CATALYST
volume 6 | issue 2 june 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 2 STAFF LIST GODZILLIUM 3 VS. TRUMPIUM GRAVITATIONAL 4 WAVES CHILDHOOD DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOR 5 ADULT-ONSET GAUCHER DISEASE CYBERWARFARE AND CYBERSECURITY: THE 7 UNITED NATIONS AND ITS MEMBER STATES COMPUTER SCIENCE: AN EDUCATIONAL 8 FOUNDATION FOR AN EVOLVING WORKPLACE 9 AUTISM & THE MIND SCIENCE CREATED A COPY MACHINE, 11 BUT SHOULD WE USE IT? GETTING TO KNOW BENSON SHING, 12 A PUNDIT OF ENGINEERING INTERVIEW WITH 13 JIEJUN WU INTERVIEW WITH 1 4 JENNY YAN LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Letter from the President CCA— As the school year draws to a close, the entire Catalyst team has been working hard to beat the countdown to summer. We’re so excited to share this new issue with you! In this issue, you can expect to see an exploration of new and emerging topics, ranging from the recent discovery of gravitational waves to recently-confirmed chemical elements to the fields of cloning, computer science, and cybersecurity. Additionally, we are raising awareness about adult-onset Gaucher disease and autism. Finally, we are thrilled to introduce a new section in our magazine, featuring interviews with professionals in STEM fields. You’ll be able to learn about working as an engineering professor, a pharmaceutical researcher, and as civil engineer. As always, I want to thank our advisor, Michael Gaughen, for supporting us; the Catalyst team, for working so hard within a crunched schedule; our generous sponsors, for giving us the means to print our publication; and finally, you, for picking up and reading this issue. If you have any questions or comments, you can contact us at ccacatalyst@gmail.com. Past issues are featured on our website http://catalystmag.weebly.com/, and you can like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/catalystsciencemagazine to stay updated with us throughout the year.
Enjoy! Marissa Wu President of Catalyst Science Magazine
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Cover images: Flickr
PRESIDENT Marissa Wu VICE PRESIDENT Kathie Jiang SUPERVISOR Michael Gaughen DIRECTORS OF BUSINESS / TREASURERS Erica Guo Julie Tran DIRECTOR OF LAYOUT Vivian Shing LAYOUT CONSULTANT Zilu Pan DIRECTORS OF EDITING Anthony Kang (Executive Editor) Maggie Chen & Julie Vaughn (Supervising Editors) LAYOUT TEAM Emily Bi Emma Boyles Alyssa Cho Anjali Gopinathan Clara Guo Samruddhi Hande Kathie Jiang Elizabeth Kwon Harmonie Lau Victoria Li Rainee Pei Sahana Raj Aida Razivilar Vivian Shing Heezy Suh Julie Tran Marissa Wu Crystal Yang
EDITING TEAM Taylor Albizati Sarika Karra Nikky Mendoza Michelle Zhang Samruddhi Hande Emily Bi Cecilia Zhang Christina Zhang Jessica Shen Emma Boyles Christina Kwon Judy Qin Hunter Katz Ethan Ragins Allison Liu Julie Tran Amanda Harmon Christina Lin Kara Nepomuceno Rainee Pei Elizabeth Kwon ISSUE AUTHORS Taraneh Barjesteh Emily Bi Emily Chau Kathie Jiang Ethan Ragins Sarah Ruan Olivia Schewe Vivian Shing Marissa Wu SPONSORS Hamilton College Counseling High Bluff Academy
Staff List
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At the end of 2015, we observed the end of a process that began by pumping elemental ‘Muricanism with positive energy.
To be more precise, in 2013, Swedish scientists confirmed the existence of ununpentium, the 115th element, by shooting a beam of 20 protons, otherwise known as calcium, at a film of americium (atomic number 95), resulting momentarily in pent-up energy in the form of 115 protons. Following these noble beginnings, three other elements--ununtrium, ununseptium, and ununoctium--joined the party as the identified 113th, 117th, and 118th elements. On December 30, 2015, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry confirmed these elements, thus completing the seventh period of the periodic table.
Everybody is vying to tag a name on these new discoveries; nobody desires to remember the names of these elements as a collection of grunts and Latin. Thus, the battle commences with bold suggestions like Godzillium, to honor the radioactive Japanese hero of scientists who discovered the 113th element, and similarly bold proposals to name an element for Donald, or perhaps “AnyoneButTrumpium.” Other popular names have included Unobtanium (referring to James Cameron’s Avatar film), Nipponium, Narcissium, or some form of Rosalind Franklin, Nikola Tesla, or Carl Sagans’ names.
“Yet this naming ceremony is less a completionist’s dream, than the pinnacle of hundreds of years of Chemistry research.” Yet this naming ceremony is less a completionist’s dream, than the pinnacle of hundreds of years of Chemistry research. In 1869, Russian chemistry professor Dmitri Mendeleev published his famous periodic table, a refined cumulation of years of work among chemistry professors to organize and study the elements. Mendeleev’s periodic table was particularly popular for two main reasons. Firstly, Mendeleev left space for undiscovered elements, a common practice until December 30, in order to organize the elements into groups and periods to generalize relationships.
