Harnessing Solar Energy using Photosynthesis and Semiconductor-based Solar Cell

For a long time, human beings have looked for ways through which they can use the energy from the sun in their daily activities. The major advantages of using solar energy is that it is readily available in many parts of the world, it is renewable and it causes minimal harm to the environment as compared to the other types of fuels. Solar energy has been used for many activities such as drying, providing heat, lighting, cooking and disinfecting among other uses. Some of the uses may not be so obvious to some and they may be taken for granted. One such use of the solar energy is photosynthesis. It would be virtually impossible to survive without the sun since green plants require the sun to make their food.

During photosynthesis, green plants absorb the energy from the sun’s radiation and convert it into food by combining water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. The chlorophyll in the green plants captures, transforms, and stores energy. During this process, light energy is transformed into chemical energy. Photosynthetic bacteria and algae also undergo the process of photosynthesis (Rajan, 2003). Solar cells, which are mostly made of silicon, convert solar energy into electricity. Solar panels are made of many solar cells and they are used during this process. When solar cells are exposed to light, they absorb photons and allow the generation of electrical currents. Photovoltaic conversion enables the sun’s rays to be converted into electricity. While photosynthesis does not require any expenses, the same cannot be said of solar cells. Solar cell technology is expensive though the main material used in making the solar cells in readily available.

The similarity between the plant cell and the solar cell is that they both absorb energy from the sun. The absorbed energy is then transferred or transformed into a useful form. The plants are able to make food and the solar cells convert the sun’s radiation into electricity. The differences between the two cells are the type of energy produced after conversion. Plant cells make chemical energy while solar cells make electrical energy. Whereas photosynthesis is a free process, making solar cells is an expensive process. Plant cells are naturally occurring while solar cells are manufactured. Photosynthesis is rigid in that it can only be used directly by the plants while solar panels are flexible because they can be utilized for many domestic and commercial activities.

Thermodynamics can be defined as the study of heat and its relation to other form of energy. The first law of thermodynamics, which is also called the law of conservation of energy, states that energy can be changed from one form to another but it cannot be created or destroyed. In the case of solar energy, it can be transformed into electrical or chemical form. Solar cells convert light energy into electrical energy thus conserving it. The heat and light from the sun are also used in different ways. The second law states that in all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state.

Some or all of the energy transferred or transformed is used in different ways. If all the transferred energy is used, then it eventually becomes of little use. At first, energy is concentrated at different levels. It starts spreading out from the more concentrated areas to the ones that are less concentrated. It will only stop flowing when there is no difference in the concentration levels (Watson, 2010). During photosynthesis, the green leaves in the plant absorb the sun’s energy but they have to distribute this energy to other parts of the plant to enable it to make food. The third law states that as temperature approaches absolute zero, the entropy of a system approaches a minimum.

 

References

Rajan, S. S. (2003). Cell and molecular biology. New Delhi, India: Anmol Publications PVT. LTD

Watson, D. (2010). The second law of thermodynamics. Retrieved from http://www.ftexploring.com/energy/2nd_Law.html

Creating Speeches

Speech Presentation

A good presenter will try to identify an audience and find out more about the audience before presenting a speech. This action not only helps the presenter to stay relevant but also saves time that would have been used to inform the audience about things they already know (Reeves & Hedberg, 2003). Identifying the needs of the audience helps the presenter to select the points that are important to the audience and discard the issues they do not care for. One of the tools a presenter can use is conducting an audience assessment.
How would you conduct an audience assessment in this situation?

The first step in conducting an audience assessment is to analyze the people and find out what they stand for. With the knowledge of what I need to find out, my next step is to conduct interviews. An informal interview involves asking a respected person in the community or a group of people about their views about cars. Useful information can also be gathered from the local institutions of administration such as the city hall, the chamber of commerce and libraries. Posters and notices around the community can give an impression of the activities the community treasures. The use of questionnaires is another way to gather information about the community in a formal manner. Moreover, driving around the community to see what type of cars most people have and the current dealers in the market can also form part of the audience assessment.

What means might you use to get to know the people in the community?

In a community with 40,000 people, the best people to use to gain information are those in authority or key community figures. For example, a school principle can provide valuable information about the families because he is in habitual contact with the community’s inhabitants. The other individuals to connect with are leaders. Not all leaders will provide the relevant information therefore sampling is necessary. These leaders may include mayors, the local sheriff, presidents of clubs, the local pastors and outstanding businessperson. These leaders may also provide information on other people to contact.
What kinds of questions would you ask them or ask others about them?

