Assignment 3

Summary:

Out of all the published research works, probably between a quarter and a third of all the research papers go uncited, while a large proportion is cited only by their own authors or by one or two others. This is partly a result of the imperative for researchers to publish in order to continue to secure funding and employment, and the accompanying incentive to salami-slice research results so as to secure the maximum number of publications from any given piece of work. However, this is the bane of a scientist’s existence as there are too many papers but too little time to finish reading through all. This situation is however only getting worst due to the rise of author-pays open-access publishing which has the benefit of allowing anyone to read the research in question without paying the publisher, but also has the disadvantage of giving publishers a strong commercial incentive to issue as much content as possible.

Reader’s Response:

Yes, I agree that it is a good idea to get funders and employers to encourage scientists to publish less, but significant, research papers. As cited from the article, the rate of growth of cited scientific publications has risen from less than 1% before the middle of the 18th century to 2-3% in the first half of the 20th century, and 8-9% today. That last figure is equivalent to a greater than doubling of scientific output every decade. With too many research papers being published, but there is limited time for people to be able to read through all the research papers and filter out the important and significant ones. The purpose of scientist publishing so many research papers is to secure maximum publication. By publishing lesser work, but just the significant ones, it will help save the time people takes to read through all the research papers, enabling them to be able to spend more time to analyse each and every research paper published.

Assignment 3: The Flight from Conversation (Ng Wei Qing, Tiffany Tsui, Cherri Chan)

Summary:
Technology has definitely decreased human interaction significantly. People have sacrificed conversation for mere connection and accustomed to a new way of being “alone together.” We do not want to be interrupted and we prefer working alone, fearing the start of endless conversations. We have learned the habit of cleaning messy and demanding human relationships with technology, tempted to think that our little “sips” of online connection add up to a big gulp of real conversation, but they do not. They are unlike face-to-face conversation, they diminish chances to learn skills of self-reflection and do not instill patience in us. As we get used to being shortchanged on conversation and to getting by with less, we seem almost willing to dispense with people altogether. As Siri, the popular digital assistant on Apple’s iPhone, becomes more advanced, “she” will be more and more like a best friend — one who will listen when others won’t. This habit of seeking comfort from technology may be caused by the sentiment that "no one is listening to me", hence people tend to have an illusion of companionship and that machines are better than face-to-face conversation, avoiding conversations with others around them, and as a result increasing the distance of relationship between people.
Reader's Response:Do you agree with the author and is this happening in your society? If so, how can we improve
This is definitely true in our society. We see handheld devices everywhere, including at restaurants, when customers are waiting for their food to arrive. One may think that food would be the only thing that would make them raise their heads from their own devices. Face-to-face conversations are every bit as important as having a device. They reveal things about the other party that would not be revealed easily through a device. They build up bonds between friends, strengthening them. They let you confront your enemies, frightening them. Thus, to promote face-to-face conversations, a family could have a rule where there would be a no-device day per week; employers could suggest a Conversational Day, and lastly, friends could discourage each other from using phones when in others' presence. Although we could come up with the excuse of having no time or "there's a really important message I have to to get to", we have to keep in mind that human conversation is good for our mental health. There are days when we feel particularly depressing and we need someone's shoulder to cry on, I'm pretty sure that the handheld devices that we all have won't be great to cry on. We cannot deny the benefits they bring to us but sometimes it is good to note that it is okay to take a break from them once in a while.

