Volume IV Issue 4
April 2008 |
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 The
Quest for Absolute Zero
 In
the 1830's, when the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, scientists
studied the way steam engines turned heat into motion. They realized how
connected movement and temperature were: the more atoms move about
inside an object, the hotter it becomes. This energy can be induced in
an object -- be it solid, liquid or gas -- in a variety of ways. It can
occur by adding heat from a separate hotter body, increasing the
pressure (a pressure cooker creates higher heats through increased
pressure) or doing work on it (a drill creates heat through doing work
on a piece of wood and creating friction). In turn, scientists realized
that things became colder as the atoms deep inside moved less and lost
energy. It was this insight that would fuel the next century's quest for
absolute zero. From refrigeration to MRIs, the study of cold has
transformed modern life.
A NOVA documentary,
"Absolute Zero," features the struggle of scientists, philosophers, and
engineers over four centuries as they attempt to understand the nature
of cold, to explore its deepest reaches, to create the "cold
technologies" that have transformed society and to seek a deeper insight
into matter itself. Additional information about low temperature physics
and absolute zero is
online.
 Find
out more about careers in physics...
New
Adhesive Mimics Gecko's Foot
 Building upon several years
of research into the gecko's uncanny ability to climb sheer walls,
researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed an
adhesive that is the first to master the easy attach and easy release of
the reptile's padded feet. The material could prove useful for a range
of products, from climbing equipment to medical devices. Unlike duct
tape or glue, the new material is crafted from millions of tiny, hard,
plastic fibers that establish grip; a mere square two centimeters on a
side can support 400 grams (close to a pound). While tape sticks when it
presses onto a surface, the new adhesive sticks as it slides on a
surface and releases as it lifts -- this is the trick behind a gecko's
speedy vertical escapes.
There are other synthetic
adhesives inspired by gecko feet and they adhere much like conventional
tape. In contrast, the new adhesive brushes along a surface to develop
traction. While ideal for hanging posters, the characteristic is even
more important for any application that requires movement, such as
climbing. The new material is also novel in that it gets stronger with
use.
More details are
online.
Find
out more about careers in
chemistry and materials
engineering...
Salaries
Strong for Scientists and Engineers
 Employers
are projecting a 16% increase in college hiring in 2007-08, the fifth
consecutive year of double-digit increases, and starting salaries are
reflecting this positive growth, according to the 22nd edition of
Salaries of Scientists, Engineers and Technicians: A Summary of Salary
Surveys, recently released by the Commission on Professionals in Science
and Technology. Among the findings:
Chemical
engineering bachelor's degree recipients received the highest
average starting salary offer in summer 2007 ($59,361). In contrast,
psychology graduates received an average offer of just $31,631.
Gains
were seen in starting salary offers across all
science and engineering
fields in summer 2007, with the most significant increases in
chemical engineering (up
5.4%), civil engineering
(up 5.4%) and computer
engineering (up 4.8%).
By
occupation, median salaries were highest at the bachelor's level in
2003 in engineering
($70,000) and computer
science and
mathematics ($68,000), and lowest in the life sciences ($42,000)
and social and behavioral sciences ($45,000).
Information
technology (IT) salaries are back on the rise after three years
of relatively stagnant pay. In 2007, IT staffers can expect to earn
a median base salary of $74,000, and $78,000 in total compensation.
IT managers can expect to earn a median base salary of $97,000, and
$105,000 in total compensation.
Find
out more about salary ranges for careers in science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, computing, and medicine
online...
Degree
Profile: Information Systems
 How
and when companies and organizations use technology are issues that are critical to
remaining competitive. Computer and information systems managers play a
vital role in the technological direction of their organizations. They
do everything from constructing the business plan to overseeing network
security to directing Internet operations. Computer and information
systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct research and facilitate
the computer-related activities of firms. They direct the work of
systems analysts, computer programmers, support specialists, and other
computer-related workers.
 These
managers plan and coordinate activities such as installation and
upgrading of hardware and software, programming and systems design,
development of computer networks, and implementation of Internet and
intranet sites. They are increasingly involved with the upkeep,
maintenance, and security of networks. They analyze the computer and
information needs of their organizations from an operational and
strategic perspective and determine immediate and long-range personnel
and equipment requirements. They assign and review the work of their
subordinates and stay abreast of the latest technology to ensure the
organization does not lag behind competitors.
