• Title/Summary/Keyword: scientific challenges

Search Result 138, Processing Time 0.026 seconds

EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES TO USAGE OF BUILDING CONSTURCTION COST INDICES GHANA

  • Osei-Tutu, E;Adobor, C.D;Kissi, E.;Osei-Tutu, S.;Adjei-Kumi, T.
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
    • /
    • 2017.10a
    • /
    • pp.313-320
    • /
    • 2017
  • Price fluctuation contract is imperative and of paramount essence in the construction industry as it provides adequate relief and cushioning for changes in the prices of input resources during construction. As a result, several methods have been devised to better help in arriving at fair recompense in the event of price chang es. However, stakeholders often appear not to be satisfied with the existing methods of fluctuation evaluation, ostensibly because of the challenges associated with them. The aim of this study was to identify the challenges to usage of building construction cost indices in Ghana. Data was gathered from contractors and quantity surveying firms. The study utilized survey questionnaire approach to elicit responses from the contractors and the consultants. Data gathered was analyzed scientifically, using the Relative Importance Index (RII) to rank the problems associated with the existing methods. The findings revealed the following among others; late release of data; inadequate recovery of costs; and work items of interest not included in the published indices as the main challenges of the existing methods. This study will provide useful lessons for policy makers and practitioners in decision making towards the usage and improvement of available indices.

  • PDF

New Challenges for Korean Medical Education: Enhancing Students' Abilities to Deal with Uncertain Ill-Defined Problems (한국의학교육의 새로운 과제: 불확실성이 큰 문제상황에 대처하는 능력의 강화)

  • Choi, Ikseon;Yoon, Bo Young
    • Korean Medical Education Review
    • /
    • v.16 no.3
    • /
    • pp.111-118
    • /
    • 2014
  • Over the last century, medical education in North America has evolved by identifying educational challenges within its own socio-cultural context and by appropriately responding to these challenges. A discipline-based curriculum, organ-system or integrated curriculum, problem-based curriculum, and competency-based curriculum are historical examples of the educational solutions that have been developed and refined to address specific educational challenges, such as students' lack of basic scientific knowledge, lack of integration between scientific knowledge and clinical practice, and lack of clinical practice. In contrast, Korean medical education has evolved with the influence of two forces: (1) the adoption of educational solutions developed in North America by pioneers who have identified urgent needs for medical education reform in Korea over the last three decades, and (2) the revitalization of Korean medical schools' curricula through medical education accreditation and national medical licensing examination. Despite this progressive evolution in Korean medical education, we contend that it faces two major challenges in order to advance to the next level. First, Korean medical education should identify its own problems in medical education and iteratively develop educational solutions within its own socio-cultural context. Secondly, to raise reflective doctors who have scientific knowledge and professional commitment to deal with different types of medical problems within a continuum from well-defined to ill-defined, medical education should develop innovative ways to provide students with a balanced spectrum of clinical problems, including uncertain, ill-defined problems.

Balancing Water Supply Reliability, Flood Hazard Mitigation and Environmental Resilience in Large River Systems

  • Goodwin, Peter
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
    • /
    • 2016.05a
    • /
    • pp.1-1
    • /
    • 2016
  • Many of the world's large ecosystems are severely stressed due to population growth, water quality and quantity problems, vulnerability to flood and drought, and the loss of native species and cultural resources. Consequences of climate change further increase uncertainties about the future. These major societal challenges must be addressed through innovations in governance, policy, and ways of implementing management strategies. Science and engineering play a critical role in helping define possible alternative futures that could be achieved and the possible consequences to economic development, quality of life, and sustainability of ecosystem services. Science has advanced rapidly during the past decade with the emergence of science communities coalescing around 'Grand Challenges' and the maturation of how these communities function has resulted in large interdisciplinary research networks. An example is the River Experiment Center of KICT that engages researchers from throughout Korea and the world. This trend has been complemented by major advances in sensor technologies and data synthesis to accelerate knowledge discovery. These factors combine to allow scientific debate to occur in a more open and transparent manner. The availability of information and improved communication of scientific and engineering issues is raising the level of dialogue at the science-policy interface. However, severe challenges persist since scientific discovery does not occur on the same timeframe as management actions, policy decisions or at the pace sometimes expected by elected officials. Common challenges include the need to make decisions in the face of considerable uncertainty, ensuring research results are actionable and preventing science being used by special interests to delay or obsfucate decisions. These challenges are explored in the context of examples from the United States, including the California Bay-Delta system. California transfers water from the wetter northern part of the state to the drier southern part of the state through the Central Valley Project since 1940 and this was supplemented by the State Water Project in 1973. The scale of these activities is remarkable: approximately two thirds of the population of Californians rely on water from the Delta, these waters also irrigate up to 45% of the fruits & vegetables produced in the US, and about 80% of California's commercial fishery species live in or migrate through the Bay-Delta. This Delta region is a global hotspot for biodiversity that provides habitat for over 700 species, but is also a hotspot for the loss of biodiversity with more than 25 species currently listed by the Endangered Species Act. Understanding the decline of the fragile ecosystem of the Bay-Delta system and the potential consequences to economic growth if water transfers are reduced for the environment, the California State Legislature passed landmark legislation in 2009 (CA Water Code SS 85054) that established "Coequal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem". The legislation also stated that "The coequal goals shall be achieved in a manner that protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource, and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place." The challenges of integrating policy, management and scientific research will be described through this and other international examples.