Assignment 3: artificial intelligence Cheryl and Kaiting

Summary
Artificial-Intelligence (AI) brings about many possible benefits to the society. Currently, we are already surrounded by AI systems in the technology that we own. Recent breakthroughs include self-driving cars, digital personal assistants Siri and robots that function like humans. A huge benefit would be the magnification of human intelligence through the many tools that AI could provide. However, other than the many benefits AI has, in near the term, world militaries are considering autonomous-weapon systems that can choose and eliminate targets although the UN and Human Rights Watch have advocated a treaty banning such weapons. In the new upcoming age of AI, the short-term impact of AI depends on who controls it, the long-term impact depends on whether it can be controlled at all. AI may transform our economy to bring both great wealth and great dislocation.
Readers Response Do you think Stephen Hawking’s fears are unfounded? Whose stand do you take and why?
Stephen Hawking's fears are refutable. I acknowledge the potential risks he has raised, however, in order to attain success for anything, be it in education or science or life, one cannot avoid taking risks, and the same applies to artificial intelligence. In the future, with the aid of artificial intelligence, many manual work can be replaced by artificial intelligence systems. Although this would bring about much convenience and raise efficiency and productivity in industries, many will become jobless as a result as well. This is just one of the many prominent problems advancements in artificial intelligence could bring about. However, we cannot overlook the fact that artificial intelligence has created many things which we rely on heavily today, from providing services to aid in healthcare to reducing labour in household chores. Therefore, as long as we can effectively cope with these potential risks, we can still take venture and advance more in artificial intelligence and come up with more creations to benefit mankind. Laws and policies can be strongly enforced to ensure that creations of artificial intelligence are not misused. Thus, I take the stand of Adam Gibson because he feels that although such technology has many drawbacks to it, without it, we cannot possibly face and resolve many of the complex problems today. Even if artificial intelligence is dangerous to venture into, we have already gone too far into this field and there's no more turning back, we can only go further and try to avoid the dangers lurking along the way.

Assignment 3: artificial intelligence – but are we taking AI seriously enough?’ - ShiQing and Renise

Summary:
Potential benefits include eradication of war, disease, poverty, and improvement of design of arrangements of particles for performance of more advanced computations than the human brain. Unfortunately, there are risks. World militaries are considering autonomous-weapon systems that can choose and eliminate targets; AI may also transform our economy to bring both great wealth and great dislocation. AI can outsmart financial markets, out-invent human researchers, out-manipulate human leaders, and develop weapons we cannot understand. Whereas the short-term impact of AI depends on who controls it, the long-term impact depends on whether it can be controlled at all. Little serious research is devoted, in order to ensure the best outcome, to these issues outside non-profit institutes. We have to improve the chances of reaping the benefits and avoiding the risks.
Reader's Response:Do you think Stephen Hawking’s fears are unfounded? Whose stand do you take and why?
Personally, I believe that Stephen Hawking's fears are unfounded and I take the stand of Adam Gibson. Recently, there can be no question that mankind has taken tremendous strides into the field of robotics, developing inventions with the use of artificial intelligence (AI). As Stephen Hawking has feared, AI has potential in causing an immense amount of harm to mankind in the future. However, AI is still considered to be only in its developing stages, and despite having potential to harm us in the future, those are only mere predictions. Presently, AI has provided us more benefits than harm. One such example of a benefit can include the accurate predictions of weather using AI. Meteorologists analyze large volumes of data in order to predict the weather, and even the most experienced weatherman may not always be accurate. With an AI software, scientists can sift through complex data and spot patterns missed by the human eye. When this software sees a big storm coming, it will automatically issue alerts to warn residents and the media, and this may help save lives. Not only, a rise in accuracy of weather predictions may also offer crucial benefits regarding agriculture and crop development. That said, yes, I can say with no qualms, that AI is powerful indeed. But when used in the right way, we are able to produce inventions which can definitely be used to bring mankind more benefits than harm, therefore I agree with Adam Gibson's stand.

assignment3 Travis and Yong Liang 4c

Educated girls are the greatest threat to extremists because there's no force more powerful than educated girls to transform a society. They change the demography. Educated girls help curb birthrates effectively which leads to social stability. Educating girls can double the formal labour force, which leads to a boost in the economy, and a rise in living standards and helpts to promote development. Furthermore, when a country educates and unleashes these women, they often become force multipliers for good. They also tend to become the backbone of large companies, development organizations and the garment industry.

I agree with the author that one of the best ways to bring a country to greater heights and oppose extremist groups would be to educate women. Educating women can bring out many benefits like easing the youth bulge in the population, and also double the formal labour force, thereby boosting the economy. I also feel that women have more forgiving mindsets than men and are able to calmly think over things better than men, and thus can make more informed decisions that can benefit the country. Educating women with the right social skills needed to lead the society is also important because this will allow them to recognise the ways extremist groups are desperately trying to make their country remain as a backward society. However I also feel that just education is not enough, women also need support and empowerment for them to shine at the opportunities they are given. They require the support and trust of their people in order to lead, and also require funds from third parties in order to bring peace to their countries and better standards for living for the people, otherwise all these educated individuals would have their potentials wasted away.

