1. Science Research Module Writing proposal

2. Topics Writing proposal SOP for science project safety & Risk assessment

3. Experimental design – The Scientific Method Ask a question Do background research Construct hypotheses Conduct experiments & collect data Analyse results & draw conclusions Hypothesis is true Hypothesis is false/partially true Think again Report Results (Web report/ppt presentation)

4. Project Ideas Ideas should be: Feasible Preferably have application Addresses current problems of the nation/world Interesting and Novel (if possible)

5. How to come out with a project idea?

6. Online resources - Science Buddies www.sciencebuddies.orgwww.sciencebuddies.org - Science Fair Projects & Experiments http://www.juliantrubin.com/fairprojects.html - All Science Fair Ideas http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/ -How to do successful science fair projects http://www.sciencenerddepot.com/Science_Fair_Projects. php -Science fair project resource guide http://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide/choosingatopic.html Where to find ideas?

7. HCI projects day websites - Web report archives. Browse through to find out what has been done. Project ideas can be obtained by modifying existing ideas or extending them. Where to find ideas? Example Archive: Removal of toxic dyes using fruit peels Possible ideas: Removal of toxic dyes using withered leaves Removal of heavy metal ions using fruit peels

8. Where to find ideas? Search engines - google - Google scholar (Scholarly paper) - Pubmed (Scholarly paper) - Elsevier – browse journals by subject - Scirus (http://www.scirus.com)

9. Science books/magazines/newspaper Brown tap water still safe for drinking Rusty look may be from iron silt in a building's older pipes but is not health hazard: PUB Victoria Vaughan, Straits Times 17 Jul 09; IT JUST looks dirty. On average, two Singapore households a day have been reporting brown or rusty tap water, but the Public Utilities Board (PUB) says it is still safe to drink. Older buildings are more likely to be affected as they could still be using iron water pipes. PUB stopped the use of such pipes in 1980. 'Over time, iron sediment can accumulate in these pipes. Water flowing through the pipes may pick up the sediment,' said a PUB spokesman.Straits Times Where to find ideas?

10. Removal of metal ions using eggshell Where to find ideas?

11. How do you assess whether your project idea is feasible?

12. Rationale - Is there a clear rationale? - Is the project relevant to the target audience? - Does the project increase knowledge in the field? - Is there application/ interest value in your project? - Is there room for future expansion on the project? Feasibility of ideas

13. Approach & Methods Can a workable outline of your methodology be formulated? Do you have preliminary data/ other research work to support your methodology? Can your experiments be performed in our SRC? If cannot, can you get external help? Do you or the lab technicians/lab managers have the necessary skills, or can you identify and get co-operation from specialists you will need? Are the equipment and materials required available for your use? Check with lab manager/lab techician/SMTP co- ordinator - Is it possible to collect quantitative data? - Is it possible to collect sufficient data within 3-6 months? Feasibility of ideas

14. Originality - Is your project simply a repetition of others’ work? Did you make any modification? - Have you referred to for similar projects? Feasibility of ideas

15. Safety issue - Have you done risk assessment? Are the chemicals/organisms allowed in our SRC? - Is there a need to obtain SRC approval? (For projects which deal with vertebrates, microoganism) Feasibility of ideas

16. Cost Have you checked the availability of the chemicals/materials required in your project? Have you checked the cost of the chemicals/materials? Feasibility of ideas

17. Which brand of detergent is most effective in removing stains? Effect of oxygen on rusting Effect of music on plant growth Synthesis of biodiesel from algae Effect of running on blood pressure Effect of colours on emotion Comment on the following ideas

18. Writing of proposal Introduction (Rationale, Objectives, Hypotheses) Literature Review Outline of Method (Methods, safety, time frame) Risk assessment

19. Why are your conducting this research? Why is it going to be useful? Rationale

20. Example on rationale Removal of heavy metal ions using clam shells Heavy metal ions Health hazard Non-biodegradable Clam shell Contains calcium carbonate Has potential to remove metal ions

21. list what you will set out to do/measure to test your hypothesis Question: Do fruit peels contain anti-tumour compounds? Objectives: 1.To prepare extracts from fruit peels 2.To screen fruit peel extracts for anti-tumour compounds 3.To identify anti-tumour compounds in the fruit extracts Objectives

22. Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a possible explanation for something you have observed. Turn your research questions into hypothesis (statement) Question: Do fruit peels contain anti-tumour compounds? Hypothesis: Fruit peel extract contain anti-tumour compounds Hypothesis

23. Question: Does chitin from crab shells have a greater ability to bind to fats than chitin from prawn shell? Hypothesis: Chitin from crab shells has a greater ability to bind to fats than chitin from prawn shell. Objectives: 1.To extract chitin from crab and prawn shells for comparison. 2.To compare the abilities of chitin from crab and prawn shells to bind to fats Exercise

24. Writing a proposal Submit as a group to mentor after prelims judging (T2, wk 4) To improve/edit after mentor gives comments. May take several rounds 30 % of your research grade Refer to rubrics & sample proposal

25. Plagiarism is using other people's work, words, ideas without acknowledging. Includes copying the exact words and citing the author. Do not plagiarise. Paraphrase your readings Summarise what you read in your own words Keep the key words Plagiarism

