Science Research Module

Writing proposal

Topics•Writing proposal•SOP for science project safety & Risk assessment

Experimental design – The Scientific MethodAsk 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)

Project IdeasIdeas should be:• Feasible• Preferably have application• Addresses current problems of the

nation/world• Interesting and Novel (if possible)

How to come out with a project idea?

• Online resources- Science Buddies www.sciencebuddies.org- Science Fair Projects & Experimentshttp://www.juliantrubin.com/fairprojects.html- All Science Fair Ideashttp://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 guidehttp://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide/choosingatopic.html

Where to find ideas?

• 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?

ExampleArchive: Removal of toxic dyes using fruit peels

Possible ideas: • Removal of toxic dyes using withered leaves• Removal of heavy metal ions using fruit peels

Where to find ideas?• Search engines

- google- Google scholar (Scholarly paper)- Pubmed (Scholarly paper)- Elsevier – browse journals by subject - Scirus (http://www.scirus.com)

• Science books/magazines/newspaperBrown tap water still safe for drinking Rusty look may be from iron silt in a building's older pipes but is not health hazard: PUBVictoria 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.

Where to find ideas?

• Removal of metal ions using eggshell

Where to find ideas?

How do you assess whether your project idea is feasible?

• 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

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

• 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

• 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

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

• 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

Writing of proposal• Introduction (Rationale, Objectives,

Hypotheses)• Literature Review• Outline of Method (Methods, safety, time

frame)• Risk assessment

• Why are your conducting this research?• Why is it going to be useful?

Rationale

Example on rationaleRemoval 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

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 peels2. To screen fruit peel extracts for anti-tumour

compounds3. To identify anti-tumour compounds in the

fruit extracts

Objectives

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

• 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

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

• 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

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

SMTP Lab Safety and Risk Assessment

Briefing

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)Mdm Chua: Physics/Photonics

• SRC Tel. no.: 64680379

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.

General rules• Centrifuges must be balanced before operation.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Prohibited workStudies 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

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

Disposal of sharps

• Sharps --- needles, scalpel blades, micropipette tips, glass slides, cover slips

Sharps bins

Decontamination

• Autoclave or bleach all cultured organisms esp. microbes before disposal

• Disinfect work surfaces if microbes were used --- swab with 70% alcohol

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

Risk Assessment

• 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

How to complete risk assessment?

Go to SMTP wiki\ Resources (SMTP)

Useful sites for biology projects

• 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_src_biological_agents.shtml

• http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_src_vertebrate_animals.shtml