Assignment 3: Putting a price on the value of art Joycelyn Chuah & Christine Yep 4C

Summary:
Enjoying the arts boost the economy. The people who are more attracted to the arts are highly educated and mobile which helps go increased consumption and increase the local tax base and bring employers to the area.Being in a more artistic, lively cultural place during leisure time allows people to be smarter at work and gives them ideas. Thus, in order to survive in the world, the citizens and their workforce must be prepared with the creative skills required to become accustomed to the environment.When a place undergoes art and culture development, it is likely to attract talents and raise income. The arts brings things together and is self-amplifying. Value of art should not be measured in economic terms, but we should understand the financial impact it has.

Reader Response:
Yes, I feel that arts subjects should be given as much curriculum time as the Science and Math subjects. It is an equally valuable and important aspect of education and should definitely not be neglected. Firstly, art brings about a positive economic impact. As quoted from the article, "arts and culture in the US generated $135.2 billion and supported 4.1 million jobs in 2010." Many people have thought that being in the art industry does not generate much income, and one would not be able to go far in this career, but these statistics have clearly shown that it is not the case. Also, art brings about many other positive impacts. "Does it make non-arts companies more innovative? Are people smarter at work because they're in a more creative, vibrant cultural scene when they're not at work? Does it bring ideas to them? My hunch is that the arts do have these kinds of positive effects." Michael Rushton said. Skills that one can learn from art can be applied to daily lives, even if they do not work in the art industry. Thus, I feel that art should be given the same curriculum time as Science and Math subjects.

Assignment 3: Stephen Hawking: ‘Transcendence looks at the implications of artificial intelligence – but are we taking AI seriously enough?’

Summary: 

AI might be able to eradicate war, disease, and poverty.However we must learn how to avoid the risks.AI can help world militaries whereby they can choose and eliminate targets. AI may transform our economy to bring both great wealth and great dislocation.Such technology can outsource humans and develop weapons we cannot even understand. Although the short-term impact of AI depends on who controls it, the long-term impact depends on whether it can be controlled at all.However,little serious research is devoted to these issues outside non-profit institutes.

Reader's Response: 

I believe that Stephen Hawking’s fears are unfounded and i take the stand of Adam Gibson. As artificial intelligence is still currently developing new technologies and inventions, it is true that this machine oriented intelligence might end up harming us in the future, but up till now, there has been a lot more benefits that artificial intelligence has created for the earth and her people. And as we do not know what will happen in the future, we cannot be sure that artificial intelligence will only cause harm to us. In fact, artificial intelligence has helped humans in many ways that humans ourselves cannot achieve without the help of such technology. For example, artificial intelligence can limit the effects of air pollution from manufacturing and industrial processes. The USA Environmental Protection Agency has stated that many factories have started using these software to capture dangerous chemicals before they enter the smokestack and end up in the air outside. Without artificial intelligence, it is impossible that humans ourselves can detect such things as we do not have the ability to. In turn, with this intelligence, factories can reduce a lot of air pollution and in both short and long term help to save the planet. Thus I take the stand of Adam Gibson. 

Assignment 3: putting the price on the value of art - Lim Cherith and Roxanne Yew

SUMMARY QN:Summarise the importance of the arts and the benefits it brings in about 100 to 150 words.

The arts are of a great importance and has many benefits. The arts give people something to do when they're not at work, and they attract people to want to live in those communities. Often the people who are most attracted to the arts are highly educated and mobile. They will increase consumption, the local tax base and bring employers to the area. The arts also make people smarter at work because they're in a more creative, vibrant cultural scene when they're not at work and it brings ideas to them. Engagement with the arts is essential to building a creative environment and when a place develops a critical mass of arts and vibrancy it tends to attract talented people,and it tends to raise income. The arts has a centripetal pull that brings things together and then is self-amplifying.

READER RESPONSE QN:

Do you think that arts subjects (e.g. music, visual arts, performing arts, Literature) should be given as much curriculum time as the Science and Math subjects? Provide reasons for your answer in one paragraph, with reference to a specific argument in the article, and do not write more than 200 words.