26. Students to fill in parents consent for lab work (submit by today, 9/2) Mentors to assess nature of project if it involves the following: Biohazard materials/organisms Chemical hazards Potentially hazardous devices/equipment Apply for approval by Science Research Council (SRC, SSEF) after prelim judging (i/c – Mrs Goh Cheng Wai) Standard Operating Procedure

27. Approval of research plan by teacher-mentor. Obtain parental consent for laboratory work. Projects not involving potentially hazardous biological agents, substances or devices Proceed with experimentation Yes Can the project be carried out using the school’s resources? Proceed with experimentation Are there any available external resources ? No External experts vet through protocols to ensure all safety requirements are met Projects involving potentially hazardous biological agents, substances or devices Seek approval from SRC and external experts*** *** submit after prelim round

28. Are there any available external resources? Redesign the research or reject proposal No Redesign the research or reject proposal No Approve research plan, obtain parental consent & proceed to conduct research in external organization Yes Teacher mentors approach the organisation individually or through Research Coordinators Can the external organization accommodate the request? Yes

29. SMTP Lab Safety and Risk Assessment Briefing

30. General Students can only work in the lab in the presence of a teacher or lab staff. Booking of equipment and requests for materials must be made to at least 3 days prior to experiments, with mentor kept informed. Mdm Lim: Bio lab (limcf@hc.edu.sg) Mdm Xia: Chem lab (xiaying@hc.edu.sg)xiaying@hc.edu.sg Mdm Chua: Physics/Photonics SRC Tel. no.: 64680379

31. General rules Please keep lab tidy at all times. Spills must be cleaned immediately to avoid contamination. Gloves must be worn when handling hazardous materials. Chipped or broken glassware should never be used. Please give these to lab staff for disposal.

32. General rules Centrifuges must be balanced before operation.

33. Scientific Review Committee (SRC) Approval Apply for approval (through your mentor) from the Scientific Review Committee if your project involves any of these: Potentially hazardous biologial agents (e.g. bacteria) Vertebrates

34. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval required for studies involving Human Subjects An IRB must include A science educator A school administrator (Principal or VP) A medical doctor, physician’s assistant, registered nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed social worker or licensed clinical professional counsellor

35. SRC Approval Approval from must be submitted to Mrs Goh Cheng Wai before the commencement of your projects ( see Mrs Goh’s EMB msg) SMP groups will submit forms to Mr Chia KP

36. Research Projects Students working in Research labs must wear a lab coat. These should be folded and placed on designated shelves when not in use (ref. Lab staff). In bio labs, laminar hoods --- perspex shield must be in place if UV light is turned on.

37. Microbiology Projects All microorganisms must be treated as potential human pathogens. Only Biosafety Level 1 (BSL 1) organisms can be used. Microorganisms should not be isolated from potentially hazardous sources e.g.s polluted water, human mucus, pus and faeces All microbial cultures and culture media must be labelled: date, name of student & teacher.

38. Microbiology Projects BSL1: low risk to individual and the community BSL2: moderate risk to individual but low risk to the community. Can cause diseases in human but unlikely to be serious hazards to lab users under normal circumstances. BSL3: high risk to individual but low risk to community. Usually cause diseases in human, treatable with anti-microbial agents, not contagious. BSL4: high risk to individual and community. Usually cause serious diseases in human, untreatable and contagious.

39. Prohibited work Studies involving: Fresh tissue, blood or body fluids from humans or vertebrates. Human or animal blood or blood products. Human or vertebrate/mammalian cell tissue cultures

40. Approved work Studies involving: Plant tissue Cheek cells (but not cultures) Meat or meat by-products obtained from food stores, restaurants or packing houses. Hair Sterilised teeth

41. Disposal of sharps Sharps --- needles, scalpel blades, micropipette tips, glass slides, cover slips Sharps bins

42. Decontamination Autoclave or bleach all cultured organisms esp. microbes before disposal Disinfect work surfaces if microbes were used --- swab with 70% alcohol

43. Reminder Young Explorers’ Fund (YEF) for groups which require expensive items Capped at $2000 a group Can apply any time – submit forms to mentors Forms on SMTP webpage

44. Risk Assessment

45. Risk assessment is needed for all Cat 1 projects To be completed by students, reviewed and approved by mentor. Before experiments begin, risk assessment to be submitted to SRC - Mdm Lim (for bio projects) - Mdm Xia (for chem projects) - Mdm Chua (for phy projects) SMTP students will complete risk assessment and attached it to proposals. A copy to be given to SRC. Risk assessment

46. How to complete risk assessment? Go to SMTP wiki\ Resources (SMTP) SRC risk assessment equipment document Equipment Search online for MSDS (material data safety sheet) of chemicals Chemicals SRC Microorganism Epidermiology document Microorganism

47. Useful sites for biology projects http://academic.marion.ohio- state.edu/sciencefair/BSL.htm http://academic.marion.ohio- state.edu/sciencefair/BSL.htm http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair- projects/project_ideas/Micro_Safety.shtml http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair- projects/project_ideas/Micro_Safety.shtml http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair- projects/project_src_biological_agents.shtml http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair- projects/project_src_biological_agents.shtml http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair- projects/project_src_vertebrate_animals.shtml http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair- projects/project_src_vertebrate_animals.shtml