Before participating in an assessment, it is imperative to know the kind of information required for the presentation (Reeves & Hedberg, 2003). First, it is essential to find out if the people value cars or not. Similarly, I need to know what issues they are facing. Secondly, I need to understand the age group and the gender of the people who are likely to attend. Their education background and the resources available in the community are also important factors to consider. Thirdly, I need to understand the experiences that the people have had with cars and what type of cars they buy. What attitudes do the people have towards cars? Do they trust the dealers currently operating in the community?
Why are these questions relevant to your presentation?

These questions are useful for gathering information about the community in order to gain a general impression about the community. Furthermore, the questions will help me find a way to address the issues that the community has had with cars in the past. For example, if the community is used to buying lemons, I can assure them that I will not deal with lemons by offering guarantees.
How will knowing your audience help you to best deliver your speech, provide handouts, use audio/visual equipment, and other elements of your presentation?

Knowing the audience improves the communication system and provides confidence (Reeves & Hedberg, 2003). The assessment process will help me build the strength of the audience by addressing their needs. Presentation is a two-way process. Once I have the understanding of what the community needs in a car, I will know what message to convey in order to be relevant and efficient. In addition, I will be empowered to present a good argument in case the need arises.

 

 

 

Reference

Reeves, T. C., & Hedberg, J. G. (2003). Interactive learning systems evaluation. Englewood Cliffs, N. J: Educational Technology

 Case Analysis-National Cranberry Cooperative

National Cranberry Cooperative was an organization that was formed by cranberry growers with operations in New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, Oregon, Nova Scotia, Wisconsin and British Colombia. The cooperative is concerned with the processing and marketing of the cranberries. The farmers incur the losses of the cooperative and there is therefore a need to reduce unnecessary expenses at all costs. The cranberry industry has experienced many changes over the years. Some of the changes have been good and positive and has enabled the growers to produce more cranberries even in minimal acreage. However, as the industry grows, the farmers have also realized that they can make more money by changing the growing and processing methods. They have introduced water harvesting, which despite realizing more yields than dry harvesting have resulted to less fresh produce. Water harvesting caused more damage to the berries and shortened the shelf life. Picking fresh fruits is not an easy process as it requires the berries to be handpicked from the bushes and all berries are inspected individually before they are packaged. The processes involved at RPI are receiving and testing, dumping, temporary holding, destining, de-chaffing, drying, separation, bulking and bagging. They are then stored or processed into sauces, juice and frozen fresh berries. The berries are graded according to color- No. 1 is the poorest color and No. 3 is the best the other colors are 2A and 2B. Sometimes it is not clear how to grade the berries and at such times, the berry receives a No. 3 color. This often causes many expenses to be incurred since No.3 colors usually receive a premium. The berries are held in holding bins before they are destoned or dechaffed. The water-harvested berries are also dried before being graded for quality and bulked or bagged. The fresh fruit process has four hundred workers during the peak, most of who are involved in the inspection. The process fruit section has a workforce of either 27 or 53 during harvesting.

 

Some of the costs, which are incurred in RPI, can be avoided or minimized. For instance, it takes a lot of time for trucks to unload and this is expensive for the cooperative since the trucks are on lease and the drivers have to be paid for the time spent at the factory. Most of this time is spent when the trucks are waiting to empty their contents in the Kiwanee dumper. The holding bins do not have the capacity to hold many berries and the RPI does not have temporary stores where the berries can be held. Having a holding pool with water would mean that more than one truck can empty the berries in the pool and this would reduce the time taken. This could also reduce the processes since wet berries do not need destoning. Another area where there are unnecessary costs is in the work schedule. When there is a high rate of absenteeism, a lot of money is spent paying overtime to the workers who are already there. The management seems lenient in handling the employees’ absenteeism and this should change. The management should introduce two shifts during the peak season. This will reduce the number of hours that the firm will stay open since more work will have been accomplished. One of the reasons why the level of absenteeism is high could be of the overwhelming workload. Introducing two shifts will give the employees enough time to rest and be ready for the next shift. Despite this change, the management should find a better incentive to reduce the number of absent employees at any time in the company. Grading some of the berries as No. 3 should be changed since it is incurring many expenses. Many berries are regarded as top quality and yet they are not. The cooperative should either introduce another color class to grade the berries or classify them as 2B. The farmers should be willing to work together with the cooperative since a loss to the cooperative means a loss to the farmers (Porteus, 1993).

 

References

HBS. (2006). National cranberry cooperative (abridged). Cheneyville Louisiana, Harvard Business School.

