Why Chemistry Matters from the mouths of Nobel Laureates!

Source: TED Fellows

Does the modern image of a scientist reflect or match that of a past image?  Here is a modern image shown below:

Source: Science

And here is an image taken from the 1950s shown below:

Source: ShutterStock

How do they differ?  How are they the same?  The reason why I ask these questions is that science in general (and society for that matter) has been locked in the gender rigid mindset in professional aspirations.  As a result, there are a lack of females in science as are there a lack of minorities.  This image presents one far different from that in the cover photo above - which is representative of today's society.


In presenting the wrong image of a scientist, the gap of diversity is narrowed and science (as a whole) suffers from the loss of potentially great contributors which is terrible to say the least.  In the changing world in which we live today, diversity and inclusiveness have a greater meaning in all fields.  Especially science.  As I have mentioned in an earlier post, all of us (people) start out at one point in our lives as "amateur scientist's".  The difference between then and now are those individuals who pursue a profession of creativity and curiosity which is unbound by traditional means.

Science is an open ended field of search and discovery of understanding the world around us.  As highlighted in the video below from the mouth's of Nobel Laureates, science is really made for anyone who chooses to pursue their curiosity and thirst for knowledge.  Contrary to popular thinking, there are many different fields in science -- which do not require - math or complex equations.  Here is a video which is not new but will drive home the point of 'why chemistry matters' in a collection of elegant short statements:

After watching the video above, I hope that you are inspired to think creatively and follow your curiosity to its limits.  This is one of the great joys of scientific research as a profession.  Many people have misconceptions about science - which is terrible.  I find that view to be 'self-limiting' and not useful.  Each of us should understand that the field of science as a profession is within our reach.  That is if we are willing to do the work to pursue that line of work as a profession.



 Although, even if a person chooses not to pursue science as a profession, this does not mean that science is not accessible to each.  Each of us could potentially have access to the world wide web - which is limitless in knowledge about the world around us.  The act of pursuing that knowledge resides in each of us.



Related Blog Posts:



How Do Scientists Think?


Science Topics, Thoughts, and Parameters Regarding Science, Politics, And The Environment!


Dimensional Analysis Of Statistics And Large Numbers - Index Of Blog Posts

What was the last book you read?

Source: MedicalXpress

Can you remember the name of the last book that you read recently?  Alright, how about the last book in 'hard copy' or 'soft copy' -- yes, a physical book?  Are those two answers different?  As the world seems to increasing move toward the digital world, so has our preferences to access data.  Which brings me to the point of this short blog post -- has the 'art of reading' been lost among us?



In my opinion, the answer is no.  Yes, more people are moving toward accessing books in digital form.  Although, I am open to being challenged on this assertion.  Recently, I ran across a TED talk from February of this year titled "The Dying Art of Reading Books" by Ms. Arrushi Agarwal with an introduction in the comments section shown below - which captivated my attention:

Research suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day perform better,  develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and an enhanced understanding of cultures. Reading for pleasure is a better indicator of whether a child does well at school rather than their social or economic background. In this age when multi media is encroaching our households and educational institutions and the number of avid readers is progressively getting endangered  Ms.Arushi Agarwal reminds us of the benefits and the joy of reading.

Ms.Arushi Agarwal is a student of Grade Eleven. She has a brilliant academic record and a well stocked personal library. Arrushi is a self professed bibliophile. Research suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures. In fact, reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background. In this age when multi media is encroaching our households and educational institutions and the number of avid readers is progressively getting endangered we have with us a young lady who will be reminding us of the importance and the art of reading. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Wow.  The pleasure of reading is a subjective experience.  Reading allows a person to explore places in the world which are unreachable.  As pointed out in the video below, each person creates their own version of the places, events, and occurrences as described by an author in a given book.  Which means that there are billions of creative (subjectively created by each person) which are entertained as a result of books which are published.  This is astonishing to consider.



Reading allows a person to familiarize or leave their comfort zone and explore another world.  The benefits of reading are numerous as pointed out in the excerpt above.  The joy of opening a book cannot be properly described in the written word.  A whole new world/dialogue is created when a person opens up a book.  Books speak to us in an unusual way.  Creativity and imagination is required to read a book.  These factors contribute to the benefits of reading. 



What is the last book that you read?  Feel free to leave the title and a short description in the comments below.  For those interested in watching the short presentation -- 6 1/2 minutes in length, the video is shown below:

When was the last time that you found yourself lost in a book?  Each of us should read a book of significant length and outside our natural comfort zone.  This experience 'kick starts' our imagination as pointed out by Ms. Arrushi Agarwal -- who has made quite a journey through reading in a short span.  I hope that you will be inspired by the post and the content of the post to pick up a book and dive into a whole new world for a while.  The effort is worth the journey.  Happy Father's Day!!



Related Blog Posts:


Science Topics, Thoughts, and Parameters Regarding Science, Politics, And The Environment!

What Promises Did President Trump Make Science Research During His Campaign?

In a post that predated last years election, I listed questions that were compiled by scientists which were sent out to politicians campaigning for the 2016 election for the Presidency.  Now that a candidate has been elected and assumed the office of the Presidency, I thought a review of the answers (and questions) which represented President Trump's view on funding science research is worth while.  Especially, since President Trump has already limited the ability of federal agencies to disseminate tax-payer dollar funded research last week.  I wrote a blog post regarding the executive decision to limit science during the first week.  Without further ado, lets review the questions and answers from scientists to President Trump prior to his assuming office.

Questions & Answers Regarding Science Research

I list below the questions that were sent to President Trump when he was a candidate running for office last year.  After each question, his response is listed.



Question #1



Science and engineering have been responsible for over half of the growth of the U.S. economy since WWII. But some reports question America’s continued leadership in these areas. What policies will best ensure that America remains at the forefront of innovation?

Answer #1

Innovation has always been one of the great by-products of free market systems.  Entrepreneurs have always found entries into markets by giving consumers more options for the products they desire.  The government should do all it can to reduce barriers to entry into markets and should work at creating a business environment where fair trade is as important as free trade.  Similarly, the federal government should encourage innovation in the areas of space exploration and investment in research and development across the broad landscape of academia.  Though there are increasing demands to curtail spending and to balance the federal budget, we must make the commitment to invest in science, engineering, healthcare and other areas that will make the lives of Americans better, safer and more prosperous. 