Yes, I do think that arts subjects ought to be given as much curriculum time as the other subjects. the arts not only provides entertainment and the ever subjective "happiness" factor, but also boosts productivity, which is essential in the workforce. the arts is a form of free expression, stimulating minds and injecting vibrancy into mundane life. Hence, by introducing arts subjects to school life, not only does it expose students to a different spectrum of study, but helps boosts the brain for use in other subjects, and also allows the students to be able to stretch, train and make better use of their right brain, giving them the space and opportunity to practice expression and creativity, which are important skills in the 21st century. with the possession of skills in this area, they can also apply it to mathematical and science subjects and also in their future jobs, which will hence be able to increase productivity, especially in problem solving. 

Assignment 3: The flight from conversation Ryan & Anping

Anping & Ryan  4C

Summarize the impact of technology on human interaction

Human interaction has been drastically minimised due to technology. Indeed, technology changes what we do and who we are, making us forget how to interact with one another. Fear of conversation induced by technology has been prominently displayed in workplaces, where young people nowadays go to work wearing earphones, avoiding any chances of real conversation. Many a times, even though people are gathered together, they are barricaded in their own bubble, furiously connected to their electronic gadgets.The cause of all this is due to the comfort technology brings. Through technology, people are comforted by being in touch with a lot of people while keeping at distances we can control; not too close, not too far, just right. Humans treat online interaction as a substitution for real life conversation; making us seem disregard the importance of human interaction. As we ramp up the volume and velocity of online connections, we start to expect faster answers. Now, we are more willing to dispense everyone altogether. We lose the confidence that we will be there for one another; simply saying we now expect less from human interaction as we have find no motivation to meet the demands of relationships. (196 words )

READER RESPONSE QN:

Do you agree with the author and is this

happening in your society? If so, how can we improve the way we interact with

one another? Provide reasons for your answers in one paragraph, with reference

to the arguments in the article, within 200 to 250 words.

I fully agree with the author's stand on technology reducing human interaction greatly. From youth that seem to be physically attached to their smartphones to even children who find it hard to pry their eyes away from the tablet showing their favourite cartoon, it is evident that there has been a decline of human interaction in our society. To improve human interaction, we can create ‘scared spaces’ to encourage our children to interact with each other.  By making places like the kitchen, dining room and cars “device-free zones’’, the value of conversation presents itself. As for employees at work who may lack the time to talk about things that are of utmost importance, a period of time could be set aside for them to talk so that they have more opportunities for human interaction. Most importantly, we need to cast aside communication through technology, and really listen to each other. Regardless of the conversation topic, we have to listen as it is often in these unedited movements, moments in which we hesitate and stutter and go silent, that we reveal who we really are. Improving interaction can be as simple as kicking away some of our bad habits when we walk outdoors. Nowadays, we often walk with our heads down, typing messages or searching the web. Even when we are with friends, partners, children, everyone is focusing on their devices. We simply have to gaze at the sceneries, look up at our companions, and start the conversation. (247 words)

Assignment 3: what's so scary about smart girls? Fanxi Maychie 4C

Summary:
Educated girls are the greatest threat to extremism because they have a force powerful enough to transform a society. Firstly, they can change demography. Educated girls help curb birthrates which leads to stability, by reducing the youth bulge. An uneducated girl on average, will have a significantly smaller family than educated buys. Secondly, educating girls can double the formal labour force, boosting the economy, raising living standards and promoting a virtuous cycle of development. Lastly, when a country educates and unleashes women, those educated women often become force multipliers for good. They tend to become the backbone of large companies like Grameen Bank, development organizations like BRAC and the garment industry.

RR:
In my opinion, those countries mentioned in the article has to firstly educate their girls, and also then unleash them with their knowledge, into the working population. Only educating them is not enough, but it definitely is the primary step towards liberating the countries, bringing them better economies, better standard of living and also ridding them of oppressive extremist groups. Educating girls will double the labour force and bring about better economy, and an example will be in Bangladesh, which emphasised on education, causing them to have more girls than boys in high schools. These girls then grew into women who formed the backbone of Garmeen Bank, developmental organisations like BRAC and the garment industry. Girls should be accorded the same right to education as boys and this is no longer just a moral problem that is about equality or rights, but in fact, it is an obvious solution that can solve many of the pressing problems in those societies mentioned in the article. Only when girls and boys work together with their knowledge gathered from school, these societies can truly escape the poverty cycle and even escape from the claws of those extremist groups and celebrate their country. They will not be forced to remain under the oppressive Boko Haram or Taliban after they have knowledge to think and plan for themselves. These girls will also have to be free to use their knowledge for their country as opposed to being kept at home after that, which is equally important as educating them. According to the article, countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran refused to empower their women despite educating them, causing their country to continue to stagnate in the past, unable to move forward. Many women have already shown their capabilities with their knowledge, thus it is key for the countries to starting educating girls. In conclusion, the battle against the groups opposing this idea will be tough, but it definitely is something worthy for other countries like USA to invest in as it is a straightforward solution to many problems within those countries in the article.

