Chng Jiu Hui (5) Lee Si Yun (8) 4C - assignment 4

assignment 4 article 3: Stop the deluge of science research

SUMMARY:
The rapid growth of scientific literature is often seen as evidence that the pace of human discovery is accelerating.
However there are now far too many science research papers to read in far too little time. Even in the absence of any genuine increase in scientific activity, research papers are continually published.
The only practical solution to managing the quality and relevance of scientific papers is to take a more differentiated approach to publishing the results of research. On one hand funders and employers should encourage scientists to issue smaller numbers of more significant research papers. This could be achieved by placing even greater emphasis on the impact of a researcher's very best work and less on their aggregate activity.
On the other they should require scientists to share all of their results as far as practically possible.

READER RESPONSE QN:
The author suggests that one possible solution to the problem of unread scientific research papers is to get funders and employers to encourage scientists to publish less, but significant, research papers. Do you think this is a good idea? Provide reasons for your answer in no more than 200 words.

Yes, I think this is a good idea. The problem of unread scientific research papers can be solved by placing even greater emphasis on the impact of a researcher's best work, instead of focusing on their aggregate activity. By publishing less, but significant research papers, it allows readers to get the latest information of impactful and meaningful research, instead of just flooding readers with every single research done, regardless of its success or failure. In today's "time is money" context, where one's pace of life is getting increasingly faster and busier, by placing even greater emphasis on the impact of a researcher's best work, instead of focusing on their aggregate activity saves time as one does not have to read through every single research, but instead, is informed of the more significant ones first. This makes it convenient for readers to access information on important scientific researches, and alleviates the problem of scientific research papers going unread.

Assignment 3: why kids care more about achievement than helping others (Jiu Hui, Si Yun 4C)

A study reveals that the message parents mean to send children about the value of empathy is being drowned out by the message actually send: that achievement and happiness is valued above all else.
Almost 80 percent of students rank achievement or happiness over caring for others. There is an incongruity between what adults tell children they should value and the messages grown-ups actually send through our behaviour.While most parents say they want to raise ethical, caring children, 80 percent of the youths surveyed reported that their parents “are more concerned about achievement or happiness than caring for others.” There are reports that teachers also prioritise student achievement over caring. Happier and more successful kids care about others, they are able to relate, be concerned, and respect differences, and a lack of empathy makes kids less successful, and less happy.
Studies show that kids’ ability to feel for others affects their health,wealth and authentic happiness as well as their emotional, social, cognitive development and performance. Empathy is a key ingredient of resilience, the foundation to trust, the benchmark of humanity, and core to everything that makes a society civilised.However simply talking about compassion is not enough. Parents should give their children opportunities to practice being good, empathetic people to give kids the skills they need to make caring a part of their day-to-day lives.

Readers response:

Yes, young people in my society care more about achievement than helping others. I think that is happening in my society due to the excessive focus on academic success, resulting in teenagers neglecting important values such as caring for their peers, and empathy. I think we can inculcate in them the importance of helping others by promoting and encouraging teenagers to go out of school and engage in social work, to expose teenagers to an environment which provides them opportunities to learn how to empathise and show their care for others. Schools should give teenagers a sufficient break from their hectic academic schedule to get time to rest, organise meaningful activities and events for them, and use this time meaningfully by engaging them in a range of social work to promote caring for others and empathy. Parents and teachers should also instil values and teach them proper ethics on a daily basis, as well as to be good role models for the young people to learn from. In this way, young people would be able to know how to have the correct values and ethics, and realise that even by starting small, they can still practise these values everyday. Parents must make a real effort to help their children learn to care about other people—even when it’s hard, even when it does not make them happy, and even when it is at odds with their personal success. 