Question #2



Many scientific advances require long-term investment to fund research over a period of longer than the two, four, or six year terms that govern political cycles. In the current climate of budgetary constraints, what are your science and engineering research priorities and how will you balance short-term versus long-term funding?



Answer #2

The premise of this question is exactly correct—scientific advances do require long term investment.  This is why we must have programs such as a viable space program and institutional research that serve as incubators to innovation and the advancement of science and engineering in a number of fields.  We should also bring together stakeholders and examine what the priorities ought to be for the nation.  Conservation of resources and finding ways to feed the world beg our strong commitment as do dedicated investment in making the world a healthier place.  The nation is best served by a President and administration that have a vision for a greater, better America.  

Question #3



The Earth’s climate is changing and political discussion has become divided over both the science and the best response. What are your views on climate change, and how would your administration act on those views?



Answer #3

There is still much that needs to be investigated in the field of “climate change.”  Perhaps the best use of our limited financial resources should be in dealing with making sure that every person in the world has clean water.  Perhaps we should focus on eliminating lingering diseases around the world like malaria.  Perhaps we should focus on efforts to increase food production to keep pace with an ever-growing world population.  Perhaps we should be focused on developing energy sources and power production that alleviates the need for dependence on fossil fuels.  We must decide on how best to proceed so that we can make lives better, safer and more prosperous.

Question #4



Biological diversity provides food, fiber, medicines, clean water and many other products and services on which we depend every day. Scientists are finding that the variety and variability of life is diminishing at an alarming rate as a result of human activity. What steps will you take to protect biological diversity?



Answer #4

For too long, Presidents and the executive branch of our federal government have continued to expand their reach and impact.  Today, we have agencies filled with unelected officials who have been writing rules and regulations that cater to special interests and that undermine the foundational notion of our government that should be responsive to the people.  Our elected representatives have done little to uphold their oaths of office and have abrogated their responsibilities.  When these circumstances occur, there is an imbalance that rewards special interests and punishes the people who should benefit the most from the protection of species and habitat in the United States.  In a Trump administration, there will be shared governance of our public lands and we will empower state and local governments to protect our wildlife and fisheries.  Laws that tilt the scales toward special interests must be modified to balance the needs of society with the preservation of our valuable living resources.  My administration will strike that balance by bringing all stakeholders to the table to determine the best approach to seeking and setting that balance.

Question #5



The Internet has become a foundation of economic, social, law enforcement, and military activity. What steps will you take to protect vulnerable infrastructure and institutions from cyber attack, and to provide for national security while protecting personal privacy on electronic devices and the internet?



Answer #5

The United States government should not spy on its own citizens.  That will not happen in a Trump administration.  As for protecting the Internet, any attack on the Internet should be considered a provocative act that requires the utmost in protection and, at a minimum, a proportional response that identifies and then eliminates threats to our Internet infrastructure. 

Question #6



Mental illness is among the most painful and stigmatized diseases, and the National Institute of Mental Health estimates it costs America more than $300 billion per year. What will you do to reduce the human and economic costs of mental illness?



Answer #6

This is one of the great unfolding tragedies in America today.  States are reducing their commitments to mental health treatment and our jails are filled with those who need mental health care.  Any mental health reforms must be included in our efforts to reform healthcare in general in the country.  We must make the investment in treating our fellow citizens who suffer from severe mental illness.  This includes making sure that we allow family members to be more involved in the total care of those who are severely mentally ill.  We must ensure that the national government provides the support to state and local governments to bring mental health care to the people at the local level.  This entire field of interest must be examined and a comprehensive solution set must be developed so that we can keep people safe and productive.

Question #7



Strategic management of the US energy portfolio can have powerful economic, environmental, and foreign policy impacts. How do you see the energy landscape evolving over the next 4 to 8 years, and, as President, what will your energy strategy be?



Answer#7

It should be the goal of the American people and their government to achieve energy independence as soon as possible.  Energy independence means exploring and developing every possible energy source including wind, solar, nuclear and bio-fuels.  A thriving market system will allow consumers to determine the best sources of energy for future consumption.  Further, with the United States, Canada and Mexico as the key energy producers in the world, we will live in a safer, more productive and more prosperous world.

Question #8



American students have fallen in many international rankings of science and math performance, and the public in general is being faced with an expanding array of major policy challenges that are heavily influenced by complex science. How would your administration work to ensure all students including women and minorities are prepared to address 21st century challenges and, further, that the public has an adequate level of STEM literacy in an age dominated by complex science and technology?



Answer #8

There are a host of STEM programs already in existence.  What the federal government should do is to make sure that educational opportunities are available for everyone.  This means we must allow market influences to bring better, higher quality educational circumstances to more children.  Our cities are a case-study in what not to do in that we do not have choice options for those who need access to better educational situations.  Our top-down-one-size-fits-all approach to education is failing and is actually damaging educational outcomes for our children.  If we are serious about changing the direction of our educational standing, we must change our educational models and allow the greatest possible number of options for educating our children.  The management of our public education institutions should be done at the state and local level, not at the Department of Education.  Until more choices are provided in our cities, those who tout their concern about educational outcomes cannot be taken seriously.

Question #9



Public health efforts like smoking cessation, drunk driving laws, vaccination, and water fluoridation have improved health and productivity and save millions of lives. How would you improve federal research and our public health system to better protect Americans from emerging diseases and other public health threats, such as antibiotic resistant superbugs?

Answer #9

The implication of the question is that one must provide more resources to research and public health enterprises to make sure we stay ahead of potential health risks.  In a time of limited resources, one must ensure that the nation is getting the greatest bang for the buck.  We cannot simply throw money at these institutions and assume that the nation will be well served.  What we ought to focus on is assessing where we need to be as a nation and then applying resources to those areas where we need the most work.  Our efforts to support research and public health initiatives will have to be balanced with other demands for scarce resources.  Working with Congress—the people’s representatives—my administration will work to establish national priorities and then we will work to make sure that adequate resources are assigned to achieve our goals.