Ethan Ragins
GODZILLIUM VS. TRUMPIUM:
A Look Into Dmitri Mendeleev’s Dreams
Another crucial item which allowed for this organization was that Mendeleev arranged the elements by atomic number rather than atomic weight, leading to increased accuracy and understanding that basic molecular chemistry principles are determined by the number of protons in an element. The periodic table has evolved throughout the years, including the addition of numerous elements. Today, with 118 elements confirmed and countless leaps and bounds in the study of chemistry, we continue to pursue the same things that Dmitri Mendeleev pursued in 1869. We will continue to search for new elements even at the risk of creating a partially filled eighth row in order to advance molecular and structural chemistry research as well as to further understand chemical and atomic principles.
St, Nicholas. “Godzillium vs. Trumpium: Some Suggestions to Add to the Periodic Table.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 4 Feb. 2016. Chapell, Bill. “4 New Elements Are Added To The Periodic Table.” NPR. NPR, 4 Jan. 2016. Web. 08 Feb. 2016. Image credits: Wikemedia
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Gravitational Waves By Emily Bi
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n February 11, 2016, scientists of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) collaboration announced that they had detected the presence of gravitational waves from a collision of two black holes 1.3 billion light years away. For the science community, this was a major breakthrough—the culmination of a century of speculation and research. But what exactly are gravitational waves? And why is this discovery so important? To explain gravitational waves, we must go back a hundred years, when Albert Einstein predicted this phenomenon in his theory of general relativity in 1916. General relativity states that massive objects cause distortion in spacetime (the continuum of three-dimensional space and time), which is felt as gravity. The more mass that is contained within a volume, the greater the curvature of spacetime will be; as the mass moves through spacetime, the curvature will move with it. Einstein predicted that the acceleration of massive objects, such as neutron stars or black holes orbiting each other, would disrupt spacetime by radiating waves of distorted space travelling at the speed of light throughout the Universe. Then, in 1974, the theory gained indirect evidence when scientists measured the orbits of a binary pulsar (a system of two dense stars orbiting each other) and found that it must have been emitting gravitational waves, because the changes in orbit matched those predicted by Einstein’s equations. But until now, physicists had never directly detected the presence of gravitational waves. The actual detection occurred on September 14, 2015, when the pair of L-shaped antennae of the LIGO interferometer vibrated, emitting a brief chirp. The LIGO interferometer works by directing a split laser beam down two identical, 4km-long tubes. Mirrors reflect the beams back to the detector, where they should be perfectly aligned. But when the gravitational wave passed through Earth that day, it stretched and contracted space, causing the laser beams to misalign by a fraction of the width of a proton. This tiny signal was detected by both the interferometers in Washington and Louisiana. In the months afterward, scientists worked to confirm that the data was actually caused by a gravitational wave, rather than another disturbance such as an earthquake or a lightning strike. Eventually, researchers concluded that the confidence level of this observation to have been caused by a gravitational wave was 99.99994%. So where did this signal even come from? A case in which gravitational waves are the strongest is when two compact objects, such as neutron stars or black holes, merge. Binary neutron stars or binary black holes will orbit each other for millions of years, losing energy in the form of gravitational waves. As the objects get closer and closer, they reach extreme velocities, and when they finally merge, a large amount of mass is converted into gravitational energy and radiated as waves. In the case of the merger of the binary black holes detected by LIGO, one of the black holes was 36 times the size of the sun, and the other 29. Near the end, the black holes were circling each other 250 times a second, at half the speed of light. The amount of energy released in the last 20 milliseconds was 50 times greater than the combined energy of the light radiated from all the stars
Image credits: Charly W. Karl @ flickr in the observable universe. The magnitude of this energy decreases inversely with the distance from the source, so, more than a billion light years later, these distortions in spacetime reached Earth in nearly indistinguishable waves. The discovery was a huge victory for physicists Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss, and Ronald Drever, all of whom made it their careers to prove Einstein’s theory. The first version of the LIGO experiment began in 2000 but did not detect any statistically significant events. In the last five years, the system was rebuilt to increase sensitivity. The team faced technological odds: researchers calculated that the change in space caused by a typical gravitational wave would be almost imperceptible. The news of the discovery was also vindication for the National Science Foundation, which spent $1.1 billion over a span of forty years to build the system. The discovery of gravitational waves could revolutionize the way scientists now study astronomy. “It’s the first time the Universe has spoken to us through gravitational waves. Up until now, we’ve been deaf,” said Professor David Reitze, executive director of the LIGO project. Physicist Stephen Hawking claimed, “Gravitational waves provide a completely new way at looking at the Universe… This discovery is the first detection of a black hole binary system and the first observation of black holes merging.” The detection of these waves gave us the first direct detection of black holes, which is confirmation of General Relativity, as the waves’ properties agreed with Einstein’s predictions. Gravitational waves could also elucidate the link between General Relativity and quantum theory, possibly unifying the theories of gravity and nongravitational forces. Furthermore, gravitational waves will allow scientists to finally study the “dark” parts of the Universe invisible to optical or radio telescopes, such as black holes and dark matter. These waves, unlike electromagnetic radiation, are records of cataclysmic events unaffected by what they pass through. “The information carried on the gravitational wave is exactly the same as when the system sent it out; and that is unusual in astronomy. We can’t see light from whole regions of our own galaxy because of the dust that is in the way, and we can’t see the early part of the Big Bang because the Universe was opaque to light earlier than a certain time,” explained Professor Bernard Schutz of Cardiff University. But with gravitational waves, scientists expect to eventually detect events from as early as the Big Bang singularity itself, when some of the most extreme energies possible were present. In the history of astronomy, new methods of observing the universe have always brought new discoveries. Galileo pioneered the field of astronomy with his use of telescopes to observe visible light. Radio telescopes informed us of pulsars and quasars, microwaves gave us insight to faint imprints of the Big Bang, and gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet light, and infralight have all revolutionized astronomy in their own respects. With gravitational waves opening a new avenue of astronomical discovery, we’d better keep our ears open.
