Unit 2 scientific research
2.1. Study the information below.
Science – 1) the study and knowledge of the physical world and its behaviour that is based on experiments and proven facts;
2) an area that uses scientific methods;
research – the detailed study of something in order to discover new facts;
phenomenon – an event or situation that can be seen to happen or exist;
evidence – facts or physical sights that help to prove something;
assumption – something you consider likely to be true;
hypothesis– 1) an idea that attempts to explain something; 2) an unproved theory;
theory – 1) an idea that explains how and why something happens;
concept – 1) an idea of something that exists; 2) an idea for something new;
findings – information that you discover or opinions that you form after doing research;
method – a planned way of doing something.
2.2. Give your definitions of the following words and phrases.
Pure / Applied science basic / fundamental research
to make an assumption working hypotheses (pl.)
a principle method the fundamentals (pl.) of mathematics
a key concept the theoretical framework of the research
2.3. Are these statements true or false?
1. A thesis is a research project that is undertaken for Doctor of Philosophy and written for an academic audience.
2. In order to check any hypothesis we have to make a number of experiments.
3. The assembly of data from a variety of sources may be part of the process of research.
4. Research is just collecting facts or information with no clear purpose.
5. Brainstorming can be used to generate and refine new ideas. It is best undertaken with a group of people.
6. The logic of all experimental researchers is basically the same, regardless of the field of study in which the scientist is working.
7. Evidence shows that global warming is definitely occurring.
8. Theoretical physics deals with the theories and calculations rather than experiments.
9. Some students failed to grasp even the simplest mathematical concepts.
10. We can systematize any concept by classifying it into a small number of distinct categories.
2.4. Read the sentences below and explain the words in bold, then add them to your working vocabulary.
1. The problem under discussion was first formulated at the beginning of the 20th century.
2. Our experiments were carefully planned and most technically performed.
3. Previousexperiments in this area were obviously unsuccessful. Moreover, they were limited in scale and material.
4. Althoughthe data reviewed are only preliminary results obtained from a limited number of experiments, they are fairly convincing and, therefore, reliable.
5. We are trying to develop new methods of pollution control.
6. Genetic engineering is a highly topical issue at the moment.
7. Formulating and clarifying the research topic is the starting point of your research project.
8. It is important that you plan the literature search carefully.
9. The literature sources help you to insight into previous research.
10. Research strategy must contain clear objectives.
2.5. Match the words and word combinations in Awith the ones having the same meaning in B.
A B
| 1) have a post-graduate course (v) 2) research associate (n) 3) study (n) 4) result (n) 5) do academic work (v) 6) theorem (n) 7) science (n) 8) solve a problem (v) 9) topical (adj) 10) purpose (n) 11) highlight (v) 12) assessment (n) 13) attempt (n) 14) insight (n) 15) formula (n) 16) conclusion (n) | a) systematic knowledge b) to find the answer to a question c) very interesting at the present time d) a goal / aim e) a value f) to emphasize g) an effort to do something h) the ability to understand more i) a group of letters or numbers j) an investigation k) to do research l) a researcher n) to take a post-graduate course o) an outcome p) a statement that must be proved q)something you decide is true |
2.6. Fill in the chart with the family words and translate them into Russian. Use a dictionary to help you.
| noun | verb | adjective | adverb |
| researcher | |||
| evidence | |||
| hypothesize | |||
| scientist | |||
| theoretician | |||
| experiment | |||
| inform | |||
| developmental | |||
| define | |||
| explanation |
2.7. Read the paragraph below and find out in it the equivalents of the following topical words and phrases:
conduct (v) offer (v) aim (n)
easy to understand discover (v) opinion (n)
include (v) get information important (adj) variety (n)
We can define research as something that people undertake in order to find out things in а systematic way, thereby increasing their knowledge. Two phrases are important in this definition: ‘systematic research’ and ‘to find outthings’. ‘Systematic’ suggests that research is based on logical relationships and not just beliefs. As part of this, your research will involve an explanation of the methods used to collect the data, will argue why the results obtained are meaningful, andwill explain any limitations that are associated with them. ‘To find out things’ suggests there are a multiplicity of possible purposes for your research. These may include describing, explaining, understanding, criticising and analysing. However, it also suggests that you have a clear purpose or set of ‘things’ that you want to find out, such as the answer to a question or number of questions.