Question #10



The long-term security of fresh water supplies is threatened by a dizzying array of aging infrastructure, aquifer depletion, pollution, and climate variability. Some American communities have lost access to water, affecting their viability and destroying home values.  If you are elected, what steps will you take to ensure access to clean water for all Americans?



Answer #10

This may be the most important issue we face as a nation for the next generation.  Therefore, we must make the investment in our fresh water infrastructure to ensure access to affordable fresh water solutions for everyone.  We must explore all options to include making desalinization more affordable and working to build the distribution infrastructure to bring this scarce resource to where it is needed for our citizens and those who produce the food of the world.  This must be a top priority for my administration.

Question #11



Nuclear power can meet electricity demand without producing greenhouse gases, but it raises national security and environmental concerns. What is your plan for the use, expansion, or phasing out of nuclear power, and what steps will you take to monitor, manage and secure nuclear materials over their life cycle?



Answer #11

Nuclear power is a valuable source of energy and should be part of an all-the-above program for providing power for America long into the future.  We can make nuclear power safer, and its outputs are extraordinary given the investment we should make.  Nuclear power must be an integral part of energy independence for America.

Question #12



Agriculture involves a complex balance of land and energy use, worker health and safety, water use and quality, and access to healthy and affordable food, all of which have inputs of objective knowledge from science. How would you manage the US agricultural enterprise to our highest benefit in the most sustainable way?



Answer #12

The implication of your question is that there should be central control of American agriculture by the federal government.  That is totally inappropriate.  The agriculture industry should be free to seek its best solutions through the market system.  That said, the production of food is a national security issue and should receive the attention of the federal government when it comes to providing security for our farmers and ranchers against losses to nature.

Question #13



We now live in a global economy with a large and growing human population. These factors create economic, public health, and environmental challenges that do not respect national borders. How would your administration balance national interests with global cooperation when tackling threats made clear by science, such as pandemic diseases and climate change, that cross national borders?



Answer #13

Our best input to helping with global issues is to make sure that the United States is on the proper trajectory economically.  For the past decade we have seen Gross Domestic Product growth that has not provided adequate resources to fix our infrastructure, recapitalize our military, invest in our education system or secure energy independence.   We cannot take our place as world leader if we are not healthy enough to take care of ourselves.  This means we must make sure that we achieve our goals in tax reform, trade reform, immigration reform and energy independence.  A prosperous America is a much better partner in tackling global problems that affect this nation achieving its national objectives. 

Question #14



Science is essential to many of the laws and policies that keep Americans safe and secure. How would science inform your administration's decisions to add, modify, or remove federal regulations, and how would you encourage a thriving business sector while protecting Americans vulnerable to public health and environmental threats?



Answer #14

This is about balance.  We must balance a thriving economy with conserving our resources and protecting our citizens from threats.  Science will inform our decisions on what regulations to keep, rescind or add. A vibrant, robust free market system will regulate the private sector.

Question #15




Public health officials warn that we need to take more steps to prevent international epidemics from viruses such as Ebola and Zika. Meanwhile, measles is resurgent due to decreasing vaccination rates. How will your administration support vaccine science?



Answer #15

We should educate the public on the values of a comprehensive vaccination program.  We have been successful with other public service programs and this seems to be of enough importance that we should put resources against this task.

Question #16




There is a political debate over America’s national approach to space exploration and use. What should America's national goals be for space exploration and earth observation from space, and what steps would your administration take to achieve them?



Answer #16

Space exploration has given so much to America, including tremendous pride in our scientific and engineering prowess.  A strong space program will encourage our children to seek STEM educational outcomes and will bring millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in investment to this country.  The cascading effects of a vibrant space program are legion and can have a positive, constructive impact on the pride and direction of this country.  Observation from space and exploring beyond our own space neighborhood should be priorities.  We should also seek global partners, because space is not the sole property of America.  All humankind benefits from reaching into the stars.

Question #17



There is a growing opioid problem in the United States, with tragic costs to lives, families and society. How would your administration enlist researchers, medical doctors and pharmaceutical companies in addressing this issue?



Answer #17

We first should stop the inflow of opioids into the United States.  We can do that and we will in the Trump administration.  As this is a national problem that costs America billions of dollars in productivity, we should apply the resources necessary to mitigate this problem.  Dollars invested in taking care of this problem will be more than paid for with recovered lives and productivity that adds to the wealth and health of the nation.

Question #18



There is growing concern over the decline of fisheries and the overall health of the ocean: scientists estimate that 90% of stocks are fished at or beyond sustainable limits, habitats like coral reefs are threatened by ocean acidification, and large areas of ocean and coastlines are polluted. What efforts would your administration make to improve the health of our ocean and coastlines and increase the long-term sustainability of ocean fisheries?



Answer #18

My administration will work with Congress to establish priorities for our government and how we will allocate our limited fiscal resources.  This approach will assure that the people’s voices will be heard on this topic and others.

Question #19



There is much current political discussion about immigration policy and border controls. Would you support any changes in immigration policy regarding scientists and engineers who receive their graduate degree at an American university? Conversely, what is your opinion of recent controversy over employment and the H1-B Visa program?



Answer #19

Immigration has been one of the cornerstones of my campaign.  The issues brought up in your question are exactly what we should be addressing in immigration reform.  If we allow individuals in this country legally to get their educations, we should let them stay if they want to contribute to our economy.  It makes no sense to kick them out of the country right after they achieve such extraordinary goals.  As for the H1-B program, we cannot allow companies to abuse this system.  When we have American citizens and those living in the United States legally being pushed out of high paying jobs so that they can be replaced with “cheaper” labor, something is wrong.  The H1-B system should be employed only when jobs cannot be filled with qualified Americans and legal residents.

Question #20



Evidence from science is the surest basis for fair and just public policy, but that is predicated on the integrity of that evidence and of the scientific process used to produce it, which must be both transparent and free from political bias and pressure. How will you foster a culture of scientific transparency and accountability in government, while protecting scientists and federal agencies from political interference in their work?



Answer #20

Science is science and facts are facts.  My administration will ensure that there will be total transparency and accountability without political bias.  The American people deserve this and I will make sure this is the culture of my administration.

Conclusion...

As you can see the range of questions above covers all of the major threats to our society.  From vaccinations through current epidemics to the development of renewable energy to reduce our impact on the climate today.  The above questions and answers were provided by the website "ScienceDebate.org" to ensure that the incoming administration ensured that science was of the upmost importance.