Find
out more about careers in
Information Systems...
College
Nursing Lab Features 'Stan the Man'
They named him Stan, and he's the man
– or mannequin – in demand in the new nursing lab at St. Charles
Community College (SCC) in Cottleville, MO. Spring 2008 classes are
featuring Stan -- a computerized teacher for all levels of nursing
students working on their associate's degrees. The official name of this
computerized patient simulator is Emergency Care Simulator (ECS). The
ECS provides an anatomically correct, feature-rich mannequin that allows
for the physical demonstration of various clinical signs including
breathing, blinking eyes, blood pressure, bowel sounds, pulses,
bleeding, and more.
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Laquicia Turner
and Michelle Beckman, students from the Lewis & Clark Career
Center, test the blood pressure of 'Stan the Mannequin,' a new
patient simulator, during a tour of the nursing lab at St.
Charles Community College in Cottleville, MO. |
Stan the mannequin responds
to medications and other clinical scenarios to deliver a realistic and
objective training ground for learners to practice and perfect their
patient care skills without risk to real patients, according to SCC
nursing faculty. The simulator mannequin is operated by computer
software offering various case studies or scenarios for student learning
and practice. "This direct application has an important role in today's
nurse education," said Patricia Porterfield, dean of math, science, and
health at SCC. "It enhances critical thinking and better prepares our
students to enter their clinical training in area hospitals. The new
simulator will allow us to keep current with trends in nursing
education." "We can stop the program mid-stream and investigate the
problems...that's something that can't be done when students advance to
actual clinical training in the hospitals." said Mary VanNoord, who
coordinates the ECS learning program.
Find
out more about careers in nursing.
Mathematics,
Statistics, and Voting
 The
theme for Mathematics Awareness Month
2008 is "Math and Voting." This election year, the term "voting"
brings to mind national elections. Candidates are vying for attention in
debates and primaries, polls are taking the pulse of the electorate,
blogs are offering opinions on everything candidates say, and,
ultimately, a general election leads to the selection of the next
President of the United States. Most people wonder at some point: "Does
my vote matter? Is the election process fair? Are the votes being
counted correctly?" The answers to these questions are incredibly
complex, but, fortunately, mathematics and statistics provide the means
to deal with the complexity of how votes are cast and counted and how
that influences the outcome.
For example, statistics
provides ways to identify, measure, and address sources of error, and
mathematics provides insights into the effect of different voting
systems on the outcome of an election. Voting is not just about
electoral politics, however; it's part of everyday life. "Voting" is
something that happens in many contexts not related to politics. In any
situation in which preferences are expressed -- what movie to see, where
to meet after school, who makes the team, etc. -- voting in some way
occurs. Surprisingly, different voting systems often yield different
outcomes. Resources for this year's Mathematics Awareness Month are
designed to help explain what makes these votes matter, as well as how
the voting system used affects the outcome, regardless of the context of
the voting. Throughout April, many college and university departments,
institutional public information offices, student groups, and others are
sponsoring events and developing resources to help explore the
interaction of mathematics, statistics, and voting.
Find
out more about careers in mathematics,
statistics, and
actuarial
science.
High
School Students Dual Enroll in College
 High
school students are taking advantage of programs to earn college
credits, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
According to two reports, more than half of all colleges and
universities in the nation enrolled high school students in courses for
college credit, commonly called "dual enrollment," which translates into
about 813,000 or about 5% of high school students. Of the 57% of
postsecondary institutions that had high school students who took
college courses during the 2002-03 academic year, 85% had high school
students taking them in dual enrollment programs, and 55% had students
who simply enrolled in college courses and were treated as regular
college students. About 98% of public two-year institutions had high
school students taking college courses during the 2002-03 academic year,
compared to 77% of public 4-year institutions, 40 percent of private
four-year institutions and 17% of private two-year institutions. Among
the estimated 2,050 institutions with dual enrollment programs, about
110, or 5%, had dual enrollment programs specifically geared toward high
school students at risk of education failure.
Find
more information about precollege career
prep...
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