  • PDF

A Development Direction for Scientific Guard Systems Applying 3 Elements of Revolution in Military Affairs (군사혁신 3요소를 적용한 과학화 경계시스템 발전방향)

  • Young-ho Kwon;June-Seung Yoo;Sung-Jun Park;Hyun-Kyu Choi;Sang-Keun Cho;Sang-Hyuk Park
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
    • /
    • v.9 no.3
    • /
    • pp.249-255
    • /
    • 2023
  • In this study, based on the awareness of the problem of current scientific guard systems of ROKA, We suggested a develoment direction for scientific guard system applying 3 elements of Revolution in Military Affairs by 2035. To this end, we analyzed challenges of current scientific guard systems and reviewed similar cases in other countries. Based on this, We suggested a develoment direction for scientific guard system, comprised of the concept of gurad operation, the organization of guard troops, and MUM-T(manned and unmanned teaming) by applying the framework of 3 elements of military innovation (operation concept, organization, weapon system). In order to overcome challenges at hand, we need a innovative scientific guard systems that applies MUM-T based on high technology along with agile&smart guard troops.

Understanding of Clinical Trials and Application to the Real Practice (임상시험의 단계별 이해 및 실제)

  • Choi, SungKu
    • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
    • /
    • v.19 no.4
    • /
    • pp.153-158
    • /
    • 2012
  • Understanding of a clinical trial is essential in developing clinical guideline and adopting evidence based practice. In designing and executing clinical trials, following ethical requirements should be considered : social value, scientific validity, fair subject selection, informed consent, favorable risk-benefit ratio, institutional review board, and respect for human subjects. According to the stage of drug development, purpose of trials, accumulated scientific data, clinical trials for drug development are classified as phase 1, 2, 3, and 4. Phases of clinical trials can be overlapped and the judgment of entering into the next phase should be considered highly strategically. In reading, evaluating and interpreting clinical trial reports, various skills and challenges exist. Patient sample composition, trial duration, selection of endpoints, responders and non-responders, placebo effect, patient recruitment, and extrapolation to the real world are the examples of those challenges. Treatment success will come from the well balanced approach of evidence based decision making and consideration of specific single case.

Commercialization of Scientific Research Activity Results at Vietnam's Universities: Current Challenges and Solutions

  • Quoc Cuong Nguyen;Hoang Tuan Nguyen
    • International journal of advanced smart convergence
    • /
    • v.12 no.2
    • /
    • pp.135-142
    • /
    • 2023
  • Commercialization of research results plays an important role in the socio-economic development of a country based on science, technology and innovation. However, in recent years, the commercialization of research results by universities in Vietnam remains ineffective because scientists often carry out research on issues they find interesting, and don't listen to enterprises to find out what the latter need. In the other hand, the process of commercializing research results in universities encounters difficulties, including the issue of establishing intellectual property rights the limited quality of research results, and the limited access to capital resources to develop inventions. This paper focuses on analyzing the current challenges of commercialization of research results in universities and propose solutionsto promote commercialization of research results from the universities, suitable to the conditions of Vietnam.