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Image credits : AndreaLaurel @ flickr
Childhood Diagnostic Testing for Adult-Onset Gaucher disease Taraneh Barjesteh 5
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aucher disease is an inherited metabolic condition that is characterized by the accumulation of fatty substances in the cells of various organs, causing these organs to enlarge, impeding their normal function. This is caused by mutations in the GBA gene, which stands for “glucosidase beta acid,” located on chromosome 1q21, from base pairs 155,234,448 to 155,244,862. The normal function of the GBA gene is to provide the blueprint for the creation of the beta-glucocerebrosidase enzyme in cells, which is responsible for the breakdown of the fatty molecule glucocerebroside (also known as glucosylceramide) into glucose and ceramide. While there are over 200 different mutations of this gene that may contribute to Gaucher disease, the majority of them alternate one amino acid in the beta-glucocerebrosidase enzyme thus heavily reducing this enzyme’s activity in cells, preventing the breakdown of glucocerebroside. There are three different types of Gaucher’s disease, each affecting different organs and appearing at different ages, but this article will primarily focus on Type 1, which is the most common, as well as the mildest form of the condition. Although many people know it as Adult Gaucher disease, it can strike people of all ages; however, symptoms most commonly begin to appear once a patient has reached adulthood. A more accurate name for this condition would be non-neu-
ronopathic Gaucher disease, since the accumulation of glucocerebroside does not affect the nervous system, but instead affects liver function and bone growth in addition to other organs. Common symptoms include reduced bone density, an enlarged liver and spleen,growth retardation, low levels of blood platelets, red and white blood cells, and elevated levels of the acid phosphatase and plasma proteins. This gene mutation runs in families. Globally, the proportion of people who have Gaucher’s is one in 60,000. According to the National Gaucher Foundation Inc., one in 450 Jewish people of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) descent will have the disorder, and the carrier rate is approximately one in 10. Children who have had family members with the disease are recommended to get tested at an early age. Typically a diagnosis of Gaucher’s can be made with a simple blood or urine test, which will get sent to a laboratory that uses an assay test to measure the levels of glucocerebrosidase in the leukocyte cells or in the urine. Lower levels of glucocerebrosidase may indicate a strong likelihood of developing Gaucher’s disease later in life. However, the most accurate test is a DNA analysis, which will identify mutations in the GBA gene on chromosome 1 using sequence analysis to compare this certain section of DNA to to that of a normal DNA sample. This option can highlight the specific subtype of Gaucher’s from an early age. A treatment option for Type 1 Gaucher’s disease includes enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). ERT includes a variety of drugs including VPRIV and Cerezyme®, which are hydrolytic lysosomal glucocerebroside-specific enzymes designed to replace the missing glucocerebrosidase through regular injections or oral administration. The ASHG’s position statement on pediatric genetic testing is that “adolescents should be encouraged to defer predictive or pre-dispositional testing for adult-onset conditions until adulthood because of the complexity of the potential impact of the information at formative life stages.” However, this statement could be potentially misleading; if the enzyme replacement therapy for Type 1 Gaucher’s disease is started at an early age, the symptoms could be withheld indefinitely. Considering the benefits of this treatment, as well as the ease of genetic testing in this example of Gaucher’s disease, the overall impact on the child’s life would be beneficial. However, testing for the symptoms of Gaucher’s disease is only necessary if there is a family history of the defective GBA gene, or if the child displays symptoms. Not every child needs to be genetically tested for certain diseases, and in accordance with the ASHG’s position, excessive pre-dispositional testing could have adverse effects for the child mentally, physically, and financially as many pre-dispositional tests are expensive, time-consuming, and alarming for the child. The ASHG’s statement could then be reworded to say, “Adolescents should be encouraged to defer predictive or pre-dispositional testing for adult-onset conditions until adulthood because of the complexity of the potential impact of the information at formative life stages, unless the adolescent has a family history or other cause to believe that he or she may show symptoms of the disease in adulthood.”
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Cyberwarfare and Cybersecurity: The United Nations and its Member States by Sarah Ruan
I
n this age of technological development and the Digital Revolution, humanity’s dependence on technology continues to increase, only further emphasizing the need to address the issue of cyber warfare. Due to its destructive nature, this issue remains highly relevant and continues to pose a critical threat to the security of the international community. By definition, the act of cyber warfare is a politically motivated attack on information and data systems in an internet-based conflict with the possibility of crippling financial systems, disrupting and disabling essential services, losing and altering data, and disabling official networks and websites. Cyber warfare also pertains to cyber terrorism. A monumental progression in this technological age is marked by the development of the world-wide web; while the web has provided many opportunities to achieve greater lengths and feats, it has also provided more opportunities for the dangers of open cyber networks to surface. International militaries and governments employ the internet to process, store, organize, and share information and classified matters; the Internet is a critical aspect in the functioning of key infrastructure networks including, in some countries, power grids, water systems, air traffic control, and transit and air defense systems. Cyber warfare and terrorism also poses a threat to the private sector, since the general population and private companies, including banking industries, use the likes of electronic mail, servers, and computer programs to process and store possibly sensitive information. We must recognize such threats posed by cyber warfare and work towards strengthening cyber security. The United Nations has always played a critical role in this issue as a diplomatic multilateral organization. Its involvement plays onto fields of security, foreign relations, and civil affairs. As of 2011, the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT) is the first UN-backed cyber-security alliance, serving as a key partner to the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) and Global Response Center (GRC). The United Nations First Committee (which examines the Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (NATO CCD COE) are also actively associated with the issue. The African Union (AU), which published the Draft African Union Convention on the Establishment of a Credible Legal Framework for Cyber Security in Africa, and The European Union (EU), which also recently published a Joint Communication on the Cyber Security Strategy of the European Union, have both taken measures in establishing a comprehensive and universal policy document relevant to this domain.