In the weeks to years to come, we will look back on the questions and answers to hold President Trump accountable to the promises he made while running for office.  Science plays a part in every facet of this universe.  We should not forget that or forget to fund the vital research which makes our world a better place.



Unfortunately, already, we have seen in the first couple of weeks a break with the answers above regarding immigration -- which is completely disappointing.  Although, according to some, that is not unusual given his demeanor.  The outcome of which is undetermined and potentially dangerous.  Coming up here soon, I will write a piece on this exact observation.





Until next time, Have a great day!

Blog Post -- Year In Review -- 2016!!

Well, it appears that the New Year of 2017 is upon us.  Since that is the case, I thought that a look back at the first full year of "Mike Thinks Blog" would be useful to those readers just joining us.  The adventure on the blog is multifaceted in theory:


1) Deal with large numbers reported in the popular news which are easily overlooked.


2) Untangle difficult concepts in science which are unfolding as research is being performed.


3) Demystify the life of a scientist.



Pretty simple right?



In the paragraphs below, I discuss how the blog posts on the site over the last year relate to or are categorized under the three categories above.  Click on any of the highlighted words (or underlined text) to access the original posts.  Enjoy!

2016 Here We Come!

About this time last year (in December), I had just returned from celebrating Christmas with my family.  As I mentioned in a recent post on rainfall, I was celebrating Christmas and heard of a large volume which remained in my mind for a few days to simmer.  I had been contemplating writing on a blog site -- since the current blog site that I had been writing for was recently shut down.



Anyways, the statistic that I heard was that Lake Tahoe had received a terrible storm which dropped a large amount of snow (great for skiers).  The rainfall totaled 65 billion gallons of rainfall?   Upon hearing this, I was taken back.  In fact, for the remainder of the vacation -- in the back of my mind was the number 65 billion gallons of rain.



While this number stuck in the back of my head, I read in the news that a village in Brazil experienced a large volume of 'mine waste water' from a reservoir and decided to look into the accident.  I am always astounded that regulators allow large corporations to put villages or surrounding regions in jeopardy while building up tremendous volumes of waste water.  Of course, the result of 'not regulating' properly is floods and contaminated drinking and bathing water. The total amount of waste water spilled turned out to be 15.9 billion gallons of waste water which is equivalent to 78 Deepwater Horizon Oil spills!!!!!!  WOW!!!   Looking at the number reported -- 15.9 billion gallons of waste water begs the following question:




How does one caste the enormous number into perspective?



A large part of being a scientist is deconstructing numbers and statements in comparison to what is known about the world (through science).  The deconstruction process usually involves 'dimensional analysis'.  Dimensional analysis allows us to take a number like 15.9 billion gallons and put that number into perspective.  How?



The Deepwater Horizon Oil spill which dumped nearly 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico can serve as a metric by which to compare other large volume spills.  A metric serve to put the value or magnitude of a given number into perspective.  Of course, one can easily choose a metric which is too large or too small.  In that event, performing dimensional analysis with either of these metrics return an answer which is still confusing.



Additionally, ensuring the 'units' of measurement are all uniform in a given analysis is extremely important.  In the spring time of this year, I clarified the need to use proper 'units of measurement's (in a blog post) in carrying out a dimensional analysis problem.  These points beg a further question:



Why would we want to understand the enormous numbers reported?



The main reason is to have the ability to understand the magnitude of the volume which is correlated with the tremendous damage that can be done to a geographic area.  Over the course of the year, unexpected rainfall has occurred in the following regions which I have written blog posts with dimensional analysis included:(1) China, (2) Elliot City, (3) Huauchinango, (4) Macedonia, (5) Louisiana  (6) Haiti (Hurricane Matthew), (7) East Coast, USA (Hurricane Matthew).



This rainfall series started off with initial post regarding a few inches of rain from the 65 billion gallon statistic that I heard last year.  Although, the tremendous amount of rainfall this year from varying storms is worrisome despite what non-scientists think.  Recently, a report of rain in Northern California area stated that one region received 55 billion gallons over the course of the rain season this year.  Just think, these numbers might seem insignificant to you (the reader) had I not carried out dimensional analysis to make the numbers have meaning.  This is how the year started off and carried on for natural disasters.



What about man-made disasters?

Man-Made Disasters?

The storm season of 2016 was unprecedented to say the least.  Rainfall hit enormous numbers in known and unknown parts of the world.  The culprit is still unknown.  Science is heavily skewed toward climate change.  Although skeptics exist and are in powerful positions.  Chances are that the same skeptics are proponents of 'man-made disasters' too -- which 2016 brought on plenty of.


On this blog site, stories started to emerge following the devastating release of huge amounts of methane gas in a storage facility in Southern California.  The Aliso Canyon Gas Storage facility with its 114 gas wells serves as the largest reservoir in California.  Therefore, when a well was found to be leaking, unknown amounts leaked out -- in the beginning.  I wrote a first blog post when I read about the enormous amount of gas being stored underneath ground -- 87 billion cubic feet of natural gas was stored at the facility.  WOW!!



By carrying out dimensional analysis, the amount of 87 billion cubic feet of natural gas amounts to roughly filling 2351 Empire State Buildings or 696 Super Domes.  These numbers are hard to grasp.  Further, the length of the line that tapped into the well underground was equivalent to stacking 5 Empire State Buildings on top of one another.  Oh My.  Try to find a leak in that line.



As time moved on -- roughly a month, new figures started to emerge which was cause for further concern.  Turns out, that there is an additional 82 billion cubic feet of "cushion gas" down there to provide pressure to extract the gas.  I wrote a blog post that detailed the correspondence between a reporter and myself regarding this "cushion gas".  Further, the average daily magnitude of released methane was explored too by myself -- here.



The major take home was that different figures emerged and incomprehensible numbers were thrown around in hope of the public glossing over such a terrible disaster.  Luckily, a few advocates have stuck with the pressing issue and the storage facility remains closed until all wells have been inspected.



