Wednesday 25 September 2019

Study and organization tips for college students, one semester at a time


Planning is key to having a great year at the college. Here are some tips to have a good year.

Identify due dates and plan ahead.

it's important for students to use their time wisely. After the first day of classes, go through each class syllabus to identify due dates for big papers, projects, and exams. After flagging important dates, notice when big items are due within a short time of one another. Are there two long papers due the same day? A midterm exam the day after a big presentation? Plan ahead by setting up an early "due date" for one of those items and write a to-do list with the necessary steps in order to get it done.

Make it visual. 
Despite living in a digital world, a study found that over half of college students prefer to use a paper calendar and planner to manage themselves and their time. Visual reminders help keep students on track and ensure that important deadlines aren't forgotten.

Take effective notes.
Looming test dates during the semester can be overwhelming, but taking great notes can lessen the stress. An easy tip to taking effective notes is to keep flags and page markers in different colors handy. Use the different colors to mark important sections of notes and topics to go back and review so when it comes time to study, all the important information is already flagged.

Brainstorm and organize paper topics.
Whether it's a major paper or collaborating with classmates on a group presentation, writing down information and keeping it front and center can help students think clearly.

Set goals.
Once students know their workload for the whole semester, they can start writing out weekly tasks and goals and estimate how much time is needed for each.

Monday 16 September 2019

Managing change is crucial for success


Whether you're a student or a professional, you've had to cope with constant change over the course of your career, and you've learned at least one thing: More change is inevitable.

Between the constant evolution of technology, shifting corporate cultures, changing expectations and global challenges, change is the one constant you can rely on. Effective change management has become crucial for successful leaders.

Here are some guidelines to become more effective at change management.

1) Evaluate

Before the proposed change is implemented, carefully evaluate both the opportunities and potential risks from the change. Careful planning can anticipate and avoid possible surprises.

2) Coordinate

Because too much change at once can be overwhelming for anyone involved, coordinate efforts with all the other stakeholders, making sure to include anyone who will be affected in the planning as well as the implementation of the change.

3) Commit resources

Plan to commit enough time and preparation for everyone who may need to take on new responsibilities as part of any change initiative.

4) Get all on board

Ensure that all are fully committed to the change. Consider how it will affect them by taking their point of view. Ask questions and make sure everyone is involved in the process to ensure success.

5) Be others-focused

Try to see things from the point of view of others. Focus on the opportunities for individual growth that change can bring, and help everyone look to the future.

6) Enhance trust

Build trust before it's needed by being consistent, honest and true to your own values and principles.

Tuesday 10 September 2019

A faster and cost-effective method to convert algae to biocrude

A team of University of Utah chemical engineers has developed a new kind of jet mixer that extracts the lipids with much less energy than the older extraction method, a key discovery that now puts this form of energy closer to becoming a viable, cost-effective alternative fuel. The new mixer is fast, too, extracting lipids in seconds



Packed inside the microorganisms growing in ponds, lakes, and rivers are lipids, which are fatty acid molecules containing oil that can be extracted to power diesel engines. When extracted the lipids are called biocrude. That makes organisms such as microalgae an attractive form of biomass, organic matter that can be used as a sustainable fuel source. These lipids are also found in a variety of other single-cell organisms such as yeasts used in cheese processing. But the problem with using algae for biomass has always been the amount of energy it takes to pull the lipids or biocrude from the watery plants. Under current methods, it takes more energy to turn algae into biocrude than the amount of energy you get back out of it.

Right now, in order to extract the oil-rich lipids from the algae, scientists have to pull the water from the algae first, leaving either a slurry or dry powder of the biomass. That is the most energy-intensive part of the process. That residue is then mixed with a solvent where the lipids are separated from the biomass. What's left is a precursor, the biocrude, used to produce algae-based biofuel. That fuel is then mixed with diesel fuel to power long-haul trucks, tractors, and other large diesel-powered machinery. But because it requires so much energy to extract the water from the plants at the beginning of the process, turning algae into biofuel has thus far not been a practical, efficient or economical process.

The team has created a new mixing extractor, a reactor that shoots jets of the solvent at jets of algae, creating localized turbulence in which the lipids jump a short distance into the stream of solvent. The solvent then is taken out and can be recycled to be used again in the process. This technology could also be applied beyond algae and include a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or any microbial-derived oil.

Tuesday 3 September 2019

Tips for parents to help their child beat exam stress

Look out for signs of exam stress. Students who experience examination stress may get irritable, do not sleep well, experience loss of appetite, worry a lot and appear depressed or negative. Headaches and stomach pains can also be stress-related. If you observe any one or more of these symptoms, talk to your child and make him feel more confident about his preparation.

Make sure your child is having a well-balanced and nutritious diet with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and water. Avoid giving them high-fat, high-sugar and high-caffeine foods and drinks and other junk foods, which often make them hyperactive, irritable and moody.

Good sleep helps improve thinking and concentration. Students need between six to seven hours' sleep a night. Never ask them to study all night before an exam. Sleep will benefit your child far more than hours of panicky last-minute preparations.

Make sure your child is physically active. Exercise helps boost energy levels, clears the mind and relieves stress. Walking, cycling, swimming, football, and dancing are all effective.

Help your child to revise by making sure they have somewhere comfortable to study.

Be reassuring and positive and not over-demanding or pressurizing. Make your child feel confident about himself and don't compare him with other students.

Allow half an hour or so for children to wind down between studying to listen to music, watch TV or sit at the computer.




There are many people who can make your son/ daughter more worried. Do not let your child meet such people during exams. They may be friends telling him how much or how little they have studied, or some cousin advising him to stay awake all night.

To meet their own as well as your expectations, children often go beyond their limits to study hard. This may not only affect their health but is also not good for their performance as taking no rest can deplete energy levels.

There may be times when stress can take a severe form. If you observe that your child is experiencing weight loss, falling ill, going into depression, and losing appetite, do not hesitate to meet a counsellor.