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Clearly, the international community has visited this dialogue many times, yet the establishment of not only mutual understanding but also political developments to combat this warfare against other nations and independent parties takes time. Much of the UN’s involvement in cyber warfare is
currently only acknowledging and still in the early stages of even addressing such an issue as it is so deeply integrated in modern and new technological developments in information and communication technologies (ICT), this new and emerging issue has seen very little significant international agreement on its nature or on possibilities of its solution. Many countries have expressed support in finding a solution to the issue through collaboration with non-government organizations (NGOs) including the East West Institute, more specifically, their Worldwide Cybersecurity Initiative. But as the UN, its affiliated committees, and other branches of association relevant to cyber warfare and security continue to address and make significant developments in terms of agreements and solutions towards these issues, the international community must follow suit and continue to take necessary measures against cyber warfare and terrorism independently. By focusing on enforcing consequences, establishing organization, and preventing any future cases of espionage, sabotage, terrorism, and threats against the private sector, the United Nations can look to resolve the issue of cyber warfare by first addressing cybercrime legislation and any loopholes they may have due to a lack of enforcement and lack of specificity to the spectrum of possible violations, and then establish computer emergency response teams (CERT/CSIRTs) on both domestic levels (within each local region to handle local breaches by individuals with the most effectiveness and efficiency possible) and international levels, in case of a situation like that of GhostNet in 2009 to minimize damage to the best degree. The final and third aspect of this solution would be instilling a public key infrastructure (PKI) which pertains to an arrangement that identifies users with their respective and unique public keys from a third-party validation authority (VA) that provides the information on behalf of a certificate authority (CA). If nation states were to implement and enforce such a course of action, the international community can work towards more security and insurance as we move into an even more technologically inclined future. Sources: 1. Chetty, Kristina Cole Marshini, Christopher Larosa Frank Rietta, Danika K. Schmitt, and Seymour E. Goodman. "Cybersecurity in Africa: An Assessment." Cybersecurity in Africa: An Assessment (n.d.): n. pag. S3.amazonaws.com. Web. 06 Apr. 2015. 2. "Cyber Warfare, Unchecked, Could Topple Entire Edifice of International Security, Says Speaker in First Committee at Conclusion of Thematic Debate Segment | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015. 3. Impact-alliance.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015. 4. "ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) Framework for International Cooperation in Cybersecurity." Ifap.ru. International Telecommunication Union, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015. 5. Rouse, Margaret. "What Is Cyberwarfare?" SearchSecurity. TechTarget, May 2010. Web. 07 Apr. 2015. 6. Source:, (Data. "CYBERWELLNESS PROFILE DJIBOUTI." CYBERWELLNESS PROFILE DJIBOUTI (n.d.): n. pag. Situ.int. International Intercommunication Union. Web. 06 Apr. 2015. 7. "Towards Cyberpeace: Managing Cyberwar Through International Cooperation | UN Chronicle." Towards Cyberpeace: Managing Cyberwar Through International Cooperation | UN Chronicle. UN Chronicle, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015. 8. "UN: More International Cooperation Needed to Fight Cyber terrorism." Computerworld. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
Image credits: U.S. Naval War College @ flickr
COMPUTER SCIENCE: AN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR AN EVOLVING WORKPLACE Olivia Schewe
T
he 21st century has welcomed the digital age with open arms; tablets have replaced books, internet sites have replaced malls, and, according to the Pew Research Center, around 64% of Americans in 2015 owned some kind of smartphone [1]. The tech industry has come back with a bang, not only recovering from the 1.2% decline in tech jobs following the recession in 2009 [2], but expanding 31% faster than other high growth sectors like healthcare and business [3]. The resilient nature of the tech industry has stayed true in recent years, with an estimated 4 million jobs in tech as of 2014 [4]. Considering this rapid growth in tech fields, it seems counterintuitive that the number of computer science courses offered in American schools is declining. As of 2011, only 2,100 out of around 42,000 high schools offer AP Computer Science, and the number of alternative, introductory computer science courses are down 17% from 2005 [5]. In an increasingly technology-dependent world, we must acknowledge that computer science courses are an essential element to modern day education which ensure that students are properly equipped to join a growing, tech-savvy workforce. A background in computer science is necessary for all students, not just for those looking to go into technology fields. Programming is beginning to work its way into nearly every job and basic computer knowledge is essential for employment anywhere. Even jobs in agriculture, which seem completely unrelated to computer science, are using programming and tracking devices to increase crop yield and measure efficiency. The National Center for Women and Information Technology, a non-profit community dedicated to increasing gender diversity in technology fields, writes “(Computer Science) provides 21st century skills necessary for innovation and translates to high-paying, in-demand jobs” [6]. If we go on allowing students to enter the workforce without an understanding of computer science, they will lack the proper skills essential for any modern career. By increasing the number of schools that offer advanced computer science courses, we are not only preparing students to enter technology fields, but also equipping them with the necessary skills for any job. A comprehensive understanding of computer science is especially beneficial for students looking to go into rapidly growing STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields. STEM jobs, which are heavily reliant upon technology, are some of the fastest growing, expecting a 17% increase from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce [7]. With high salaries and an upwards growth trajectory, it’s no wonder that around 33% of college students choose a STEM major [8]. What’s puzzling about the high numbers of outgoing STEM majors is that jobs specifically related to computer science are going unfilled. Large companies, like Microsoft, have suffered the consequences of the shortage in computer science majors. In 2012, Microsoft encountered a scarcity of computer scientists, software engineers, and developers, with 3,700 unfilled openings as cited by Paul McDougall for Information Week [9]. By increasing the number of students exposed to computer science, we can inspire the next generation of computer programmers to fill the gap in technology jobs.