Assignment 3: Can genetically modified food feed the world? (Xin Ni and He Ying of 4C)

Summary
One of the main benefits that genetically modified (GM) food have is its ability to help alleviate world hunger. The growth of biotech crops is the fastest growth segment in agriculture. These crops are used for animal feed and biofuel, and also processed foods. It's clear genetically engineered traits make plants and animals more resistant to disease, stay ripe longer, and grow more robustly in a variety of conditions are effective in reducing costs and providing economic benefits to food producers. 
Reader's Response
I do not think genetically modified food alone can solve the problem of hunger in poor nations. Even though it has been said that one of the main benefits of genetically modified (gm) food have promoted is its ability to help alleviate world hunger, however, I beg to differ. GM are cheaper to grow, increase yields, and extend the time food remains edible, it seems reasonable that GM plants should provide more food to a hungry world. However, many of the poorest countries most strongly affected by famine, such as many Africa nations, have set up onerous regulations that prevent the growth and import of GM food and crops. Hence, even with the creation of GM, third world countries do not accept and consume them due to political and social situation. Also, major crop development companies use genetic engineering primarily to improve large cash crops with the most potential for profits, such as corn, cotton, soy, and wheat with. Little investment is put into crops, such as cassava, sorghum, millet, which are more relevant for cultivation in poor nations. From the commercial point of view, production of GM food is for profit, it has helped make many wealthier in the industrialized work. Even though GM food should be able to improve starvation situations in third world country, however, o conclusive evidence was found that GM crops have so far offered solutions to the broader socioeconomic dilemmas faced by developing countries.

Assignment 3 : What's so scary about smart girls? By Alicia & Qi En

In about 100-120 words, summarise the impact of educating girls.
Educating girls changes the demography. Social unrest increases when there is a large amount of youths that exist in a society. By educating both girls and boys, it curbs the birthrate much more effectively and this can help to maintain social stability. Also, by attaining education, it doubles the labor force. This in turn boosts the economy, raises living standards and helps to promote development. Asia's economic boom was due to educating girls and moving them to the cities to do more productive work. Also, if girls were empowered while receiving education, a country can unleash these women and they can become force multipliers for good.
Do you agree with the author that an effective weapon to counter the extremist groups in those countries is to educate the girls
I agree with the author that educating girls is an effective strategy for opposing extremist groups. Since one of the greatest threats to extremism in transforming a society is education, fanatics will definitely be wary and afraid of how large an impact education of girls can do for the future. Girls with an educational background changes demography, such as a youth bulge, and also double the formal labour force, boost the economy, raise living standards, as well as promote an upstanding cycle of development. Such examples of the benefits of girls' education can be seen in countries like Bangladesh and Oman. These countries are able to step out of their backwardness after emphasising education for not only boys, but also girls. Consequently, those educated women have become the pillars for certain organisations, and has helped their country advance tremendously. However, educating girls is not enough for a country to progress. Even though countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia have educated girls, they are unwilling to authorise them. So both countries are unable to progress and remain mired in the past. In the case of Oman, which is once a severely underdeveloped country back in the 1960s, educating and empowering women brought about stability and by far better off than its neighbour Yemen. Hence, I agree that education for girls, together with the empowerment of women can help counter extremist groups.

Assignment 3: The Flight from Conversation

Summarise the impact of technology on human interaction in 150 to 200 words.
We now live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. However, in the midst of our communication, we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection. We have embraced technology as we can use technology to keep one another at distances we can control and present the self we want to be. However, this very technology we embrace has now made us fear conversation. Human relationships are messy and demanding, so we have learned the habit of cleaning them up with technology and thus, moved from conversation to connection. However, we fail to notice that online connections do not substitute for conversation and forget that there is a difference between conversing and connecting. We close our eyes to the fact that online communication doesn’t work as well when it comes to understanding and knowing one another compared to actual conversation where we can attend to tone and nuance and are called upon to see things from another’s point of view. When people are alone, even for a few moments, they fidget and reach for a device. We become so busy "communicating" that we often don’t have time to talk to one another about what really matters.

