How to write the Introduction by R. A. Day

"The purpose of the Introduction should be to supply sufficient background information to allow the reader to understand and evaluate the results of the present study without needing to refer to previous publications on the topic. The Introduction should also provide the rationale for the present study. Choose references carefully to provide the most salient background rather than an exhaustive review of the topic."

Rules:
1. It should present first, with all possible clarity, the nature and scope of the problem investigated
2. To orient the reader, the pertinent literature should be reviewed
3. The method of investigation should be stated
4. The principal results of the investigation should be stated

"If the problem is not stated in a reasonable, understandable way, readers will have no interest in your solution. Even if the reader labours through your paper, which is unlikely if you haven't presented the problem in a meaningful way, he will be unimpressed by the brillance of your solution."

"The lit review and choice of method should be presented in such a way that the reader will understand what the problem was and how you attempted to resolve it."

What to write in a discussion?

Again, taken from R. A. Day's book.

Components of the Discussion:
1. Try to present the principles, relationships, and generalizations showed by the Results. And bear in mind, in a good Discussion, you discuss; do not recapitulate the Results.
2. Point out any exceptions or any lack of correlation, and define unsettled points.
3. Show how your results and interpretations agree (or contrast) with previously published work.
4. Don't be shy; discuss the theoretical implications of your work, as well as any possible practical applications.
5. State your conclusion, as clearly as possible.
6. Summarize your evidence for each conclusion.

Show the relationship between observed facts.

Significance of the work must be stated.

Mad rush to clear algal bloom before Olympics in Beijing

Looks like it'll be quite awhile before the ecologists/biologists get out of job! Haha. :) Ops! So what do we have here? A problem with the food chain/web? Or a problem with pollution? But surely a problem of national pride as the water sports cannot go on with this mesh of protista not get cleared!

I don't know. I find this hilarious! Ops once again.

Learning is one thing, teaching another

Today, Alex needed help to guide 40 18-year old students in the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity and Research (RMBR) so he asked me, which I felt I wasn't qualified to do so, but decided to challenge myself.

And I realized, I don't have what I have learnt at the tip of my fingers and they've grown rusty from disused. I realized it was one matter to sit through a series of lectures and examination, and another to apply what I've learnt to a practical setting, such as arousing interest in students and guiding them around a museum, trying to help them appreciate the wonders of biodiversity.

The students were very attentive which I am grateful for, as that meant less worry for me in terms of control of people. Alex later told me they're from the top Chinese school in the South of Malaysia!

Some take home questions...
Can what I learn in theory be applied to the practical? When the situation calls for my knowledge, am I able to retrieve them in sufficient amounts to present them coherently? And do I have enough understanding to explain them precisely? Do I have enough confidence and preparation to promote enthusiastically and interestingly?

As I delve into myself to find words to explain a certain exhibit, I realized, how shallow it is, how I reach and find remnants and leftovers, and not much substantial.

Hmmm... my usage of the Chinese language is another matter, which I should address for my own good.

But being a museum guide might be the training I need.

Especially so, if I still want to work in a museum, whatever type, after graduation.

Oops! I just remembered being a tour guide is one of my dream occupations.

Etymology and Pedra Branca

I was so puzzled after I read Janadas Devan's column On Words on Sunday about the etymology of "sovereignty" and the context in which Malaysia used the word that I emailed him to clarify. He took the time to explain in detail and even cite examples, that I was able to think through what confused me myself. This I am very grateful. So here are my thoughts...

No, you don’t have sovereignty over Tibet. Sovereignty as we understand it today, did not exist at that time, so you cannot use the argument that we have sovereignty over this piece of land.

China’s reasoning is flawed.

So ICJ’s reasoning is flawed. Johor Sultanate did not have the sovereignty over PB.

The context of those times are fixed, we cannot project today’s context back into those days. Those days should have been understood by those days terms.

China has tributary relationships, vassalships, overlordships with many neighbouring states, but they did not have sovereignty over them, these states did not belong to China.

Johor Sultanate did not have sovereignty over PB as according to the terms of those days, to rule over a land, meant ruling over people there, but no one inhabited PB, hence, it was “no man’s land” as Singapore understood it.

Hence Singapore is etymologically correct

Singapore’s argument – PB doesn’t belong to anyone, no one is sovereign over it, until British took lawful possession of it in 1847

M’sia’s argument – PB part of Johor Sultanate

Hence, ICJ is flawed etymologically to support M’sia’s argument that PB is part of Johor Sultanate since 1512

What is etymology?
From Merriam-Webster: The history of a linguistic form (as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence in the language where it is found, by tracing its transmission from one language to another, by analyzing it into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other languages, or by tracing it and its cognates to a common ancestral form in an ancestral language

The root of the issue is that both country do not agree on the ownership of the land. Malaysia thinks it belongs to the Johor Sultanate, by virtue of its location. Singapore thinks it is no man's land as in those days rulership meant ruling over people, but there were no inhabitants on PB, until British took hold of the island, building Horsburgh Lighthouse on it.

But to me, I am so involved in this case, not for political reasons, but simply because Horsburgh Lighthouse is a historical architecture and gem. It was built by J. T. Thomson (the man we named Thomson Road after) in 1850, recorded in books, served a very practical and important function. This is a functional, important, historic piece of art, set on an island that is a paradise for bird watchers. There can be no better paradise island! For the hermit of course. I guess it will be pretty lonely as a lighthouse keeper.

I would want this lighthouse to be gazetted as a conservation site!

What is a primary publication?

R. A. Day has restated the definition given by the Council of Biology Editors (CBE) into three main points:

A) the first publication of original research results,
B) in a form where peers of the author can repeat the experiments and test the conclusions, and
C) in a journal or other source document readily available within the scientific community.

Some caveats are that there is prepublication peer review and that scientific papers are published in peer-reviewed publications.

Reminds me of the assignment Prof. Sodhi made us to in Behavioural Biology class where we acted both as review scientists and peer reviewers!

IMRAD

Adapted from R.A. Day 5th edition:

Ask these questions and answer them IMRAD.

What question (problem) was studied? Introduction
How was the problem studied? Methods
What were the findings? Results
What do these findings mean? Discussion