In response to the deficit of properly-trained computer scientists, software engineers, and developers, many tech companies have looked overseas for foreign workers to fill their openings. With the aid of H-1B visas, American tech companies can quickly bring in foreign employees to fill specialized positions which require a level of technical specialty [9]. These visas are unique in their power to grant foreign workers permission to enter the country with much greater speed than a green card can, making them popular among companies looking to fill open tech jobs. The number of technology jobs leaving the U.S. as a result of offshore outsourcing is significant, with tech jobs accounting for 70% of offshore job activity [10]. Although it may seem like a quick fix for the tech giants in dire need of qualified workers, offshoring U.S. jobs is a harmful practice which will negatively affect the economy by diverting U.S. employment growth to overseas locations and reducing American leadership within tech fields, resulting in a loss of tech jobs for qualified workers in the U.S. [11]. Instead of opening up our country to economic risk by moving tech jobs overseas, we can replenish the deficit of tech workers through education and early exposure to computer science. School is meant to allow students to experience a wide range of subjects, prepare them for their future as a working adult, and teach them important life skills. If all American schools were required to teach computer science, more students would have the chance to discover a passion for technology. The new, inspired generation of properly educated computer scientists would be able to close up the deficit of qualified tech-workers. By strengthening our education system instead of resorting to offshore outsourcing, we are addressing the root of the problem and securing American leadership in tech fields. An investment in the proper education of America’s youth will not only prepare students to enter an increasingly technology-dependent workplace, but also strengthen the U.S. economy and make America a key player in the global technological industry. Sources: 1. Smith, Aaron. “U.S. Smartphone Use in 2015.” Pew Research Center Internet Science Tech RSS. Pew Research Center, 01 Apr. 2015. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. 2. Goldman, David. “Tech Jobs Getting Zapped.” CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 10 Apr. 2009. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. 3. Kotkin, Joel. “The Valley And The Upstarts: The Cities Creating The Most Tech Jobs.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 14 Apr. 2015. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. 4. Desilver, Drew. “How U.S. Tech-sector Jobs Have Grown, Changed in 15 Years.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. 5. Ericson, Barbara. “CS Education Statistics « Exploring Computer Science.”Exploring Computer Science CS Education Statistics. Exploring Computer Science, 2016. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. 6. Wilson, Cameron. “Moving Beyond Computer Literacy: Why Schools Should Teach Computer Science.” National Center for Women & Information Technology. NCWIT, 19 Nov. 2009. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. 7. Langdon, David. STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future (2011): 1-10.Economics and Statistics Administration. U.S. Department of Commerce, July 2011. Web. Apr. 2016. 8. Chen, X. (2013). STEM Attrition: College Students’ Paths Into and Out of STEM Fields (NCES 2014-001). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC. 9. McDougall, Paul. “Microsoft Says 6,000 Jobs Open, Wants More Visas - InformationWeek.” InformationWeek. UBM Tech, 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. 10. Raleigh, Helen. “- The Truth of the H1B Visa.” Townhall.com. Townhall Media, 05 Sept. 2015. Web. 07 Apr. 2016. 11. New York State Department of Labor. “THE OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY JOBS IN NEW YORK STATE.” New York State Department of Labor (2010): 1-65. Sept. 2010. Web. 7 Apr. 2016. Image credits: Brett Jordan @ flickr
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AUTISM&THE MIND
By Hunter Katz
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A
utism, medically known as autism spectrum disorder, is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. Autism affects over 30 million Americans per year, ranging from high to low functioning cases. One in 46 Americans currently has, had, or will develop autism in their lifetime. Although there is no cure for autism, many people affected by autism have been able to live normal and successful lives. However, others have been seriously affected throughout their daily lives by the mental disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder is listed on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition (The DSM-5) as a mental disorder. Medical professionals and scientists are unsure of what causes autism--many suggest that autism is an inherited disorder caused by gene abnormality. Many symptoms of autism begin at an early age, when cognitive development is at its highest. Common signs include an inability of reading emotional expressions, impaired vocal development, limited social interaction and repetitive actions or dialogue. Autism is generally more common in males than females, and science is unsure why.
