Week 9 NOM

Week 9 NOM

Date: 10/3/13

Time: 0905-0950
Present: Claudia, Darelyn, Matthea, Ding Wen

	Items	Description	Action By
1	Results of our research paper	The results we gathered from our data, in table format, was added to our blog and research paper.	Darelyn
2	Modification of data analysis method	We modified our method of data analysis as we were unable to gather the values of the lightning data without a particular Windows software and thus, were not able to generate data graphs.	Everyone

Week 7 NOM

Week 7 NOM
Date: 24/2/13
Time: 0905-0950
Present: Claudia, Darelyn, Matthea, Ding Wen

	Item	Description	Action By
1	Data from Mr Tan	Data has to be gathered from Mr Tan as a second data source.	Claudia
2	Introduction of our research paper	We have to write the Introduction for our research paper.	Darelyn
3	Methodology for our research paper	Our methodologies for our research paper also has to be written.	Matthea

Week 6 NOM

WEEK 6 NOM

Date: 18/2/13
Time: 0905-0950
Present: Claudia, Darelyn, Matthea, Ding Wen

	Item	Description	Action By
1	Data from Niklaus	Data has been gathered from Niklaus.	Claudia
2	Analyse the data into graphs	We will need to analyse  the data from Niklaus into a graph for better organisation and collation of data.	Claudia
	Reviewal of Gantt Chart	A reviewal of our Gantt Chart by everyone is needed  to confirm if the update by Ding Wen is correct.	Everyone

Week 5 NOM

WEEK 5 NOM
Date: 4/2/13
Time: 0905-0950
Present: Claudia, Darelyn, Matthea, Ding Wen

	Item	Description	Action By
1	Update from Mr Ng	Mr Ng told us that we need not use the methodology suggested by Mr Tan Hoe Teck. We will be able to email Niklaus for data.	-
2	Email to Niklaus	We will need to email to Niklaus to get data on the number of lightning strikes and humidity.	Claudia
3	Update the Gantt Chart	As there is a change in methodology, we will need to update our Gantt Chart.	Ding Wen

Week 4 NOM

WEEK 4 NOM
Date: 28/1/13
Time: 0905-0950
Present: Claudia, Darelyn, Matthea, Ding Wen

	Item	Description	Action By
1	New Methodology	Mr Ng told us that we would be able to use an electricity generator and a hygrometer for our data collection.	-
2	Review of IRS Proposal	As Mr Ng told us about a new methodology, we will need to modify the Scope of Research, Procedures and Data Analysis.	All

-Mr Tan Hoe Teck
-Scheduled a meeting to be on Thursday to discuss for modifications of Scope of Research, Procedures and Data Analysis.

Week 3 NOM

Week 3 NOM
Date: 21/1/13
Time: 0905-0950
Present: Claudia, Darelyn, Matthea, Ding Wen

	Item	Description	Action By
1	Discussions and improvements of Literature Review	Read the article we found and state the pros and cons of the data collection methods	All (Individual)
2	Gantt Chart	To be posted on the blog	Matthea
3	Risk Assessment	Voided due to new methodology	-
4	Generation of Gantt Chart	To collate the tasks needed to be done into a gantt chart using a web tool.	Ding Wen

-Discussions and improvements of Literature Review

-2nd Review of IRS Research Proposal (Scope of Research, Procedures and Data Analysis are to be modified)

-Risk Assessment to be voided as advised by Mr Ng (Explanation to be done)

Week 2 NOM

WEEK 2 NOM
Date: 14/1/13
Time: 0905-0950
Present: Claudia, Darelyn, Matthea, Ding Wen

	Item	Description	Action By
1	Reviewal of IRS proposal	Change of methodology and scope of research as advised by Mr Ng.	All
2	Gantt Chart	Collate a list of tasks needed to be done by the end of the IRS module.	All
3	Methodology	Try to contact NEA for collection of data.	Darelyn

• Reviewed IRS proposal

Redo methodology and scope.

• Mr Ng advised

Dangerous methodology
~ Dangerous methodology
Try contacting NEA for collection of data and data results

• Scheduled a meeting on Tuesday

Week 1 NOM

Roles

Leader: Darelyn Lim

Secretary: Matthea Koh

Public Relations Manager: Claudia Khin

Blog Manager: Lim Ding Wen

Responsibilities

Leader - Facilitate the meetings and ensure full participation and cooperation of the members.

Secretary - Take down weekly notes of discussion and plan the schedule.

Public Relations Manager - Interact with the public to get evidence to support the group's ideas, communicate with them to bring across the group's ideas and at the same time, he or she has maintained a good relationship with the public.

Blog Manager - Organise the blog and edit members' posts where and when necessary.

Schedule (Term 1)

Meet-up every Tuesday from 2.35-3.35pm.
(Time may vary due to certain circumstances. OR if unable to meet up due to valid reasons, meet-up will then be scheduled to Thursday at the same time.)

Research Proposal

Video Presentation

IRS Research Justification Report

RESEARCH JUSTIFICATION
YEAR ONE INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH STUDIES

Research topic: Environment
Chosen area of focus:  Investigation of the effect of humidity on the number of lightning strikes during a downpour in Singapore.

