the hottest topics over the past several years has been science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The United States is lagging behind in the STEM education rankings as compared to its counterparts in Europe and Asia, including Singapore, ranked second overall in math and science based on the Program of International Student Assessment. Even as such a small country, Singapore has one of the best education systems in the world, one of the busiest ports, and is a leader in the science and technology market. One factor of this is the family life and the culture that education should improve one’s quality of life. Parent involvement and the drive of the student help them to become more apt learners and pursue a STEM career. The government also plays a role in creating an environment where students will become innovating minds in the workforce and help sustain the country’s economy and place in the global market. The education system fosters student’s interests in math and science and caters to different levels of students abilities in order to retain them in schools. All these factors contribute to Singapore having a higher percentage of students graduate from universities with STEM degrees than in the United States

Powering Cuba: A Study of Cuba\u27s Energy Autonomy and its Effect on Culture

Cuba’s national pride comes from their autonomy in many industries, although they have been dependent on other countries to supply them with energy since the revolution. In the 1990’s, after the demise of the Soviet Union, Cuba entered its “Special Period” in which it faced energy shortages that caused oil consumption to drop by 20 percent from 1989 to 1992. In later years, the “Cuban Energy Revolution” focused on replacing inefficient infrastructure, encouraging energy efficiency, expanding electricity availability, and pursuing renewable energy generation. Luckily, Cuba has a high capacity for various renewable energy sources, including wind, biomass, solar, and hydropower, and as of 2014, Cuban energy experts estimate that renewable sources make up about 7-8% of total electricity generation. Despite its efforts, Cuba is in the midst of another energy crisis, and neighborhoods have been facing blackouts similar to those of the 1990’s. Heavy restrictions on energy consumption and the possibility of blackouts undoubtedly have an effect on the way citizens live and use energy. This study combines the interviews and observations of Cubans as they use energy in their lives, including changes in their culture and daily routine, as well as the study of renewable energy infrastructure across the country

STEM Education Discrepancy in the United States and Singapore

One of the hottest topics over the past several years has been science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The United States is lagging behind in the STEM education rankings as compared to its counterparts in Europe and Asia, including Singapore, ranked second overall in math and science based on the Program of International Student Assessment. Even as such a small country, Singapore has one of the best education systems in the world, one of the busiest ports, and is a leader in the science and technology market. One factor of this is the family life and the culture that education should improve one’s quality of life. Parent involvement and the drive of the student help them to become more apt learners and pursue a STEM career. The government also plays a role in creating an environment where students will become innovating minds in the workforce and help sustain the country’s economy and place in the global market. The education system fosters student’s interests in math and science and caters to different levels of students abilities in order to retain them in schools. All these factors contribute to Singapore having a higher percentage of students graduate from universities with STEM degrees than in the United States

Getting to more effective weight management in antipsychotic-treated youth: a survey of barriers and preferences

Background: Mentally ill youth are at risk for developing obesity, especially when they require antipsychotic treatment; moreover, they may face unique challenges in adhering to behavioral weight loss interventions. The aims of this project were to characterize the challenges families of youth with psychiatric disorders face when engaging in weight loss treatment and to gather information on attitudes and preferences for weight management interventions in this population. Methods: We devised a telephone survey to evaluate caregiver-perceived barriers/challenges to and preferences for behavioral weight loss treatment in overweight or obese mentally ill youth ages 6–18 treated with an antipsychotic agent in an outpatient setting. Results: A total of 26 parents or primary caregivers completed the survey. The most commonly cited barriers to participation in physical activity (PA) and maintaining a healthy diet were child's dislike of PA and child's preference for energy-dense foods, respectively, which were impacted by psychiatric symptoms. Preferences for weight loss treatment included individualized, prescribed meal plans and shopping lists, and exercise support/demonstration, with a preference for Internet or cell phone applications to help with monitoring food intake and exercise. Conclusions: These results suggest that targets for obesity treatment in this population include individualized, specific support that takes into account the child's motivation, which is effected by psychiatric symptoms. Tools for providing support may include the use of telehealth visits and mobile device applications for self-monitoring

STEM Education Discrepancy in the United States and Singapore

One of the hottest topics over the past several years has been science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The United States is lagging behind in the STEM education rankings as compared to its counterparts in Europe and Asia, including Singapore, ranked second overall in math and science based on the Program of International Student Assessment. Even as such a small country, Singapore has one of the best education systems in the world, one of the busiest ports, and is a leader in the science and technology market. One factor of this is the family life and the culture that education should improve one’s quality of life. Parent involvement and the drive of the student help them to become more apt learners and pursue a STEM career. The government also plays a role in creating an environment where students will become innovating minds in the workforce and help sustain the country’s economy and place in the global market. The education system fosters student’s interests in math and science and caters to different levels of students abilities in order to retain them in schools. All these factors contribute to Singapore having a higher percentage of students graduate from universities with STEM degrees than in the United States

STEM Education Discrepancy in the United States and Singapore

One of the hottest topics over the past several years has been science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The United States is lagging behind in the STEM education rankings as compared to its counterparts in Europe and Asia, including Singapore, ranked second overall in math and science based on the Program of International Student Assessment. Even as such a small country, Singapore has one of the best education systems in the world, one of the busiest ports, and is a leader in the science and technology market. One factor of this is the family life and the culture that education should improve one’s quality of life. Parent involvement and the drive of the student help them to become more apt learners and pursue a STEM career. The government also plays a role in creating an environment where students will become innovating minds in the workforce and help sustain the country’s economy and place in the global market. The education system fosters student’s interests in math and science and caters to different levels of students abilities in order to retain them in schools. All these factors contribute to Singapore having a higher percentage of students graduate from universities with STEM degrees than in the United States