2.8. You are going to read about a Research Institute in Stockholm. First of all answer the question below. Then do exercises given after the text.
● Which research project was launched in:
China Africa Sweden Macedonia and Albania
the Baltic Sea states South East Asia Mongolia?
1. Swedish Environmental Research Institute is Sweden’s leading organisation for appliedenvironmental research. This is a non-profit independent research institute, with more than 30 years of experience of co-operation with industry and government.
Its activities consist of scientific research, consulting and education services at both national and international level. The international experience is extensive, including contracts performed in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
2. Through extensive international activities and close cooperation between research and consultancy, the Institute offers customers advantages that traditional consultancyfirms lack. It offers fast and effective world class environmental solutions.
3. The Institute comprises Sweden’s largest group of environmental expertise, with 150 employees where of 20 have doctors’ degree and 80 have academic diplomas.
4. Our employees’ competence is wide, covering ecological, biological, chemical, physical, technical and socio-economical aspects of environmental issues. It has accredited laboratories, dealing both with research-based and consulting environmental analyses.
5.Areas of expertise
● Sustainable Industrial Production ● Chemicals and Chemical Risk Analysis
●Products / Integrated Product Policy ● Working Environment
● Air Quality Management ● Waste Management
● Water Management ● Land Management
● Climate and Energy
6. Since 1997 the Institute has been working as experts and system architects in the “Inner Mongolia Lake Restoration Project” for a sustainable development of Lake Wulingsuhai and its catchment.
7. In 2001 it formed a joint venture company with Tianjin Academy of Environmental Science after a 15 year cooperative partnership. The new company, Sino-Swedish Environmental Technology Development Co, Ltd. will promote technical collaboration and support the application of sustainable production in China.
8. In 2001 the Institute initiated The Baltic 21 Institute for Sustainable Industry. The institute is a co-operation of national representatives from the Baltic Sea states working for knowledge, technology transfer and eco-efficiency in the industrial sector. (www.baltic21institute.org)
9. It participated as air quality experts in the mission “Balkans Unit Environmental ImpactAssessment Mission to Macedonia and Albania” in 2002 to study the environmental situation in the region.
10. Since 2001 the Institute together with Statistics Sweden and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute shares the task of host of the Swedish emission database called Swedish Environmental Emission Data.
11. It has also been appointed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as data host for the Swedish environmental monitoring surveys of air pollution and environmental pollutants.
12. The Institute works in the “SIDA Programme on Regional Air Pollution in Developing Countries” in Asia and Africa since 2000 to support air pollution monitoring and policy recommendatiоns.
13. Since 2000 it is involved in the project on acidification in Thailand, in co-operation with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in Thailand.
14. In 2006 the Institute participated in the “Mapping of Air Pollution Levels in Johannesburg, South Africa – Measurement campaign with diffusive samplers in July 2006, performed as a co-operative project between the Metropolitan Councils of Greater Johannesburg and The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
A) Find the words and phrases in bold in the text which mean the same as the following definitions:
solving problems examinations
special advice influence
practically used making a judgment
suggestions industrial co-operation
examples moving
B) Look at the phrases taken from the text and explain what they mean in your own words.
a non-profit independent research institute (paragraph 1)
Chemicals and Chemical Risk Analysis (paragraph 5)
Working Environment (paragraph 5)
Waste Management (paragraph 5)
a sustainable development of Lake Wulingsuhai and its catchment (paragraph 6)
the task of host of the Swedish emission database (paragraph 10)
C) Answer the following questions.
1. Are ‘consist of’, ‘include’ and ‘comprise’ synonyms?
2. Are “extensive’ and ‘effective’ synonyms?
3. Are ‘research institute’ and ‘consultancy firm’ synonyms?
4. What is the difference between ‘national’ and ‘international’?
5. Which meanings of ‘issue’ do you know?
6. How do you understand ‘academic diplomas’?
2.9. The university of Wolverhampton’s School of Applied Sciences offers an analytical consultancy service and analytical laboratories equipped with instrumentation in wide variety of techniques. Below there is a list of the main techniques. Your task is to match them with some typical applications given after.
1) Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
2) Flame Photometry
3) Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS)
4) Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP)
5) Ultraviolet Visible Spectrophotometry
6) Spectrofluorimetry
7) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
8) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
9) Gas Chromatography (GC)
10) Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)
11) High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
12) Ion Chromatography (IС)
13) Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
14) Electrochemical Analysis of Heavy Metal Ions
15) X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
16) X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF)
17) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM & EDX)
18) Thermal Methods of Analysis – Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
19) Thermal Methods of Analysis – Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
20) Thermal Methods of Analysis – Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA)
21) Analytical Techniques within Environmental Sciences
a) Typical applications of the technique include:
● Trace levels of elements in geological samples.
● Trace levels of elements in aqueous / biological / organic fluids.
● Multi-elements in air sampling filters.
● Aluminium in jam.
b) Some typical applications of HPLC include:
● Drug analysis of biological fluids.
● Pesticide and other residue analysis of foodstuffs.
● Amino acid analysis, involving precolumn: derivatisation. Up to 22 amino acids can be separately assayed in one sample.
c) Typical examples of analyses that have been performed on this system include:
● Identification of the active ingredients of essential oils used in aromatherapy.
● Determination of lindane in cows’ milk.
● General identification of organic solvents in various samples.
● Trace constituents in land-fill gases.
d) Typical applications of FTIR spectroscopy include:
● Identification of organic and inorganic compounds.
● Studies on polymer samples.
● Quantitative analysis of hydrocarbons in water.
● Surface analysis by Attenuated Total Reflectance.
e) Major applications of Spectrofluorimetry include:
● The determination of quinine, and the В vitamins riboflavin (vitamin B2) and thiamine (vitamin B1).
● The analysis of metal ions as fluorescent organic complexes.
● The analysis of non-metals such as boron and selenium as fluorescent derivatives.
● Spectrofluorimetry is also useful when a colorimetric method is insufficiently sensitive.
f) Typical applications include:
● Routine analysis of water samples for individual trace metal ions.
● Analysis of biological samples for individual trace metal ions after wet ashing or microwave digestion.
● Analysis of minerals and alloys after dissolution for major, minor and trace metals.
g) Applications of NMR spectroscopy are very wide and include:
● Full elucidation of the structures of organic molecules of simple to quite complex structure.
● Elucidation of structural aspects of more complex molecular systems - for example we have done significant work on polymer systems.
● Studies on biochemical systems. There is considerable scope for the technique here.
● Quantitative analysis – this does not have to be restricted to the determination of discreet molecules as is the case, for instance, in chromatography. Applications are varied, from determining tree water in biological systems, to monomer ratios in polymers. Calibration can be by the internal standard technique, making such analyses quite last.
● Fingerprinting and/or qualitative analysis – e.g. looking at small differences in the compositions of different batches of similar materials. Pattern matching has been used to distinguish between different types of fruit juice to detect adulteration.
h) Some typical applications of GC include:
● Routine analysis of solvents in the paint and allied industries.
● Analysis of organic vapours collected from the atmosphere for occupational hygiene purposes.
● Identification of oil samples via pattern matching of their gas chromatograms.
● Analysis of fermentation products.
● Analysis of pyrolysis products from polymers.
● Analysis of small biochemical molecules, such as fatty acids, sugars and amino acids via derivatisation.
i) Typical applications of the technique include:
● Analysis of microcrystal (μm) structure.
● Analysis of phosphate platings.
● Air sampling filters.
● Forensic investigations.
j) Typical applications include:
● Metals in waters, fruit juices, beers, wines, soft drinks, urine, foodstuffs, foodware, sludges and sediments.
● The method is particularly suitable for Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Bi, Tl and In.
k) Typical applications of the technique include:
● Analysis of river and lake sediments.
● Determination of inorganic coating thickness.
● Asbestos in air sampling filters.
● Metals and alloys analysis.
l)Measurement of Dust in Air
● Portable low volume pump systems with collection heads for both total and respirable dust. Dust is collected over an eight hour working shift and the total mass is recorded. The dust is collected on cellulose nitrate filter papers and is thus available for chemical analysis using X-ray analysis.
● The system can be left in situ in a dusty location or could be worn by an individual throughout the working day.
● A portable, hand held dust monitor is available to measure respirable levels in air. The system continuously records mass of dust and stores values on a data logger. Chemical analysis of dust is not available.