Porteus, L. E. (1993). “Case analysis: Analyses of the national cranberry cooperative-1 tactical options.” Interfaces (23) 4 21 – 39

Critique on: Absent Voices

The article ‘Absent Voices’ was written by Laura Smith for The Guardian and was published on Wednesday September 6, 2006. The article talks about the growth of the mixed race in the United Kingdom and refers to it as an ethnic group on its own. Smith also talks of the mixed race as an ethnic minority group adding that it is referred to by the media as ‘exotic’ and that it is the ‘acceptable face’ of diversity in the society today (Smith, 2006). She later on discusses and gives clear representations throughout the article that show how the real situation on the ground is to the contrary. The author talks a lot about ethnicity in addition to a person’s location in relation to his or her ethnicity. However, this should not be her focal point since the world today does not judge a person by the color of their skin or their accent.

The author being a writer at the Guardian, a renowned newspaper, appears to have quite high credentials. However, the subject that she writes on is quite a sensitive subject and she is quite concentrated on how prejudicial people are about race and ethnicity. Her audience is mainly observed to be the same mixed race that she talks about in the article. The writer creates a race that she calls the ‘mixed race’, clearly a wrong move since she creates a gap in the society where people who have parents who are not from the same race or ethnicity can be classified as belonging in the ‘mixed race’. The author also uses inappropriate vocabulary in her article. This is evident where she creates the race called ‘mixed’ and throughout her article, she uses language that is not targeted for general reading. The language in the article suggests that the article was strictly meant for adult readers.

The amount of support and evidence that the author shows in her article is fulfilling to the reader. For instance, she gives the statistics from the census that shows how well the research was carried out before she wrote the paper and the reliability of the information. For example, she indicates that the census in 2006 counted 680,000 people from the mixed race (Smith, 2006). She also gives census figures from previous years and states how many people from the mixed race were there then. Her use of outside research is correct and direct in the article. This is seen when she reviews the report showing how mixed race people have underachieved in education. She quotes from the report that states, “Their invisibility from policy makes it difficult for their underachievement to be challenged” (Smith, 2006).

Smith also handles biases and opposing opinions quite well since the whole paper is about her negating the opinion that the mixed race is viewed as the face of diversity in society. The purpose of the paper is to show how the mixed race is oppressed without the knowledge of the people and this happens in several different social centers. She also uses evidence to prove her case and express her point well enough to pass her argument to the reader. Logically, the argument of the author fits. Smith argues that the mixed race people are being oppressed while stereotypically being used as the symbols of the societal diversification in the world today. She also argues that not all mixed people face the same issues. Each mixed race person has individual and unique issues depending mostly on his mix. However, in all the cases, the mixed race person embodies an individual who the others either want or reject. The author has ideas that are shown to have been in existence for some time since she talks about the issue of race and specifically that of the mixed race. The issue of race has been present in the society since the time of the slave trade though soft-spoken ever since.

The issue of race that the writer talks about might sometimes be an advantage since a mixed race person may have it easy to blend in where there are white, black or multiracial people present. The society today however does not concentrate much on the color of a person. People all have equal chances, treatment and rights and this is what draws human beings together. Being of a mixed race should not be viewed as a curse, nor should being any other race be. People should view one another as brothers and sisters, and they should all get along regardless of one’s color, race or ethnicity.

 

Reference

Smith, L. (2006, September 6). Absent Voices. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2006/sep/06/guardiansocietysupplement1

The Periodic Kingdom: A Journey into the Land of the Chemical Elements

Introduction:

The Periodic Kingdom: A Journey into the Land of the Chemical Elements is a publication authored by Peter William Atkins, a professor within the chemistry section of the University of Oxford. The book was initially available in print in the period 1970 with several reprints the most recent being in the year 2008. The 1970 edition was issued by Basic Books while the most recent has been availed by Paw Prints. The publication falls within the Science fiction genre containing one hundred and sixty one pages. The book discusses the periodic table in a simplistic yet poetic manner that infuses an element of interest into the reader. The simplistic manner in which the publication has been documented makes it an appealing book to individuals that lack chemistry knowledge and thereby indicating this as the possible targeted audience. Professor Atkins metaphorically holds the periodic tables as a kingdom in which he leads the reader to learn the various subjects involved in its service. This positive approach aids the reader into acquiring the fundamental concepts involved in the periodic table in a way that is easily recollected.