“The severity of ASD can vary greatly and is based on the degree to which social communication, insistence of sameness of activities and surroundings, and repetitive patterns of behavior affect the daily functioning of the individual.” - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
The Diagnosis evaluation is in ordinance with the DSM-5 which can be a short or long process depending on testing and evaluation. Many children affected by autism have certain sensory triggers like loud noises, flashing lights and unfamiliar places that can be challenging for autistic people to handle. Many autistic children have difficulty making friendships in places like school; they often like to play by themselves with activities and interests that they feel comfortable with. Some autistic children display specific learning disabilities that may require educational adjustments to fit the specific need. Many parents of autistic children suffer from stress, depression and debt from Autism Spectrum Disorder. “Many parents must mourn some of the hopes and dreams they held for their child before they can move on. There will probably be many times when [the parents] feel extremely sad. Friends may refer to this as being ‘depressed,’ which can sound frightening”(Autism Speaks). Autism is also very expensive. Autism treatment costs $17,000 yearly and can range from 1.4 million to 2.4 million for lifelong treatment. Autism not only affects the mind, but also affects overall aspects of daily life.
There are many treatment opportunities for autistic people to help cope with their condition. Some Autistic people use medication such as Risperidone and Haloperidol to help reduce the number of emotional outbursts and sensory overloads. Autistic people may also suffer from many other diagnoses such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in which medication can help reduce the over activity in the brain. Some autistic people do well with speech therapy to improve cognitive development, methods such as music and art therapy often plays an important role in stimulation and fine motor skills.
“While early educational intervention is key to improving the lives of people with ASD, some parents and professionals believe other treatment approaches play an important role in improving communication skills and reducing behavioral symptoms associated with autism.” - Autism Society
Animal therapy has also proven a great advancement in autistic people gaining cognitive focus and achievement oriented goals. Animal therapy techniques such as horseback riding and swimming with dolphins have proven to be successful methods of developing skills such as communication and non-verbal interaction. Autistic people sometimes use their own coping methods such as practicing sports and advancing their fine motor skills using tasks like buttoning and unbuttoning their clothes. There is no limit to what treatment strategies are best suited for the individual. Even though many individuals have been greatly impacted by the disorder, many autistic people have gone on to live successful lives. Many autistic people are very gifted at memorization and are verbal and visual communicators.They may posses very high intelligence and are gifted in a certain area of study. These individuals are known as “savants.” Autistic people have contributed tremendous efforts to society. Many people, from world-famous historical scientist Albert Einstein, to composer Ludwig van Beethoven, are reported to have had autism. Modern celebrities with autism include actor Dan Akroyd and the late director Stanley Kubrick. “I have a dream… many people have prejudgments about autistic people and I’m here to change that” said singer Scott James on his X-Factor audition in which he awed an entire crowd. That goes to show that many people, regardless of their autism, have been able to make their mark on the world. Autism may be a disability, but it exists independently from the drive for success an individual possesses. Science has the potential to shed light on new treatments for the disorder. We have a moral responsibility to work towards a higher quality of life for all ASD patients and to help them reach their full potential. The strength that comes from the individuals affected with autism is immense and will never fade.
Image credits: Petr Dosek @ flickr
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Science Created a Copy Machine,
But Should We Use It? Emily Chau
uahC ylimE
No, no, not a literal one. But with the recent successes in cloning, scientists have, in a sense, discovered a way to make copies of organisms. It is a technology with seemingly limitless potential, a potential many countries have already begun to test. For example, ambitious plans were made to build a cloning factory in Tianjin, China last year. Similarly, in 2012, Russian and Japanese scientists made a bold attempt to bring back the extinct wooly mammoth. In the United States, there has also been controversial success in cloning man’s best friend: dogs. In the past couple of years, developments such as those mentioned above have brought the issue of cloning into the global spotlight. Given the rate of current advancements, it is very possible that humans could clone themselves one day. (Even you, reader!) But there are many arguments on both sides, with ethical and religious roots that leave the debate at an impasse. For simplicity, assume that cloning involves two major components: the extraction and replication of the DNA sequence of an organism and the insertion of the copied genetic sequence into more manipulable DNA. Advocates for the use of cloning argue that the ability to clone makes it possible to reproduce organs for patients who need transplants, expand the scope of knowledge in genetics even further, and create a new alternative for parents who aren’t able to conceive. Cloning body parts such as internal organs would increase the currently available, but limited, organ supply and help shorten the long lines of patients who need such organ replacements. This may have far reaching consequences, such a reduction in illegal organ trades if the price of the organs themselves decrease. From an evolutionary standpoint, the human gene pool grows more diverse, inevitably mutating at times, as humans reproduce and progress through generations; on the other hand, cloning could preserve healthy genetic lines. Retaining the information provided
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Image credits: Caroline Davis2010 @ flickr
by these particular genetic lines could help lead to cures for future diseases as well. Genetic cloning would also open a new option for parents who aren’t able to have children themselves, as there would be no need for a egg or sperm donor. Even if cloning were limited to animals, scientists could recreate extinct organisms for further study so that humans can have a more comprehensive look at the past. The case against cloning lies in reasons including the possibility of aging issues in the human population, the lack of genetic diversity, and the potential decline of value in human life. As cloning relies on information from the existing gene pool, the potential for genetic diversity may remain stagnant, leading to a lower chance of developing an immunity against new and evolving diseases. In other words, cloning would ultimately disrupt the course of natural selection. In addition, there is the chance of imprinting the donor’s age onto the clone, and possible repercussions, such as a premature death or other aging issues, could result. Furthermore, there is, again, the ethically and religiously rooted question of how it will affect the value of human life. Opponents of cloning argue that, with the ability to recreate humans, the trivialization of life’s worth would follow. Religious opposers contend that scientists would be overstepping their boundaries and that the clones themselves would not be fully “human.” Both sides raise valid concerns on the matter, but these arguments lead to other, larger questions about the fundamental principles of science. For example, should religious concerns be a factor in scientific study? Is there a place for ethics in the pursuit of scientific progress, and if so, how much? Should there be a limit to what should be probed and unearthed, or will this be just another milestone in humanity’s quest for advancement and evolution? No matter how you stand, here’s a little food for thought: If given the chance, would you want to make a copy of yourself?