Do you agree with the author and is this happening in your society? If so, how can we improve the way we interact with one another? Provide reasons for your answers in one paragraph, with reference to the arguments in the article, within 200 to 250 words.
I agree with the author and this is explicitly happening in our society. One way we can improve the way we interact with one another is by understanding the benefits of having real life interaction. As quoted from the article, conversation allows us to "tend to one another", it culminates patience and encourages the learning of "skills of self reflection." Society fails to understand that only through real life conversation can two individuals accurately understand each other on a significantly meaningful level. This is done through tone perception, facial expression and body gestures which are simply masked behind our devices when we "connect" with others. The beauty of real life interaction is undermined and disregarded by the modern day perception of "technology keeping one another at distances we can control" and it is crucial that this mindset is addressed and corrected to improve our way of interaction. Another way we can improve the way we interact with one another is by creating "sacred places" that restrict the use of digital devices. Such a method would forcibly engage all individuals in the household in active conversation and promote real life connection. The inclination to engage in real life conversation will progressively develop once the individuals personally experience the benefits of real life communication. The "anti gadget rule" will allow individuals to see the value in the little updates they are provided with and will encourage a more open and inclusive environment for the organisation.

Assignment 3: can genetically modified food feed the world?

Summary

One if the main benefits if genetically modified food is that it can help alleviate world hunger. Genetically engineered traits make plants and animals more resistant to disease and grow more robustly. It is cheaper to grow, increase yield and extend the time food remains edible. Genetically modified food produce more food for the world. The development of genetically modified food help companies increase revenue. Genetically modified food can effectively solve the problems of third world hunger.

Reader Response 

We think that genetically modified food alone can solve the problem of hunger in poor nations. Genetically modified food(GM) is the fastest way to produce animals and plants with specific beneficial traits. This will definitely reduce hunger in poorer nations as they will be able to obtain food without worries. By having specific traits in certain plants or animals, consumers would have better nutritional value intake compared to those who does not. The article stated, 'many of the world's poorest countries have set up onerous regulations that prevent the growth and import of GM food and crops.' Regarding organizations who produce GM food, they are unable to export the food to the countries who rejects them. Many of which are countries such as Africa, who requires the GM food. We cannot be sure that GM food will definitely contribute to solving the problem of hunger in the poorest countries in the future. As of now, we believe that it does have the potential to do that. Mentioned in the article, 'No conclusive evidence was found that GM crops have so far offered solutions to the broader socioeconomic dilemmas faced by developing countries.' However, this is due to political issues, denying organizations the rights to deliver GM food to needy countries. Even so, as of current technology, we believe that GM food will indeed solve the problem of hunger in the poorer countries as it is a fast and easily accessible way as long as the other party is willing.

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 3: Can Genetically modified food feed the world? (Felicia Yee and Leandra 4B)

SUMMARY

There are many benefits of producing genetically modified food but one of the main ones is its ability to help alleviate world hunger. The growth of genetically modified food is the fastest growth segment in agriculture and much of the crops can be used for animal feed and biofuel, as well as feed the masses through processed foods sold in America and Asia. Genetically modified food are also cheaper to grow, increase yields and has a longer shelf life. The genetically modified traits make the plants and animals more resistant to disease, and can grow more robustly in different conditions, reducing costs and thus providing economic benefits to food producers that help companies rake in profits.

READER'S RESPONSE

No, I don't think genetically modified food alone can solve the problem of hunger in poor nations. In order to solve the problem of world hunger, it would require the engagement and cooperation from many countries and that might be too much to hope for. For example, one of the world's poorest countries, India, does not allow any genetically modified crops to be grown. Even though the regulators approved of the planting and sale of the crops, it was then rejected by the court with many general and emotional arguments that dominated the debate. The same thing has been happening in many other countries too like the Philippines and the bulk of sub-Saharan Africa. Without the cooperation of many countries to plant the genetically modified crops in their countries, the problem of hunger in those nations will continue on and all the benefits of genetically modified food would not be able to be enjoyed by the people in those countries. Also, most of the genetically modified crops such as corn, cotton, soy and wheat are large cash crops with the most potential for profits, and not relevant for the cultivation in poor nations. Instead, crops like cassava, sorghum and millet etc. would be more suitable to be grown in these poorer nations. Therefore, genetically modified food alone is not able to solve the problem of hunger in poor nations without their cooperation and engagement.