Discussion:    

The plot is divided into three sections referred to as Geography, History, and Government and Institutions. The initial chapter, The Terrain, introduces the reader to “the Periodic Kingdom…a land of the imagination…the kingdom of the chemical elements…the substances from which everything tangible is made,” (Atkins 3). These preceding statements offer the setting of the novel although the reader is guided by the disclaimer that the empire “is closer to reality than it appears,” (Atkins 3) into the knowledge that the metaphors used are actually in existence. The characters employed by Professor Atkins are identified as totaling to at least one hundred ‘regions’ the phrase used to refer to elements within the periodic table. The second and third chapters known as The Products of the Regions and the Physical Geography respectively focus on the physical description of the regions involved within the kingdom. Having identified the traits attributed to each region, the writer shifts the setting into the knowledge genesis of the elements as deeply provided in the History section: the History of Discovery, the Naming of the Regions, the origin of the Land and the Cartographers. This information is covered in chapters four through seven. The last section, Government and Institutions covered in four chapters discusses the laws that operate within each element and the product of regional merging. The Laws of the Interior provide information regarding the nucleic region whereas the Laws of the Exterior discuss the electrons and their application in bonding as presented in the Liaisons and Alliances chapter. The Regional Administration chapter deals with the description of the mutual characteristics operating within each region like the halogens or the alkaline earth metals.

The scientific principles discussed in the book are the physical attributes of each periodic table element. The allegory created throughout the book is logical and reasonable to the reader as it accords pictorial presentations as well as simplistic explanations for the discussed elements. For instance, the author employs detailed descriptive imagery in his phrases like “from overhead we see that it stretches in a great vista, from hydrogen to the distant uranium. There are known regions beyond uranium, but in the far distance lies an unexplored horizon awaiting a new Columbus,” (Atkins 4). The hint provided to the reader is that hydrogen marks the initial element within the periodic table whereas uranium acts as the last well-known region. However, the author also points that subsequent to uranium, other elements have been discovered yet that which need more studies for a quantifiable knowledge of each to be attained. Another fine example can be depicted from the statement found within the Liaisons and Alliances chapter describing compounds as “intimate intermarriages of the atoms of the regions, not mere mixtures,” (Atkins 137). This aids the reader into the knowledge that atomic bond is a pre-requisite for the materialization of the compounds. This atomic bonding acts as the difference between compounds and mixtures in chemistry.

Analysis:        

With the book encompassing the creation of a fictional kingdom that is an actual representation of elements, the author has made a tremendous job in aiding the student into the basic knowledge of the periodic table. The approach used by the author is an interactive experience for the reader and from a subjective perspective, this acted as the main point of interest. Critical thinking and reconstruction is necessitated within the reader for comprehensive purposes and the merit associated to this element, especially for students, is that meaningful learning takes place. The limitation infused by the text is that, it cannot be relied as an independent chemistry book that a learner may use to acquire the full understanding of the periodic table since it covers only the basics. Therefore, it only works best as a complementary learning resource whose effectuality is realized upon the combination with a credible academic resource. The theme of elements is well covered within the first nine chapters and only the last three explore alternative forms of elements like the compounds. This ensured that the theme was exhaustively covered. The metaphors used enhance critical judgment and association with the real elements for the reader to analyze the presence of congruence. The chapters aid the writer into achieving a hierarchical progressive structure in the subject of elements and this provides a platform for an in-depth textual analysis.

 

 

Conclusion:   

In conclusion, Professor Atkins publication is a very informative text that is useful for different learning levels beginning with high school and college student. For high school, the book aids in the delivery of the fundamental concepts operating within the periodic table as a complementary source. For college students, the book is quite useful in creating a deeper understanding of the elements like the individual researchers involved in the unearthing and designation of the elements. The fiction used makes the subject more interesting and this is very useful in the learning environment. It is an interesting learning instrument that I recommend for use for learners that encounter difficulties in the science involved in the periodic table.

Works Cited:

Atkins, Peter. The periodic kingdom: a journey into the land of the chemical elements. New York, NY: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1995. Print.

 

 

 

 

The Crucible and Scarlet Letter

The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller and The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne are both examples of how the society can be caught up in upholding their traditions and beliefs such that they are willing to subject those who are caught breaking the law are punished in any means necessary. In both stories, the society takes the mandate of punishing those who have committed unforgivable acts. In the case of The Crucible, anyone who practiced witchcraft was severely punished and those who were accused did all that they could to avoid facing punishment. Unfortunately, this included betraying their neighbors and friends and presenting false witness in court. In The Scarlet Letter, anyone who was caught in adultery or was suspected of having committed the crime was humiliated publicly and isolated from the rest of the community as a form of punishment. The two authors show the judgmental view of the society though they each present different ways of handling the situation.

A common theme in both stories is that of sin and its consequences on the sinner. The sin of witchcraft in the Crucible and Adultery in the Scarlet Letter were serious in the eyes of the law and they were heavily punished. In both stories, religion dictated morality and the rules that the people ought to abide by (Miller and Blakesley 2). Anyone who was caught breaking these rules was thought to go against God. The people of Salem associated witchcraft with the devil and they believed that witches were to be hanged. The society was adamant in enforcing its rules on the people. Punishment in this case meant death and there was no way of escaping. Despite their innocence, the people named by Betty and Abigail confessed to sins which they did not commit because of fear. Adultery was considered a grave sin in Boston and anyone who was unlucky enough to be caught in the act was humiliated publicly.