Getting to Know Benson Shing, a Pundit of Engineering by Vivian Shing
Benson Shing is a professor of structural engineering at the University of California, San Diego. He received his Ph.D at the University of California, Berkeley and is an expert in the seismic performance of concrete and masonry structures. Shing’s research has led to improved understanding and simulation of the behavior of these structures, resulting in improved design methods. Q: How and why did you pursue a career in structural engineering? A: Physics (especially the mechanics topic) and mathematics were my most favorite subjects in high school. I was fascinated by the fact that how mathematics and mechanics could be used to interpret and understand the physical laws of the nature and how mechanical systems work, for things as simple as a ladder to structures as complex as an airplane or a skyscraper. I was also fascinated by landmark structures, like the Golden Bridge, and structures that represent our cultural heritage. Their marvelous appearance combined with impressive functionality can all be understood with a few fundamental principles of mechanics. The most rewarding aspect of a structural engineer’s job is that every structure he or she has designed is unique and will provide a safe and enjoyable environment for people to live, work, or entertain. Q: What is your favorite part about your job? A: Being a professor, I enjoy teaching and training students to become competent engineers and leaders in the structural engineering field. I also enjoy research to create new knowledge and technologies that will improve the sustainability, safety and economy of engineered structures. Q: What part of your job do you find the most difficult? A: The most challenging but also most rewarding part of my job to develop simple and practical solutions to improve structural engineering design and to improve the safety of older structures not meeting current design and construction standards. Stimulating students to develop their best and working with people with diverse opinions are also very challenging, requiring good human skills.
Q: Which skills and abilities do you find to be the most important in this career? A: Creativity, open-mind, perseverance, written and oral communication skills, team work, and human skills. Q: What is a typical day like? A: Teach a class, advise students, conduct research, read and write research papers, attend meetings, and work on administrative business. Q: Are there any memorable stories from your time as a professor? A: Being a professor, I have had a lot of opportunities to travel and meet people with different cultural backgrounds and interests. I have learned that the world is much smaller than what I thought. Q: Do you have any advice for students aspiring to be engineers? A: Do well in physics and math; understand that math is a tool to describe and understand the physical world; however, engineering is not math alone but requires broad knowledge, creativity, and ability to make complicated ideas simple; develop a good study habit focusing on fundamentals; always have curiosity, as creative thinking is often driven by curiosity; understand that learning is lifelong; develop good communication skills to convey your ideas effectively; have an open mind to accept new ideas and things seem impossible at the first glance; be able to think out of the box; dare to challenge conventional wisdom; ability to do teamwork; etc.
Image credits: Ben Lunsford and Jean Beaufort
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Interview with Jiejun Wu By Marissa Wu
Jiejun Wu is a scientific director at Janssen Research & Development, where he works in pharmaceutical research and drug discovery. He has a Ph.D in biochemistry.
Q: How and why did you pursue a career in analytical chemistry? A: After I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, I noticed that in order to gain a deep understanding of biological functions, it’s necessary that we know the biological structures better. And analytical chemistry is just the discipline that uses sophisticated instruments and methods to figure out what things are composed of chemically. For example, when I heard LDL (low density lipoprotein) is also called the “bad cholesterol”, I wanted to know what LDL really is. Analytical chemistry can give me that answer. (Please look it up and you will know that it’s not a single protein and it’s far from the cholesterol family!) So, in my Ph.D. years I decided to pursue a career in analytical chemistry and I have enjoyed working in this field ever since.
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
Jiejun Wu
A: Analytical chemistry is all about problem solving. It’s like solving interesting puzzles while getting well paid. In the pharmaceutical industry, the answers we find out usually will help biologists in answering some important questions such as what causes a particular disease, and what is a particular drug’s mechanism of action. This in turn will help drug discovery and the development process and in the end will help to improve human health. And that’s my favorite part: knowing your work is contributing to the wellness of mankind.
Q: What part of your job do you find the most difficult? A: Most of the problems (puzzles) we try to solve are actually pretty hard! (for example, to figure out what metabolites can be early signals for ovarian cancer.) It requires smart experiment design and careful execution, and even with that it will take a lot of trial-and-error. Failure and disappointment is a not a rare event of my job, and we have to learn from each failure and keep moving forward.
Q: Which skills and abilities do you find to be the most important in this career? A: Strong problem-solving ability, always being willing to try new approaches and new tools, being able to handle unexpected results and disappointments, solid knowledge in physics, chemistry and biology - those are some of the most important skills needed to be a good analytical chemist.
Q: What is your typical day like? A: Usually I will check my emails and voice messages, and check my calendar for the important things to do. After replying to some emails, I will prepare samples and set up my experiments and let the analytical instruments do the hard work. I will read scientific news and journals and may go to meetings to discuss research with my colleagues. Data are shared with colleagues and recorded in lab notebooks. Sometimes I also need to spend hours maintaining or repairing an instrument. Near the end of day I usually plan my work for the next day.