Moving onto other disasters that were caused by 'man-made' feats to improve our quality of life.  Earlier in the year, I was amazed to learn that underneath Los Angeles (California, USA) are nearly 5000 oil wells.  Los Angeles was literally built on top of oil -- as I write about here.  Of course, the amount of oil produced in Los Angeles on an annual basis is nearly zero compared to the global daily demand of oil -- of which I was surprised to read and write about.  94 million barrels of oil is required on a daily basis to drive our world.  This might not seem like a lot in thinking about the daily demand of the entire world.



Although, when you experience the 'fall-out' of such demand, you might think twice.



What do I mean by this?



Earlier this year, I took my wife to a beach (Venice Beach) in California.  I grew up here.  I was disappointed to see that the water had been growing tainted with 'tar-balls'.  With the Dakota pipeline in the news recently with the Sioux Indian Tribe protesting the expansion, the following questions emerges:



1)Does Oil Demand Restrict The Amount Of Safety Regulation On Big Oil Companies?


2)What Technology Is Being Installed By 'Energy Transfer' To Prevent An Oil Spill?



In the future, these will be issues which we need to face as a world.  I offered a few solutions in a blog post about bringing jobs back to America by promoting renewable energy.  We will have to wait and see how that plays out with the new President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration and policy making.  During the course of the month of November, I covered science policy issues in the following blog posts:



1) 20 Questions Politicians Answer Regarding Science Issues


2) READ THIS BEFORE VOTING -- Presidential Science (WORLD) Issues!


3) What Do The Election Results Have To Do With Veterans Day?


4) Free Speech Is The Least Of President-Elect Trump's Problems Ahead



The future will be fascinating depending on how the President-elect decides to treat science and fund renewable energy.  Especially, with the fact that such a large amount of top CEO's like Bill Gates and Sir Richard Branson are motivating a move toward a renewable energy based market with an environmentally friendlier footprint.  This is not to say that our Nation is still not heavily dependent on oil.  Our foreign policy is heavily influenced by the dependence on oil.



Over the course of the year, we learned from the popular news that these 'man-made disasters' are not restricted to the United States soil.  In fact, there were a number of disasters that were not reported or I could not cover -- yes, I am only one person writing.  This does not mean that we as a Nation are not affected nor need to ignore potential threats to us.  Furthermore, our Nations foreign policy is affected by disasters.



For instance, earlier this year a news article surfaced which stated that if the Mosul dam in Iraq was taken over by ISIS, a flood could occur which would drown the city of Mosul in 65 feet (depth) of water.  The result of my calculations was that 65 feet would be the depth if the dam was filled only 66%.  Therefore, if the Mosul dam is filled higher, then more damage would result.  Just this week, another story about the dangers of the Mosul dam appeared in an article in 'The New Yorker' titled "A Bigger Problem Than ISIS?".  As you can see, understanding the magnitude of the problem can help you understand the problem at hand.



Furthermore, the amount of oil that is underneath the ground in countries like Iraq along with our presence (military and civilian) reinforces that dependence.  According to an assessment on one of my blog's is that the amount of oil underneath Iraq is around 140 billion barrels -- which is enough to meet the global daily oil demand for 4 years!!!



That is it - 4 years worth?



What happens after that?



The answer should involve building upon renewable energy technologies and investing in clean energy.  This is where science and technology companies can step in and offer help.

Scientists Are Human?

Yes, believe it or not, scientists are human.  One motivation of this blog is to demystify science/life of a scientist.  In order to move toward more highly skilled labor jobs, science and technology industries and universities will have to step up and highlight the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).  Furthermore, we must motivate minorities and women to engage in pursuing science degrees.  Science knows no race or gender or wealth disparity.  Any bright mind can contribute to science.  In order to accomplish this, the life of scientists must be demystified -- i.e., made human.



Early in the year, I posted a blog post from 2014.  The topic was the lack of elevation of STEM.  In the particular case, the White House Science day celebration story ran on page A14.  Why not put the story front page?  If we want people to pay attention to the importance of science, then the story and importance of the story should be front page with a huge picture.  Science is actually fun.  Despite the popular images on television which are fictional -- of a scientist in her/his lab researching all alone and serious.  At the same time, science is competitive and can seem at times 'cut throat' in nature.



This raises another desperate need in science.  To bring back the joy and fun in science.  In January, I got a chance to be a science judge at an elementary school.  I was quite surprised that the level of sophistication of the projects was matched with an adult.  We need to remember to let children be children and perform science projects that match their skill level -- which I wrote about here.  Subjecting children to science projects that are more difficult than their skill level could result in the child either not being interested in science or believing that they are performing science with their parents -- i.e., through someone else's action not your own.



The importance of working hard by solving problems in science cannot be stressed.  In chemistry, solving problems is critical to developing reasoning that is needed to grasp abstract concepts.  Part of this work might be done in isolation.  Other parts might be done in a group (tutor or group) study.  The ironic aspect of science is that hard work and reasoning will get you 99% there.  Being able to perform dimensional analysis is critical to casting large numbers into perspective.  I wrote a blog about estimating the amount of paint required to cover a movie screen.  One can easily extend this analysis to a real situation -- painting your house.  Further, working to educate others is critical too.  Helping other students reinforces the science analysis to a large degree -- which I write about here.



Blogging on this site has given me the chance to show others how to set up an approximation to solve a problem.  The answer could be far off, but the methodology is critical toward reaching a better solution which approximates the true situation.  Even if you (the reader) do not go into science as a profession, the opportunity still exists that a person can grasp a great part of science and contribute to science as a citizen -- citizen scientist which I highlight here.



As a scientist, I have my own reasons why science has captured my interest.  So much of an interest, that I chose to have a professional career in science.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was a scientist in the making from around the high school time frame.  I believe that every person interested in chemistry (or science more broadly) should pursue a career in it -- regardless of obstacles.  If you identify with the type of thinking displayed in this blog post, then definitely pursue chemistry.  Do you think like a chemist?  Cook some spaghetti and tell me if so (another blog post).



Scientists play a crucial role in society.  Scientist create drugs for the treatment and prevention of diseases.  Your taxpayer money funds research and development in a vast array of areas of science.  Science plays a critical role in advancing technology.  Just look at the works of Elon Musk and his pursuit to space from a commercial standpoint.  The results of such pursuits trickle down into autonomous vehicles -- which I highlight here.  Further, the CEO's of these large corporations have the ability to move science forward by providing 'private funding' -- which is very greatly needed and discussed here.