1) Framing our research topic
Our chosen area of focus is “Investigation of the effect of humidity on the number of lightning strikes during a downpour in Singapore.” We have chosen this topic because lightning strikes are one of the most deadly death causes in Singapore. It has been found that “The Republic has 0.35 lightning deaths per million people each year on average, compared to 0.2 in Britain and 0.6 in the United States.” It is quite a high number and in time to come, it may cause an increased number of unnecessary deaths caused by lightning strikes in Singapore. (Feng & Toh, 2011)

a. The reason why lightning Is formed is because the discharge of electrical energy that is formed in the clouds are accumulated and it strikes when the voltage is too high for the cloud to contain. The time that a bolt of lightning will strike is too hard to predict and the technology that we have now forbids us to do so. (Christian & McCook, n.d.)

b. Although there are ways to prevent being struck by lightning, some members of the public are unaware of this and may hide at a place which they deem is safe but is actually one of the most common places that a lightning would strike. An example is hiding under a tree. It is dangerous hiding under a tree especially if on an open field as the tree is standing alone and not crowded and like us, the tree is made up of a significant percentage of water, which is a conductor of electricity (lightning is made up of electricity). And also, since the ground is wet, it is easy for the lightning to flow through the ground and electrocute us, which can cause serious damage and sometimes even death.

c. Lightning strikes are unpredictable. With this research, we might be able to predict the number of lightning strikes by measuring the amount of humidity in the air and inform the public about their safety when outside.

2) Reasons for the choice of topic
a. We have chosen this topic as lightning is one of the most deadly death causes in Singapore. Singapore also has one of the highest lightning rate in the world. With this research, we would be able to spread awareness when the predicted number of lightning strikes would be too high and advise the public to be careful. (National Environment Agency, n.d.)

b. The topic will also be beneficial to the public as our research will be able to determine the number of lightning strikes by measuring the amount of humidity in the air and thus, inform the public to be aware.

3) Feasibility of the research
a. There is a need to carry out our research as lightning strikes are unpredictable and with Singapore having the highest lightning rate in the world, it is thus essential for us to carry out our research for the public to be aware when lightning strikes are vulnerable to death. (National Environment Agency, n.d.)

b. It is also possible to carry out the research in the science lab as the lab has most of the things that we need to use for our research.

c. The proposed course of action is also possible as we can use the equipments available in the lab and also purchase necessary equipments needed. A computer would be used to plot the graph through the whole day. To ensure reliability and accuracy of the data collection, we will be collecting data throughout the whole day for a scheduled period of time.

d. This research also provides a lot of opportunities for us to generate ideas and analysis is greatly required for data collection. We will need to relate the data collected to the minimum radio frequency at which a lightning strike is deadly and the amount of humidity at that time.
Overall, this research requires us to develop critical thinking and analysis.

4) Manageability of the research
a. With the help of our schedule manager, we will plan a schedule for our research. We will try not to get out of point from our main target and stay on track during the course of the research.

b. This research topic also will enable a lot of group work as we need to carry out quite a number of experiments and there will also be a lot of data collection. We will try to divide the work among us so that the research can be done quickly and efficiently.

c. We will definitely be facing difficulties along the course of the research, such as the lack of communication among group members and the lack of free time from our packed schedules. Through Whatsapp, Facebook and SMS, communication would not be a hassle with the availability of a vast range of communication means.

d. We would only focus on selected areas in Singapore which would ensure the manageability of our research as it would not be too tedious.

5) The accessibility of the information required
a. The information that will be relevant to our research will be the number of lightning strikes recorded during a downpour, the amount of humidity in the air when a lightning strikes and the number of lightning strikes recorded to be considered dangerous.

b. We will get the information from primary and secondary sources, the results and observations of our experiments, depending on which is more reliable.

c. If there is a need, we will interview experts who are experienced in this field.

REFERENCES
National Environment Agency. [n.d.]. Lightning. Meteorogical Service Singapore.
Retrieved date 1st Sep 2012, from
http://www.weather.gov.sg/wip/web/home/lightning
Feng Zengkun & Kazia Toh. [22 Nov 2011]. Lightning City. Wild Singapore.
Retrieved date 1st Sep 2012, from
http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2011/11/lightning-city.html
Dr. Hugh J. Christian and Melanie A. McCook [n.d.]. A Lightning Primer. NASA.
Retrieved date 1st Sep 2012, from
http://thunder.msfc.nasa.gov/primer/index.html
Dan Breed and Bob Henson. [5 April 2000] Lightning: FAQ. UCAR Communications.
Retrieved date 1st Sep 2012, from
http://www.ucar.edu/communications/infopack/lightning/faq.html
Rakov, Vladimir A. and Uman, Martin A. (2003). Lightning: Physics and effects. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521583276.

Week 6: The Final Three

1.What is the effect of humidity on the voltage produced by lightning strikes in Singapore?
2.Conversion of lightning energy into other forms of energy.

3.In which months does lightning strikes the most often?

Week 5 : Generating of questions

Lightning
1. What is the effect of humidity on the voltage produced by lightning strikes in Singapore?
2. Conversion of lightning energy into other forms of energy.
3. What is the effect of humidity on the radio frequency by lightning strikes in Singapore?
4. How often does deadly lightning strike in Singapore?
5. In which months does lightning strikes the most often?

Environment in Singapore Mind Map

Week 2 Task 1 (Table of PTs)

Our PT table

Task 2 - Question 4

QUESTION 4: In your opinion, what are the roles and responsibilities for the Leader, Blog Manager, Schedule Manager and Rublic Relations Manager? Why?

Okay, this is the final question. =D

Task 2 - Question 3

QUESTION 3: What I want to learn in IRS this semester....

Task 2 - Question 2

QUESTION 2: Why do I think research is important in our studies?

Task 2 - Question 1

For this post and the next few posts, please comment on the post to answer the question on the post.

QUESTION 1: What is research to me?