Development of Molecular Diagnostic Innovation System in India: Role of Scientific Institutions

  • Singh, Nidhi
    • Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
    • /
    • v.11 no.1
    • /
    • pp.87-109
    • /
    • 2022
  • The study attempts to examine the system-building activities of scientific institutions in developing the Molecular Diagnostic (MDs) Innovation System in India. Scientific Institutions are the precursor of any technological development with their capabilities in generating new ideas. MDs are advanced and accurate diagnostic technology with considerable scope to serve the diagnostic needs and requirements of the healthcare system. We adopted a System framework and analyzed the development of MDs in terms of the Technological Innovation System (TIS) functions, and the systematic challenges are assessed through the System Failure Framework (SFF). Based on the secondary and primary survey of prominent science base actors, the study finds that the role of government is crucial for facilitating technological development within a science base through the mobilization of resources. In India, the MDs technological development gained significant momentum over the last decade with the development of specialized human resources and dedicated research institutes. However, we do find that the innovative capabilities in attaining need-based TIS are sub-optimal owning to the specific diagnostic needs of highly burdened diseases in the society. The system analysis reveals that the TIS functions are underperforming because of the absence of a well-defined funding mechanism and goal-oriented targeted policy regime of the government. Since MDs have a transformative effect on the present healthcare system, we argue that the government has to address the system-based challenges and issues for developing a need-based technological innovation system for MDs in the country.

The Distribution of Technological Innovation & Environmental Policy against COVID-19: Perspectives and Challenges

  • CHOI, Choongik
    • Journal of Distribution Science
    • /
    • v.20 no.8
    • /
    • pp.115-121
    • /
    • 2022
  • Purpose: This article aims to explore the distribution of technological innovation and environmental policy challenges to respond to COVID-19. The study also attempts to tackle a paradigm shift in science and technology policies against the pandemic and a desirable direction for environmental policies. The COVID-19 pandemic has been the one that rapidly changed global people's lifestyle. For the spread of a terrible infectious disease could not be avoided, regardless of a highly industrialized society. Research design, data and methodology: This study basically employs a qualitative approach as a methodology. This study is based on the fact that environmental pollution, various natural disasters continuously occur, and there are many unforeseeable parts, despite remarkable development of scientific technology, and that the circumstances are becoming more complex. Results: This study noted that scientific technology civilization formed due to industrial revolutions can deteriorate environment and increase environmental threat factors. As an alternative to this, this study investigates alternative discussions on how the 4th Industrial Revolution can help scientific technology and human environment to harmoniously coexist and develop. Conclusions: It implies that this study focuses on the possibility of overcoming this crisis through science and technology innovation, although mankind is in crisis of COVID-19 due to excessive human development.

WTO, an ontology for wheat traits and phenotypes in scientific publications

  • Nedellec, Claire;Ibanescu, Liliana;Bossy, Robert;Sourdille, Pierre
    • Genomics & Informatics
    • /
    • v.18 no.2
    • /
    • pp.14.1-14.11
    • /
    • 2020
  • Phenotyping is a major issue for wheat agriculture to meet the challenges of adaptation of wheat varieties to climate change and chemical input reduction in crop. The need to improve the reuse of observations and experimental data has led to the creation of reference ontologies to standardize descriptions of phenotypes and to facilitate their comparison. The scientific literature is largely under-exploited, although extremely rich in phenotype descriptions associated with cultivars and genetic information. In this paper we propose the Wheat Trait Ontology (WTO) that is suitable for the extraction and management of scientific information from scientific papers, and its combination with data from genomic and experimental databases. We describe the principles of WTO construction and show examples of WTO use for the extraction and management of phenotype descriptions obtained from scientific documents.

Desirable Suggestions for Korean Geo-technology R&D through Analysis of the Global Grand Challenges and Moonshot Projects (글로벌 과학난제 도전연구프로젝트 분석을 통한 우리나라 지질자원기술에의 바람직한 제언)

  • Kim, Seong-Yong;Sung, Changmo
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.53 no.1
    • /
    • pp.111-120
    • /
    • 2020
  • Remarkable scientific and technological achievements are mainly shown in the 'super-convergence' or 'convergence of convergence' among cross- disciplinary fields, and advanced countries are promoting the 'high-risk, high-return research' ecosystem. Google LLC is carrying out numerous new challenges in terms of a non-failure perspective. Innovative research by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has produced such breakthroughs as the Internet, GPS, semiconductors, the computer mouse, autonomous vehicles, and drones. China is pioneering a 'Moon Village' and planning the world's largest nuclear fusion energy and ultra-large particle accelerator project. Japan has also launched 'the moonshot technology development research system' to promote disruptive innovation. In Korea, the government is preparing a new research program to tackle the global scientific challenges. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the reasonable geoscientific challenges to be addressed and to conduct a preliminary study on these topics. For this purpose, it is necessary to conduct long-term creative research projects centered on young researchers, select outstanding principal investigators, extract innovative topics without prior research or reference, simplify research proposal procedures, innovate the selection solely based on key ideas, and evaluate results by collective intelligence in the form of conferences.