The most important role that scientists play in society is to motivate others through energizing the public about science.  In a recent blog post, I discuss the need for outreach by scientists is critical.  Get out of the lab and teach others about what you are doing and why your research is important.  Explain and demystify science while encouraging politicians and the public at large the need for research into climate change, drug research, space research, along with other areas.  Understanding science is critical toward conducting ourselves appropriately toward saving the planet (environment).  Having a public that is educated in science can help the public understand the greatest threats to our existence.



For instance, earlier this year I wrote a blog post about the nuclear weapon testing of North Korea.  These tests have real implications toward our destruction.  I used dimensional analysis to put the enormous amount of energy into perspective.  A couple of months later, I used a different parameter (force) to put the force of a nuclear weapon into perspective.  Recent calls by an incoming administration for an upgraded nuclear arsenal are feared (and rightly so) for good reason.  Nuclear weapons contain an enormous amount of energy which is nothing to mess around with.  Read the blogs to see if I am joking around.



That is one end of the extreme of science research.  The other is concerned with small end of the spectrum.  Viewing the world that is invisible to the naked eye is truly amazing and worth reading about.  In the middle of the spectrum lie issues that are more easily graspable.  For instance, living in California, each resident is aware of an ongoing 'drought'.  This begs the questions:



1) Where does the water come from?


2) How much water do California residents use?



Reading the two blogs highlighted in the above questions definitely sheds light onto the ongoing water problem.  Readers of this blog will know that the same amount of water used by the average Bel Air resident is equivalent to the amount of water needed to nourish 1,600 cattle.  Dimensional analysis is a powerful tool.  This is just one of the many examples on this site.



Science can further be of assistance in demystifying health issues too -- as most of us know.  Two big issues that plague the world are diseases that can be prevented and treated with medicine available on the market.  And secondly, diseases that arise out of bad habits like smoking, drinking, obesity, etc.  I recently wrote about the cost of prescription medications and how the cost could be decreased.  The process needs to be optimized in order to reduce overall cost.




Regarding lifestyle choices like smoking and drinking along with obesity.  Science can reveal a tremendous amount.  Although the research results are often controversial in the public eye.  Take for instance, the continuing rise of 'electronic cigarettes' or 'e-cigarettes.'  Many proponents of the new technology are pushing the product as a new method by which to stop traditional smoking of combustible paper and tobacco.  Science has a tremendous amount to say already about the hidden dangers.



First, trading off the combustion of paper and tobacco for the 'vaporization of liquid tobacco' might seem less troublesome on the body.  Although, as we have seen in the news over the last few years, the rise in use of e-liquids on the market has presented difficulties.  I highlight some associated with the unknown quantities of tobacco contained in a jar of e-liquid here.  This post along with a different post discussing the dangers associated with the mechanical operation of the e-cigarette device were reprints from a previous blog site that I blogged on.  At this point, you might be tempted to think that science is out of date on the issue of e-cigarettes.  Not so.  Stay tuned in a future blog on the chemistry of the smoke based on recent research that has just emerged.  e-cigarettes are dangerous just like any tobacco product. The question is the degree of the danger.  Science will have more to say in the near future.  Stay tuned!



Science is great, yet requires dedication and hard work to achieve.  A large amount of people with whom I speak on a daily basis have wild ideas about what scientists do and think. One overarching motivation of this blog is to demystify this idea.  Here are a few more blog posts throughout the year that caught my attention to write about:



1) Does a Golf Ball have more than one shape (round)?


2) How Many Smells Can Humans Differentiate Between?

3) What do a coffee coupon and an outfit have in common? A Feeling!


4) Who Sells Sea Water? Who Buys Sea Water?


5) Where Is That UPS Package?


6) Humans Affinity For Junk Food Rubs Off On Bird Population


7) Active Transportation Implies That Every Bicycle Trip Is Considered "Commuting"!


8) Gender Neutral Restrooms Should Not Include "Urinals"


9) Are The Elements Hydrogen And Helium "Of This World"?


10) Why Do People Fly Drones Into "Restricted Air Space"?


11) What Is Holding You Back From Achieving Your Potential?


12) How Much Weight Can 54 Billion Cubic Feet Of Helium Lift?


13) Can A Broken Sewer Line 20 Miles Away Close The Beach?


14) 'Wayfinding' Signs Are For Everyone Not Just Tourists!


15) How Many Square Feet Would Be Required To House All Homeless Residents in Los Angeles County?


16) After Reading This, You Might Want To Drink Breast Milk


17) How Does The Weight Of A Floating Oil Rig Compare To The Eiffel Tower?


18) Technology Allows Chemists To View Chemical Reactions 


19) Humor Series #1: We Live In A World Where ...


20) Why Is There Another Oil Spill?


21) An Alternative Way To Tour A City — By Your Nose!


22) How Deep Is One Of The World's Largest Wave Tanks?


23) Unraveling The Resistance Of Antibiotics!


24) What Is The World Going To Be Like With Autonomous (Self Driving) Cars?


25) Using Scavenger Hunts To Solve Real World Problems?


26) Why Did Pfc. Chelsea Manning Divulge Classified Information?


27) What Happened To Being Yourself Instead Of Ivanka Trump?


28) Why Doesn't Pre-Regulation Of Consumer Products Exist?


29) Is Disease Or Treatment Different In Women?


30) The NFL Is Collecting Big Data?


31) How Much Would The Sun Weigh If Filled With Water?


32) International Students Make American Science Stronger


33) How Much Water Is 55 Billion Gallons Of Rainfall?


34) How Do LED Christmas Lights Work?


35) Own Your Failure, Do Not Blame Your Teachers



The blog posts just numbered are posts that were based on articles that stood out and did not necessarily have any outrageous number or statistic cited.  Science is a wide subject that touches every aspect of our lives.  If you do not believe me, read (or click) on any of the underlined or hyperlinked text above and read to find out if I am wrong.

Conclusion...

The year of 2016 has been a very active year for scientists who write about current issues.  There have been too many disasters that have occurred.  In the year to come, President-elect will make decisions that have a global impact.  I will try to highlight the science behind such decisions.  Of course, I cannot get to every article or issue.  Given the news already, there is inevitably going to be news worthy of analyzing by the method of dimensional analysis to come.