One of the differences between the two stories is how the different societies dealt with sin. In the Scarlet letter, the sinner was shown mercy by being allowed to live albeit in isolation. This was not the case in the crucible where the sinners (witches) faced death. The puritans did not show any mercy even on their followers. They believed that they had to be pure in the eyes of God and anyone who went against this was punished. Today, religion is a personal belief and the society does not have to conform to the norms and beliefs of any one religion, at least in areas where there is freedom of religion. It is no longer used to define morality and there are less crimes punishable by death and isolation. Things have indeed changed for the better over the years. Were it not so, so many people would have faced death and many more would be living in isolation.

Judgment of self and the society, which leads to intolerance, is another similarity in the two stories. The society is ready to execute judgment on sinners and they it will do so in accordance with the law. Perhaps the worst judgment is self judgment where different characters are filled with guilt because of what they have done or what they have failed to do. In the Crucible, Proctor finally confesses his adulterous relationship with Abigail. This not only earns forgiveness from his wife but he is also relieved. He refuses any advancement from Abigail despite her numerous attempts to seduce him. This is not the case with Hester’s lover, Dimmesdale who does not acknowledge Hester until their final arrangements to leave Boston are made. He lives in guilt because of the depression and this ultimately leads to his death.

Despite having to wear the scarlet letter throughout her stay in Boston, Hester does not let this affect her life. She realizes that she has to live and take car of herself ad her child. She does not judge herself and this is shown by the way she leads her life. She shows compassion to those who need it despite the fact that no one showed her mercy when she needed it the most. Her willingness to let go of the past is what makes her stronger and enables her to endure the struggles that come her way. The same cannot be said of Elizabeth, who did not forgive her husband for having an affair with Abigail. Had she forgiven him earlier, it would have changed a lot since, John would not have confessed of his adulterous relationship in a court of law. In Salem religion was used to justify almost every injustice (Hawthorne and Colacurcio xvi). This is clearly shown in both stories since they both justify their reasons for punishing sin on religion. Self judgment seems worse than societal judgment. Unlike some form of punishments which have changed overtime, self judgment continues to affect people even today. Many people judge themselves according to society’s expectations, not realizing that they cannot please everybody.

 

 

Leonardo DaVinci’s “Mona Lisa”

Leonardo di ser Piero Da Vinci was the painter of the most exquisite drawing to have ever existed “The Mona Lisa”. It was a portrait painted in the 16^th century in oil on a poplar panel. Its dimensions are 77 centimeters in length and 53 centimeters in width or 30 inches by 21 inches. It is said that he began painting the Mona Lisa between the years 1503 and 1504 when he was still in his home country Italy. Lisa Del Giocondo was the woman in Da Vinci’s painting. Her smile can be described as both enigmatic and mysterious. Her facial expression has so much ambiguity that, only the painter, it is said, could have the words to describe it and give its meaning. Art critics world over give recognition to “The Mona Lisa” as the best painting to have ever been done. Da Vinci finished the painting a few months before he died in 1519; a gesture that suggests it was his greatest work. It took him fifteen years just to complete it.

In the year, 1503 Da Vinci began painting the “Mona Lisa” in Italy and after painting it for four years left it unfinished. He moved to France and three years later, he completed the masterpiece. It was bought by a French king, Francoise I and it moved from king to king and palace to palace during the French revolution. Da Vinci, having come from an Italian descent had made the painting from several sketches he had done before. The painting was meant to show femininity that was eternal in nature. This is shown by how Da Vinci uses Lisa, who is evidently not the most beautiful woman, yet Da Vinci opted to use her in his painting. This shows that the painting is not about beauty but about femininity. An art critic ones said that the woman is much younger than the ground on which she sits on and that she had been dead enough times to know the secrets of the grave. It is also believed that Da Vinci meant to make the portrait of his wife (Leonardo 33).

Da Vinci used a design known as a pyramid design that placed Lisa in a way to occupy a considerable space of the painting. She has her folded hands placed on the front corner of the portrait and the rest of her body faces in the same direction as her face. The light that makes her whole body glow, gives life to the surface of the painting. The seated female figure or the seated Madonna is painted in a way that creates an impression visually of distance between the woman and the observer. Lisa, the woman in the painting, sits in an upright posture, arms folded, with a fixed gaze at the observer that almost speaks to him. Her face is in the midst of much darker objects and due to its illumination; it immediately attracts the attention of the observer. The total effect that strikes one at a glance is the attraction to the face of a mysterious woman who wants us to keep our distance away from her (Leonardo 52).