Assignment 2: qn 3 Online Security ( Lee Si Yun 8 and Chng Jiu Hui 5 ((4c)))

SUMMARY:

A malware was likely created by a well-known government supplier called Hacking Team, to hack several industries' systems. Emails sent to targets contained links to apparently benign websites. With each click, spy software, known as malware, was surreptitiously downloaded onto the computers of each staffer who tried to open the document. That program was designed to steal workers’ files, intercept their emails and snoop on their Skype communications, leading to devastating impacts.

According to research by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Citizen Lab, both activist bodies focused on internet freedom, and a broad range of industries fall into the bull’s-eye of such attacks. The most likely targets are those who have direct lines into the most valuable information on a business’ network. The US has charged five Chinese army officers with hacking into American companies. 

READERS RESPONSE:

In modern day where many important information is transmitted and stored online and everyone, including companies and even governments reply on technology, computers and the internet to carry out important duties, online security is extremely crucial. Passwords and documents that appear to be safe and secure might not be so at all, as many online hackers and hacking or spying software exist that can be used (without the victims knowing) to retrieve “private” and “protected” information. A spy software known as a malware is designed to intercept workers’ files, intercept emails and snoop on even their Skype communications without the victims’ knowledge as it is deviously hidden in seemingly harmless forms such as emails or links. This leads to devastating impacts and consequences. For an individual, he or she may suffer from identity theft or have their bank accounts manipulated, but for major companies and industries which rely on online means to carry out their duties, it is much direr than that, as it includes failure of online systems and services and loss of thousands of dollars. For governments, confidential files and information might be leaked that might lead to political issues. The threat of online security being challenged should be dealt with or at least prevented. To prevent cyber-attacks workers and even individuals should learn to identify suspicious looking emails, being cautious about using public wifi (as information can be infiltrated by a hacker) and using strong passwords for their online accounts.  

Assignment 1: U.N. Human Rights Council voted to demand justice by Jiu Hui (5), Si Yun (8) 4C

Summary:The U.N. Human Rights Council voted to demand justice for Nazi-style atrocities in North Korea.

U.N. human rights investigators said last month security chiefs and possibly Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un himself should be tried for ordering systematic torture, starvation and killings, saying the crimes were "strikingly similar" to those committed during World War Two. There was an overwhelming amount of evidence that North Korea was violating these human rights hence the Council could not remain silent and had to confront North Korea. The U.N. Security Council and the General Assembly need to bring North Korea's leaders to justice for their human rights crimes, however Western and Asian powers concede that for now their chances of holding North Korea liable for crimes against humanity are slim because North Korea can only be referred to the International Criminal Court by the U.N. Security Council, whose veto-wielding members China and Russia both voted against the motion to bring them to justice.

The U.N. Human Rights Council also extended the mandate of its investigator on North Korea by one year and agreed to set up a field office to help him collect more evidence about allegations including that up to 120,000 people are held in political prison camps even though North Korea denies existence of the camps. This is in hopes of getting enough evidence to take action against North Korea.  

Reader's response: 

I agree that they have the right to do this. According to the passage, U.N. human rights investigators said last month security chiefs and possibly Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un himself should be tried for ordering systematic torture, starvation and killings, saying the crimes were "strikingly similar" to those committed during World War Two. "Human rights must take center stage at the U.N. Security Council when it considers peace and security in the Korean Peninsula," Roseann Rife, of Amnesty International, said. Human rights are clearly being violated in North Korea, such as torture and starvation of humans. Beyond their disputed nuclear programs, more emphasis should also be placed on this breach of human rights. North Korea has violated several human rights in the Universal Declaration of human rights, such as 1) we are all born free and equal, 3) the right to life, 4) no slavery, 5) no torture and many more. If the United Nations does not deal with these infamous infringements of human rights by North Korea, it would only lead to a worsen of the human rights infringements, further impacting future generations negatively. The United Nations is present to ensure human rights are protected, and thus has the authority to want scrutiny of North Korea to be widened beyond its disputed nuclear program. Thus, I agree that human rights activists have the rights to lobby for scrutiny of North Korea to be widened beyond its disputed nuclear program.