Remember that the overarching theme of this blog is to write through the eyes of a scientist.  If at any time, you have a topic that you would like me to explore, just write the topic in the comment section.  Science is truly amazing and worth exploring.  I hope that I have given you a rough idea about the profession of a scientist.  Additionally, I hope that by reading the blog posts on this site, you (the reader) has gained a little more insight into the importance of science on society and the world at large.



I will be on vacation the next week.  I look forward to returning in the new year (late next week) to release more interesting articles.



Until next time, Have a great day and Happy New Year!!!!!

International Students Make American Science Stronger

I was reading last weeks editorial from the journal of 'Science' -- a prestigious science journal very widely respected by the entire world science community.  The editorial titled "Life For Refugees Scholars" detailed the emerging problem of refugee scientists leaving battle zones such as Syria.  What caught my attention was the closing paragraph shown below:

Displaced scholars, whether refugees or in exile, need the support of institutions large and small, in countries large and small, to break through the barriers that prevent them from academic engagement and employment—fears that they will take jobs away, require more help than they give, or not make the transition to teaching students in the host country. In succumbing to this backlash, we forget that the world's great universities became great because they welcomed refugees, exiles, and thinkers in distress. With support from the international academic community, threatened scholars and scientists can be saved. Let us all ensure that academic training is not wasted, knowledge for present and future generations is preserved, and that the next Albert Einstein or Felix Bloch is not lost in the painful currents of forced emigration.

In the paragraphs below, I would like to briefly discuss the benefits of having international students here in America to elevate science in the United States.

Graduate School in the United States

Upon entering graduate school in the United States two observations became very apparent to me:



1) The graduate class is small compared to an incoming freshman class at the undergraduate level.


2) Foreign students make up a sizable portion of the class



The first remark is based on the observation that one encounters when entering a graduate school class in the physical sciences.  This could be the case, since compared to say a graduate law or graduate medicine class, the research class is rather small.  Although, when you consider the available position (research laboratory positions available), then the class size makes sense.



Given that the class size is small, the second observation was rather surprising to me at first.  When I entered graduate school at University of California at Riverside, the total class size was around 15 students.  At least 50% of the class was made up of international students.  I did not understand the reason at first.  As I will explain, the reason became apparent in my second quarter of class near the end of my first year in graduate school.



Classes and Exams!



Part of every class was an exam component.  Educational institutions still use the written exam as a critical measure of learning success.  Although, after leaving graduate school, UCR was in the process of changing around the steps (tests -- written and oral) which made up a 'graduate degree' from the department -- which was surprising.



During the first year of a Ph.D. program, the major component of the graduate educational process is to take all required classes for the degree.  The remainder of the time spent in graduate school will be devoted to research and giving updates on your research project.  Upon hearing this, students are usually quite amazed and happy.  The thought of only taking around 6 classes for your Ph.D. -- is exciting.



With that being said, the classes are different from undergraduate courses.  The material is slightly different in the treatment of problems.  Fundamentally, in chemistry, one would start to explore more difficult aspects of the same problems encountered in the undergraduate education process.



How is that possible?



Take for example, the assumption of an "ideal gas" which is grounded in two basic assumptions:


1) The atoms are treated as point particles


2) The point particles do not interact with each other



These two assumptions simplify the types of chemistry problems that can be entertained.  Based on the two assumptions, atoms or molecules will be treated as independent entities and not interact with each other.  When the break down of the assumptions occur, the incorporation of math becomes more prominent in the problem solution.  More math -- oh no!



Math is not a problem generally speaking.  But not all chemists are going to enter a field of research that requires a heavy math background.  This is a point of debate for a later post.



At the point you might be wondering why I am talking about this?



What happened to international students?



Well, during classes, a student from the United States cannot help but notice that the international students are able to solve problems rather easily.  A common assumption is that they are trained in math better than students in the United States.  This might or might not be true -- again, a point for debate for a later post.  What is true about their presence is that "political rules" have been put into place to accept the student into the United States graduate education programs.


One is that the student must have already completed the equivalent of a "Master's Degree" from their country or origin.


The above requirement turns out to benefit a United States student to a large extent in the long run.  Even though, in the short run, this is counter-intuitive to the feeling a person gets when competing with an international student.  Let me explain below.

International Students Inspire U.S. Students

As I mentioned above, each international student entering the United States for graduate education has the equivalent of a "Master's Degree" from their country of origin.  Note: what this means overall is that the courses that every American graduate student takes in graduate school have already been completed by each international graduate student.  The comparison would be for be for a student to take the same course twice -- have two times to complete a course.  Of course, during the second time around your grade should increase.



I learned this fact from taking a class in "thermodynamics" in graduate school.  In the class, which was considered large, there were 6 students total.  Normally, a graduate course might have 4 students or maybe 5.  Six or above is considered very large.



Therefore, the classes in graduate school are intimate and like a "meeting" rather than a traditional lecture.  Nonetheless, the classes are still classes in which a professor lectures and students learn through listening and then completing assignments.  My thermodynamics course was no different.  What amazed me at the time were the scoring of the international students on a given exam.



The students would score very high on the exam -- perfect or "nearly perfect" -- meaning like 98/100.  If there was extra credit offered, the students would score on the order of 110/100.  Imagine, what the American students (myself) were feeling comparing ourselves to these students.  Plus, the grades were on a "curve" which meant, we would be graded against these students -- Oh My!



On the first couple of exams, we felt disappointed scoring 85/100, 90/100, 95/100.  While the international students were scoring: 98/100, 100/100, 105/100.  When the last midterm exam came in our class, the professor stated the following to the class:

Tomorrow's test will be extremely difficult.  I want to see if the international students can still score in the high 90's.  Therefore, I will be writing the test for them.  For the American students, take the exam and try your best.

What?



What is the meaning of the statements emerging from his mouth?



Has he lost his mind?



The tests are already difficult.  Needless to say, we showed up the next day and took the exam.  I scored in the 70's.  I was not the best student to say the least.  Furthermore, I am not a great test taker.  As the professor explained to me later in my graduate career -- he said:

Mike, if the point of the class was to turn in great homework assignments, you would score perfectly. Your homework scores are great -- given the time to think and solve the work.  But unfortunately, life is not always about homework.  Sometimes, tests are needed too.