The way Lisa’s right hand rests on her left one was a symbol used by Da Vinci to illustrate how virtuous she was. A closer look reveals that she has no wedding ring present yet she is someone’s wife. This also adds on to the virtue that is expressed by her posture. It shows that she does not need a wedding ring to be faithful to her husband. It shows just how faithful she is to her husband. Due to ageing, the frame of the painting was changed from the warped poplar frame to a flexible oak frame with beech crosspieces. This was to help put a permanent solution to the problem of warping that was constantly encountered due to humidity. The frame achieves this anti-warping effect even on the panel since it was designed in a way to exert pressure on the panel so as not to allow any warping at all. As it changed possession from time to time and as fashion and style changed, the frames of the Mona Lisa also changed according to the tastes of the different owners.

Leonardo Da Vinci was among the first painters to include the use of an aerial perspective in his work. The woman is seated on a raised platform with a large landscape receding to some mountains. There are also winding paths and a bridge that is viewed at quite a distance. The bridge is the only indication in the portrait of other human life in Lisa’s surroundings. The curves on Lisa’s clothes and hair are created in a style known as Sfumato and help in bringing out the valleys behind her. There are outlines, which are blurred, and the light and dark contrasts give a feeling of calmness that is characterized in Leonardo’s work. The portrait brings a sense of harmony between human nature and nature itself.

The painting gives me a mysterious feel and even in the event of its first sight, the woman appears to be happy and sad at the same time. On my opinion, the colors used in the painting appear to have a feeling of darkness and mystery as if to mean that the painting is not all that meets the eye. The painting definitely has some deeper mysterious meaning according to me. The paintwork is of high quality and the hand of Leonardo can only be described as marvelous. Da Vinci is trying to communicate to the observer about the mystery in femininity and the message is delivered superbly through the painting, the colors used, the enigmatic style and the name he gives it. However, the Mona Lisa smile could represent a lot of feelings, emotions or effects in the personal lives of people. Many questions arise in ones mind just by glancing at the portrait. The question I ask myself is what was Leonardo Da Vinci thinking when he was painting it? What thoughts ran through his mind? What was his feeling? In addition, what did he want to express to the viewers? The “Mona Lisa”, according to me, is really the best and the most mysterious work of art to have ever been created.

 

Works Cited:

Leonardo (da Vinci). Mona Lisa: inside the painting. New York, NY: Abrams, 2006. Print.

Management and the Monitoring of Hazards

For emergency planning to be successful, there is need for a persistent coordination among the various departments that are concerned with this. This planning is supposed to be aimed at eradicating accidental incidents irrespective of their causes. Natural disasters are commonly known for causing hazards such as earthquakes, floods among other others. Human error is however also considered to bring about disasters although these can easily be foreseen and prevented. This issue of managing and monitoring disasters is becoming a universal concern due to the rise in these cases. These disasters are to blame for the losses incurred in most of the world’s economies owing to the fact that it directly affects productivity and many resources are channeled to cover for these losses (Archibald et al, 2009). This process is however faced with a number of challenges, which vary depending on the regions. The disaster management agency leadership is therefore faced with a task of ensuring that there is an effective emergency response system as well as the information dissemination based on the same.

Data and information management is one of the key issues in any organization owing to the fact that accurate information is a necessity if any organization is to function effectively. Some of the hazards and risks that are a threat to the effectiveness of data and information in an organization include damaged hard disks, information distortion as well as complete loss of data due to human error. The first step in dealing with such hazards is to identify them alongside their possible causes. The next step should be to assess the risk, which involves determining the likelihood of the risks occurring and the extent of damage that is likely to occur due to this. Finally, possible risk control measures should be established (Reza, 2010). These measures are aimed at eliminating the hazards or controlling them in such a way that its effects are minimized. “Hazard control can either be with the aim of eliminating the risk, substituting the hazardous components with safer ones, carrying out engineering controls, putting in place administrative controls or introducing protective equipments” (Erickson, 2006). It also involves testing the risk assessment procedures to guarantee their effectiveness.

Modern technology has ensured that it is possible to carry out these processes of hazard management without necessarily involving human effort. For example, it is possible to have in place an automated alarm system, which ensures that any disturbance to the security system is reported, inclusive of the data security system. Concerning data security, a tracking system can be installed in the premises, which monitors any movements around the data storage areas. This ensures accountability in the data department and any tampering can be traced by monitoring the people appearing in the system. If the hazard is caused by accidental human actions, then the best risk control is to have numerous data and information backup points. This will ensure that the information that has been tampered with or misplaced can easily be replaced with the accurate copy. For this to be effective, data should be handled with different people in such a way that there will always be a point of reference in case suspicions arise.