Assignment 3 Why kids care more about achievement than others (ZhengQian and Rizhao)

Summarise in 100 to 150 words, the reasons why children value achievement more
Summary: A new study conducted in the name of The Making Caring Common Project at Harvard's Graduate School of Education has shown results indicating that, out of 10,000 surveyed middle and high school students, almost 80 percent had ranked achievement or happiness over the caring of others. The prevalence of such a trend can be traced back to the rhetoric gap between the values that parents attempt to inculcate into their children, and the behaviour of parents themselves. However, studies have proven that empathy is the key to a child's increased levels of happiness and success, as it activates the moral reasoning and characteristics which the child needs to maintain satisfactory relationships with others. Also, as discerning and perspective creatures, children can easily identify the meaning that parents wish to convey through their behaviour. Therefore, parents should make the extra effort to help their children, be it through encouraging them to view the world from multiple perspectives, or making them pitch in to household chores, or doing meaningful deeds for others on a consistent basis.
Do young people in your society care more about achievement than helping others? If so, why do you think that is happening in your society and how do you think we can inculcate in them the importance of helping others?
Reader Response: The young people in my society seems to care more about achievement than helping others.Singapore is a meritocratic society. With the increasing acceptance of skilled foreign talents into our society, Singapore is becoming more competitive than ever in terms of jobs, social standing, salaries and work environment. Everybody aims for a high paying white collar job capable of promosing them a life of comfort, and the main criteria for such jobs is based upon one's achievements in life, as the notion that achievement is equivalent to one's capabilities is a widely regarded one. As such, despite claims made by parents that development of moral character is an essential part of their children's growth, when faced with the social pressures of our meritocratic society, it eventually boils down to the primary concept of one's achievement in life being of utmost importance. This is a result of the belief that one's achievement is reflective of one's capability, happiness, social standing, and it is merely the nature of parents to react in favour of achievement over empathy, as achievement being equivalent to one's success and comfort in life is the general consensus.  But as the studies in the articles have stated, empathy, and in general one's moral character, defines who you are and determines your standing and image in the eyes of the public. Generally, empathetic, morally upright individuals will receive the acceptance and respect of peers and those whom they have extended a helping hand to. Not only will they be welcomed with open arms in society, they will receive the feelings of gratitude from those whom they have helped, and feel a sense of joy and meaning, resulting in increased levels of happiness with life. Therefore, the development of empathy and character in children should be piroritised over pure achievement, as no amount of achievement can ever cover up for one's lack of principles and morals, and trouble is inevitable. Parents and teachers alike should encourage children to participate in more community involvement projects, as these provide learning opportunities for children regarding the plight others may faced, and in the process of helping them, they will gain a meaningful insight into lthe many woes of life and understand how they can contribute to other's life, and as a result understand the need to be more empathetic.

Junhan and Ryan assignment 2

Summary
It is normal for a teenager that is in secondary school to own a mobile phone as they go to school themselves and organise outings with their friends without their parent's help as well. The imperial college is studying the effect of mobile phones on a child's attention and memory span. It might seem that teenagers have their phones always by their side and using them constantly, which might seem like a bad thing, but mobile phones can help to give a person the ability to multitask, and gather information quickly, and also train their problem solving skills. Not only children nowadays are inseparable from their phones, adults also check their phones very often for important messages or calls, or simply to just play online games like their children.
Reader's response
Mobile phones are a necessity in the modern world, it help to connect people without much hassle. Imagine a world with no mobile phones, it would be much more difficult to meet up with friends and to know where they are at any time. However, mobile phone addiction is also becoming more and more common. Not only teenagers but also adults are forever looking down at their phones, whether they are doing work or playing games, it discourages interaction between people and will lead to this generation's children to lack social skills. On the other hand, mobile phones help to improve a person's decision making, as it provides the person with sufficient information that the person needs to decide on what action to take. Mobile phones also allow people to be contactable, in case there is an emergency and the person can be notified immediately.