I will never forget him telling me this.  We were right outside the chemistry building.  He went onto to explain that the feeling of 'feeling not good enough' should either be put aside or dealt with.  Further, he suggested that if I felt overwhelmed, I could always drop out of graduate school and get a job earning pretty good money.  But, he also stated a theme that I have heard time and time again during my education by other professors -- which inspires me to move forward regardless of the 'local feeling' that I might be harboring.

My observation has been that you like being in school and thinking critically about chemistry.  And that if you were to drop out of school, you might find yourself bored without being challenged.  Further, in the current situation, you might want to understand why the University of California system accepts international students at all. 

International students are required to have an equivalent of a "Master's Degree" from their country of origin.  And the process of accepting graduate students is to choose the highest quality of student.  The reason why?  Because, we want to challenge you (American students) to achieve greater than what you would do had they not been in the class. 

If the international students were not in the current class, then the best student would be considered the best and the remainder of you would write them off (he is just really good at math).  But with international students present and kicking ass on the exams, you guys are really pushing yourselves to out do them on the exams and homework assignments.  This produces a better American graduate student in our experience.

After hearing the above statement, I felt changed.  First, I started to understand that bringing in international students to the university should not be viewed as a 'threat' but a challenge.  In the sense, to improve the science that American students do.  Second, immersing yourself in the study of science problems in research has changed over the years.  Let me explain.



In the past, the image of a scientist was one of a single researcher in a laboratory performing research quietly and thinking methodically.  That image has changed over the past few decades to be one of a 'research group'.  For those people who are not interested in science, the image that is preserved is the former image.  Therefore, when a funding issue arises, the thought of giving money to a 'single researcher' is questioned.



The fact of the matter is that science is performed by a 'research group' made up of a diverse amount of scientists.  The size of the group can vary from 4 people (3 graduate students + 1 professor) to 60 people (35 graduate students + 20 post doctoral fellows + 4 professional research staff + 1 professor).  Yes, large research groups exist like this.  Look no further than Professor George Whitesides of Harvard Chemistry Department.  His research group is enormous.  Of course, the amount of small companies and ideas that come out of his laboratory on an annual basis is huge too.



The point is that science is made up of many critical components.  One is the diversity that drives the group (both international + American students).  Secondly, the funding of that research group is critical.  Third, the production of working scientists needs to happen to fill professional jobs in industry or academia.  Chemical industry, Pharmaceutical industry, Aerospace industry, among others to mention a few desirable job employers.



Most of the large industries mentioned in the last paragraph are 'global' industries which mean that there are multiple facilities around the world.  This fits in well with the diversity that is seen in the American university setting.  Having international students elevate American science as well as science all around the world.



Having a global mindset with regard to funding science is critical if we (as global residents of the Planet Earth) would like to save the planet.  Just because science research comes from the United States or Europe, makes either no less important.  Hence the need to preserve the ability to have visiting scholars and students mix ideas in with each other to produce 'global science' instead of researching in a small scale private setting with large borders.  Diversity is not preserved in such environments.

Conclusion...

The reason why I wrote this blog post is due to the current administration that is about to take office.  First, I think having the politicians who fund research understand the importance of having international scholars and students is extremely important.  Second, the example that leads currently is the break up of Britain -- known as Brexit.



In an article from the website "Laboratory Equipment" titled "Brexit Uncertainties Threaten Brain Drain for UK Science" the threat of the 'brain drain' from the shifting resources in science funding are discussed along with immigration status.  Here is an excerpt detailing real fears of losing critical scientist due to shifts in the political landscape:

"I'm worried that after my current contract finishes, one of the prerequisites could be a permanent residence card," she said. "I'd like to apply for EU grant money, but how much longer will it be available for?"

Britain's top universities have long been among the world's most sought-after destinations for study and research, drawing the brightest minds from all corners of the globe. But since Britons voted in June to leave the 28-nation EU, many in the science community say the U.K. risks losing the money, the international influence — and crucially, the talent — to sustain that enviable position.

More than one-tenth of research funding at British universities has come from the EU in recent years. Some fields — such as nanotechnology and cancer research — are more dependent on EU funding than others, according to a report by technology firm Digital Science. From 2007 to 2013, Britain received 8.8 billion euros ($9.4 billion) in direct EU investment in research.

As you can see, immigration issues are not the only source of fear in the changing science landscape as a result of a political decision.   Regardless, when politicians start discussing changing the porosity (openness or closeness) of the national borders, science will be inevitably affected in a negative way.  Here is another excerpt to describe such a change:

Scientists and researchers argue that being part of the EU has given British science a huge boost because it allows Britain to recruit the best talent across Europe and take part in important research collaborations and student exchanges without being constrained by national boundaries. The bloc's freedom of movement means its 500 million people can live and work visa-free in any member state.

No one knows yet what form Britain's exit from the EU — commonly known as Brexit — is going to take, but immigration was a key issue for "Leave" voters. Many believe some limit should be put on the number of EU citizens moving to Britain.

Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to reassert control over British borders. She has offered no firm guarantees for the rights of Europeans already living in Britain, an uncertainty that weighs heavily over the 32,000 Europeans who make up 16 percent of the academic workforce in British universities. Many universities say the rhetoric over immigration control is also jeopardizing recruitment of researchers and students from further afield.

Typically, when we think of immigration issues, we restrict our definition to the "undocumented" (which I do not like to use) people who have crossed our borders for a variety of reasons (asylum, economic, livability, lack of resources, etc.).  What we do not consider is that any immigration reform will have an impact on science -- an adverse impact.



Which is why as Americans, we need to think and vote critically on immigration reform.  When we see changes start to take shape that are negatively impacting science, we need to take action and contact our local representatives (senators and congressional reps).  Otherwise, we are risking losing the status as the leader in science in the world.



In closing, the jobs of the future will revolve around our ability to lead in the scientific field.  Ranging from computational to environmental, jobs that are created will undoubtedly involve a higher education in science.  Therefore, it is critical to keep the momentum of incorporating international scholars and students into our science system to elevate our standing.  Lets make our scientists the best in the world.



Until next time, Have a great day!