The major roles played by managers in hazard management include implementing risk management procedures in their various departments, introducing a learning programme with regard to hazard management to their employees, identifying any potential hazards, providing the relevant information to the public, and implementing the risk management controls in consultation with the members of the staff (Erickson, 2006). They are also expected to come up with a method of assessing the potential hazards and ensure that the relevant action is taken to ensure that the damages caused by the hazard is either completely eliminated if possible or minimized. Hazard monitoring strategies and devices that can be applied by managers in the process of risk management include air-monitoring technologies, material testing and personal monitoring technologies among others.

Air monitoring devices involve testing the chemical compositions in the atmosphere. The devices used in this are however prone to human interference. These devices are expected to detect any disturbance in the concentration of air while the occupants are away, which will indicate that the premise was invaded (Reza, 2010). Material testing on the other hand involves determining the slightest changes in the materials that may be hazardous. These include power outlets, switches, fire points as well as other devices in the organization that can bring about damage. This also includes the testing of water to ensure that it is safe for drinking in order to minimize the possibility of water borne disease out breaks in the organization. Personal monitoring devices are mostly used in industries where the greatest hazard is faced by people. This includes having protective cloths such as gumboots, gloves and helmets to eliminate the possibility of coming into contact with dangerous chemicals and gases.

The most important elements in any organization include the people and the data/information and this explains why the two form the basis for emergency planning. Any damage that affects the two elements affects the whole organization and should be safeguarded against for the organization to operate effectively (Archibald et al, 2009). Loss of data can bring about serious repercussions and frauds since the data and information system holds almost all the organizations information ranging from financial records to employee records as well as production records. People on the other hand are the ones who handle every other element in the organization meaning that their failure can lead to complete loss. They should therefore be safeguarded from hazards that are a threat to their health, responsibility and accountability.

 

References:

Archibald, A., Rheaume, G., & Conference Board of Canada. (2009). Building resilience: Cooperation and coordination for an effective response. Ottawa: Conference Board of Canada.

Erickson, P. A. (2006). Emergency Response Planning for Corporate and Municipal Managers. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, Inc

Reza, B. K. (2010). Disaster management. Delhi: Global Publications.

 

Professional Dilemma

Description of the experience

Before I began my major course, I applied for a guaranteed student loan using the FAFSA, so that I could manage to finance my education without any financial strains. I had met all the requirements of the Student Loan Code of Conduct such that the university had no reason whatsoever to deny me the loan. In line with this current situation, I was eligible for grant money. According to the academic advisor I met in the university’s administration, I could be able to access the grant money at a specified date (Smith, 2009). Initially, I received constant phone calls from the administration to assure me that they were handling my case substantially and that I would still access the money on the specified date. The specified date arrived and no money was forthcoming. I called the administration to inquire on what happened. To my dismay, I was connected to the answering machine immediately. Weeks passed without any communication from the administration about neither the grant money nor the amount of student loan funds that were due.

The ethical issue that I faced in this case was the lack of the university’s adherence to the ethics of maintaining honesty in all professional dealings. When the date for receiving the grants money arrived, the university administration did not call me to explain the reasons as to why I did not acquire the grant money (Smith, 2009). The body involved in this case is the university’s administration because it was in charge of providing me with all the information that I needed concerning my access to the grant money. The relationship that existed between the body in question and I was professional. This is because I had applied to be a student in that university and my capacity as a student in that university was under the scrutiny of the university’s administration.

Analyzing the Ethical dilemma

There was no significant difference between authority and power, where the administration was concerned. It acted based on its authority and power when it did not provide me with the honest information on the grant money, as I did not have any power or authority over it. The ethics in question were that, was the university’s lack of maintaining honesty in all its professional dealings and the lack of business ethics (Smith, 2009)? The university being a business should uphold all ethics linked to its functioning but these were broken in my dilemma. However, in this case it broke the ethics by denying me any information that would shed a light towards the whereabouts of the grant money that I was eligible to and was assured that I would access at a specified date by the same administration.

The personal values in conflict in this dilemma are the conduction of the moral duty and the adherence to the university’s authority. Although the academic advisor would have been willing to provide me with the information, they could not as it was against the authority of the administration (Smith, 2009). The potential outcomes of the ethical dilemma were my lack of access to the grant money, a possible lawsuit from me against the University for the Denial of student rights. This is because the university was not warranted to deny me access to information about the grants money as I had the right to that vital information.

Due to the administration’s decision to remain silent about the whereabouts of the grant money, I could not manage to access the money (Smith, 2009). Conversely, I would have made the decision to tender a lawsuit against the University for denying me of my deserved student rights. The consequences of the dilemma included my inability to register for any courses that semester as I was relying on the availability of the grant money to finance my educational pursuits. The university’s administration did not face any consequence as I did not have the funds to finance any lawsuit against them, thus is could not take any action against it.