Q: Are there any memorable stories from your time as an analytical chemist? A: Yes indeed. We had one drug candidate that was ready for FDA approval to go to a human clinical trial. But the FDA required additional structural information on a particular metabolite of this drug candidate. That is, what would this drug change into once it was incubated with human liver microsomes? Using high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, we successfully isolated and identified the metabolite and satisfied the FDA requirement.
Q: Do you have any advice for students aspiring to be analytical chemists? A: Doing analytical chemistry is hard, but lots of fun! It’s a very specialized scientific and technical area that requires years of training and practice. You will feel very good knowing what’s in that mysterious sample, and that the finding really explains a special biological question people are eager to know. Along with the fast growth of biotech and pharmaceutical industry, the demand for analytical chemists has always been strong. So, I’d say if you are curious and adventurous, hard-working and a “never give up” type of person, then analytical chemistry may be just for you!
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Image credits: freepik.com
Interview With Jenny Yan By Kathie Jiang
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ew jobs combine STEM, design, and giving back to one’s community like civil engineering does, which involves the design, construction, and maintenance of public and private infrastructure. I’ve interviewed my mother, Jenny Yan, who has worked for 18 years as a civil engineer at the California Department of Transportation, or otherwise known as Caltrans. The responsibilities of Caltrans range from supporting Amtrak railways and managing the 50,000 miles of California’s freeways, the latter of which Jenny specializes in. Q: My first question is, how did you discover your passion for STEM? What did you study in high school/college in order to pursue your career? A: I always loved drawing, math, and geometry at a young age. As a child, our house in Shanghai was so small that I wanted to design a bigger house for my family. I was inspired by my father, who was a mechanical engineer; he too was always drafting blueprints but for automobiles. In high school I took a course called Engineer Drafting, and I found that I enjoyed the class. Although I wanted to study Architecture, I decided to study Civil Engineering at University of Toledo. Q: And what were your first steps out of college?
Express Lanes. This project’s going to benefit the countless commuters that travel up and down the I-5 between Cardiff and Oceanside. Q: So CCA students and staff that live in Encinitas should look forward to this! What is the project you are most proud of? A: The Highway 56! I did all the drainage design. We faced a lot of obstacles, from figuring out how to conserve the surrounding environmentally-sensitive wetlands to working with local homeowners to build sound walls that reduce noise pollution from the newly built freeways. We completed the design on a rapid schedule; we were only given two years submit the final design, and two years to build the freeway itself. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t my paycheck or praise from my boss that made me proud of my work, it was stepping onto the construction site and seeing my own design put into A: I’m a transportation engineer, A: I’ll be honest here: I failed my col- action. The 56 was the first highway in specifically in the Design Department lege Architecture drawing placement North County to connect coastal areas of Caltrans. I design freeways, and test in China, but afterwards I thought with the inland Highway 15. in recent years most of my tasks are about my options and realized that Q: What advice do you have for high what’s called “retro-fitting”: renovat- Civil Engineering was the closest schoolers entering your occupation? ing existing freeways. That includes field to architecture. After I came widening lanes and adding HOV to the United States, I was choosing or auxiliary lanes. Each day I use a between structural, environmental, A: Get involved with hands-on work computer design software system and transportation engineering when through internships or volunteer called AutoCAD/Civil 3D to draw I eventually settled on Transportation positions in engineering. Work in the my plans and modelling the roads in because of its stability. Construction private sector first; you gain the most 3D, so I use a lot of visual design and patterns for buildings tend to follow experience, since you have more exposure to a variety of projects. During geometry in my work. I coordinate the economy’s booms and busts, my time at Boyle Engineering, I was with the many other departments— but roads are always in consistent Environmental, Utility, Right-of-Way, demand. I don’t regret choosing civil presented with all sorts of projects Traffic Operations, Cultural Reengineering; the architecture industry traffic-related. It prepared me for my sources—to ensure that the freeway I is all about selling one’s ideas, while work in the public sector. If there’s design doesn’t conflict with any other civil engineering really allows you to anything I’d want to say to a to-be enfeatures in the area. For example, I see your plans come into reality, for gineer, it’d be: be proactive and willing have to check in with the Utility De- the improvement of your community. to learn new things. Don’t be afraid partment to see if my designed road That’s the most rewarding part of my to ask senior engineers questions or for help. And project by project, you’ll will or won’t damage current utility job, not a raise or a promotion. build your experience and gain confilines, like underground water pipes or electricity poles. Q: What project are you working on dence in your abilities and work.
A: After graduating, I moved to San Diego with my husband and worked at Boyle Engineering, a private company, for three years. When I was working on the design for Highway 56 under Boyle, I was hired by Caltrans to continue designing Highway 56 as an in-house licensed engineer. It’s rare for Caltrans to hire a licensed engineer like me; nowadays Human Resources usually hire student engineers as volunteers, then promote them to assistant engineers. Q: You mentioned that you started Q: Can you tell me a little bit about a typical day in your job at Caltrans?
off wanting to be an Architectural Engineer, but you switched to Civil Engineering. Can you explain what caused you to change your mind?
right now?
A: Right now, I’m working on the Interstate 5 actually. We’re expanding Interstate 5 between Manchester Avenue and Oceanside, adding HOV and Image credits: Will Scullin @ flickr
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