Evaluation of the outcomes

The outcome at that time was my lack of access to the grants money that I was eligible for. With the lack of the money, I could not register for any course as I was relying on that money for paying the university fee. The university’s administration being the pother party in the dilemma did not face any consequence, as I could not access the necessary finances for suing them. On the other hand, I faced dire consequences as the lack of the grant money disrupted my learning process (Smith, 2009). I could not register for any major courses due to the high tuition fee needed for one to register for any course in the university. At the same time the university did not provide me with any information regarding the student’s loan. I could rely on neither the student’s loan nor the non-existent grants money to finance my academic ventures.

Depending on the information I have acquired since I joined the university and the working experience I have acquired in the course of working, I would have handled the situation differently. I would not have allowed the university to bully me the way it did after I had put my trust in their judgment. Before coming into contact with other students that had faced the same problem, I thought that I had made mistakes culminating into the denial of being granted with the grant money (Smith, 2009). After listening to cases that were far worse than mine were, I am willing to take part in a class action suit against the university, as it is cheaper on the students involved.

This is because the students pull resources together to pay for legal counsel that will look after their interest when suing the university for lack of business ethics. After conducting substantial research on the legal standing of the university, I have realized that the university has faced different legal actions due to its poor management system in which it values the number of admission rather than the provision of quality education (Smith, 2009). The school management should be changed to cater for all the problems plaguing the functioning of the university.

References:

Smith, Arnold W. (2009). Education and Ethics. Charleston, SC: BiblioBazaar, LLC

Critical Review for Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective

Peter Berger, the author of the book Invitation to Sociology, is an Austrian-born American sociologist who critically examines sociology as a mode of consciousness, the responsibility of man in the society, the functionality of society in man and the humanistic discipline of sociology. Berger is attentive and interested in inspecting the roles that human beings play in relation to maintaining beliefs and values in their communities. The scientific logic of social science states that sociology teaches individuals about relativity of institutions and measures taken to ensure that ids peaceful co existence between people in the society (Berger, 2003).

The author argues that sociologists are communal workers who are viewed as professionally trained individuals who help people find solutions to collective issues in a community. It is worth noting that there is a key dissimilarity between sociology and social work. Social work is termed as a definite humanitarian activity put into practice in the society while sociology is a discipline that tries to comprehend the human individual and how he/she goes about humanitarian activities (Berger, 2003). In reality, sociologists are usually engaged in methodologies of providing advice through lessons to the people of a community depending on the prevailing social conditions.

However, the scope of sociology extends to carrying out reforms on the best practices of changing the said social conditions. Berger is trying to clarify the difference between the two through addressing the images of sociologists. Based on his findings, sociological information is valuable to anyone while humanitarian information is not. The reason behind this difference may be that humanitarian information usually becomes known when fighting crime as well as promoting felony. Statistics are very useful in understanding most sociological phenomena. However, a sociologist is always keen when deciding on what terms to employ when writing an explanation about as sociological happening.

In addition, one is able to point out that in sociology, the definition for society is a large compound of human relations with institutions that govern and guide the dealings among them. These institutions include the family, education, and religion among others, and are solely responsible for instilling norms into an individual. For instance, the writer gives an example that two people talking in a street corner would not form a society but three people who marooned in an island would be termed as a society (Berger, 2003).

Berger makes a note of the human perception to the economic world. It is clear that everyone in the society credits good life to the presence of financial security and that is the reason behind individuals working hard every day for long hours in order to get wealth and fulfill this mythical recommendation. For instance, a director at a manufacturing plant will opt to draw pie charts and other tables to display how the firm is organized and demonstrate that every individual in the organization has a job description. Based on this, an individual is able to note that a sociologist is more interested in trying to smash through the bureaucratic versions of reality and get to know what goes on within the workers. There will therefore be more interested in the problems that the workers face every day at the work place (Berger, 2003).

The author critically examines the role of the family and marriage in the community. He cites that different people have different reasons for marrying including companionship, procreation and others. A sociologist looks at this issue of matrimony based on what happens beyond love and attempts to explain the motives related to the institutional structure that causes people to get married (Berger, 2003).

In conclusion, the writer, in his works, explains that the problems that are of interest to the sociologist may not qualify to what individuals in real life call issues of life. For instance, while others think that divorce is a problem and rush to the sociologist for a solution, the advice given underlines its basis on what goes on in the interaction. Thus, it is worth noting that the sociological frame of orientation always looks for levels of reality other than the bureaucratic understanding by the society.

 

References

Berger, P. L. (2003). Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective. Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishers