Science TBC

Student travel group leaders and teachers often take school groups to Washington D.C. on history and government tours. Our nations capitol has a rich history, and the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government are centrally located there. This makes the trip to Washington D.C. perfect for the study of history and government.

Yet Washington D.C. is also an ideal location for student trips which focus on science based learning. There are numerous points of interest in the Washington D.C. area that complement the study of science including: Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian American & Natural History Museum, NASA Goddard Visitors Center, Maryland Science Center, Baltimore National Aquarium, Marian Koshland Science Museum, and the National Zoo. In addition to scheduling visits to these locations on the itinerary, student tour groups can also allow time to visit the U.S. Capitol/Supreme Court, take an illuminated tour of Memorials and Monuments, and see the U.S.S. Barry — all in a three or four day tour.

This article will provide a brief overview of major points of interest for a science tour of Washington D.C.

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum & Smithsonian American Natural History Museum
These two museums are a great starting point for an educational science trip.
U.S. explorations of space and innovations in flight are well-documented and preserved in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Students can participate in guided tours, or educational programs that are appropriate for specific grade levels. A visit to the Air and Space Museum will provide interactive learning about airplanes, outer space explorations and pivotal moments in U.S. history when American scientists and programs led the world in discoveries in flight and space missions.

The American Natural History Museum provides guided and self-guided tours and educational programs related to the history of the earth: fossils, stones, animals, pre-historic wildlife and remains, oceanic environments, and more. Student tour groups can visit permanent or special exhibits related to their curricular studies and teachers can focus the visit on exhibits which complement actual classroom learning experiences in the natural sciences. A visit to these two Smithsonian Museums provides an excellent opportunity for learning about science.

NASA Goddard Visitors Center
At the NASA Goddard Visitors Center, student tour groups gain a deeper level of insight into contemporary space exploration. The group can view photographs taken from the Hubble Space Telescope with pictures of planets, galaxies, black holes and views of earth taken from outer space. Students may view movies of earth and outer space in the Science on a Sphere projection room, where film is projected onto a spherical screen. Student groups will also learn about information gathered from satellites and other vehicles designed to explore deep space, through photographs of phenomenon on earth, the sun, and planets. Student education is enhanced through the lens of high tech devices, utilized by the NASA scientists to further our knowledge about the universe.

Maryland Science Center & Baltimore National Aquarium
Located in Baltimore, MD, just an hour outside of Washington D.C., are two premiere attractions for the science student: Maryland Science Center and the Baltimore National Aquarium. The Maryland Science Center has a rooftop observatory as well as nightly Sky and Stars SkiCasts to help the astronomy student interpret the activities of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies and occurrences. Students can watch live chemical and scientific experiments on the Demo stage, see science films projected onto a sphere, or ride on Segways when they tour the Maryland Science Center.

At the Baltimore National Aquarium, students will be especially pleased by the new exhibit, “A Dolphins World” an extraordinary Dolphin Show that teaches students about the ocean planet, and the way human behavior in and near the Chesapeake Bay watershed affects the dolphins environment on a daily basis. The Baltimore National Aquarium also has a 4-D Immersion Theater with daily shows as well as 16,500 animals on exhibit. Its no wonder the Baltimore National Aquarium is internationally known and recognized as one of the finest aquariums in the United States. The opportunity to visit the Baltimore National Aquarium will complement any classroom studies on oceanography and life beneath the sea.

Marian Koshland Science Museum
The National Academy of Sciences Marian Koshland Science Museum in Washington D.C. features interactive exhibits that teach visitors about the immediate impact science has on our daily lives. Here students will learn about the importance of safe drinking water, infectious diseases, DNA, and some of the wonders of science. The exhibits are ongoing and will change from time to time. Teachers are advised to check the Museum website to coordinate curricular plans with current exhibits.

National Zoo
The National Zoo is a spectacular showcase for animals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians from a variety of eco-systems around the world. There are numerous exhibits, many with a geographical focus such as on North America, Asia, the Amazon and Africa; exhibits that concentrate on species are: Great Cats, Giant Pandas, Birds, and Asian Elephants. Teachers can access the National Zoo website well in advance of the trip to develop lesson plans that are in sync with the visit. The curriculum guides are grade specific and available for free download, with core materials included for classroom learning, making it easy for teachers to prepare students for the trip to the National Zoo.

Teachers looking to organize a science trip will find a wealth of opportunity for quality educational experiences in Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Some of the finest science museums in the world are located in the capitol city. For more information about a science based student trip and itinerary visit http://www.educationaltravelconsultants.com or email for details on scheduling or pricing.

At this new age, many intellectuals falsely claim to be experts in spiritual knowledge. Some believe that knowledge of scientific thought from religious texts to guide the religion or the scriptures as spiritual knowledge. Others continue to discuss with his knowledge of the experience or scientific knowledge of religious texts taught in some universities. But few people are saints who were witnesses in detail by withholding his knowledge of the texts of the thought of religion, arts and science and say it can not be expressed in worlds.

Spiritual knowledge is absolute knowledge, while religious arts, and science knowledge of human concerns. Spiritual wisdom is knowledge that comes naturally himself, while the religious arts, and knowledge of the human sciences must be learned from others, civilization or university.

Divine wisdom is endless and always the same thing with him and our internal correspondence of the entire universe is in the pace of work without fault. Religious arts, science and human knowledge are limited and will continue to change corresponding to human needs, culture and lifestyle of individuals.

Religious arts, science and human knowledge in the language is spoken and can be stored in the form of thoughts in mind, so it can be communicated and learned from others. It has its past and future.

Spiritual knowledge is beyond the spoken language. It exists in the astral body of man and fails to be stored in the form of thoughts in mind, so it can not be communicated and learned from others. It exists in the present moment in Astral body. Astral body made it obvious what is required. Astral body and spiritual knowledge remains hidden in the back of our minds to thoughts and thoughts of languages and can be experienced just to keep in mind retained consciousness.

The withdrawal of the attention of many subjects and objects of the world by controlling the senses of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing through meditation, the truth of our religion, arts and scientific knowledge can be an experience, and thus our individual lives are linked to it. Also experience comes with sustained attention in the consciousness of those holy life experiences and spiritual absolute knowledge. Since the individual life and absolute life can not be known at the same time, people can not cage secret spiritual knowledge and its astral body put into words. Our adorable religious texts of many religions are not a divine wisdom, but the statements of prophets, to provide technical testify to experience spiritual knowledge in beyond consciousness and astral body that is subtle world of oneness of god. Simple study of religious texts may give us religious scholar who continue to imagine it as by its level of practice it.

But knowing the true spiritual knowledge is one who practices the words of the prophets of his religion on his life in sub-conscious. The mere thought of carrying spiritual texts or spiritual values of people serves no purpose. Consciously Think how many people visit each day to his spiritual guide and continue to pray. A few reach the destinations that are willing to forgo life linked to the world and dissolve into the absolute life.

There are nine planets, twelve houses and twenty seven Nakshatras governing the horoscope of a person, which forms the base of giving all type of predictions in a persons horoscope made on the basis of his time of birth, date of birth and place of birth. Each house represents scores of things or events in a person’s life.

Any thing and every thing can be predicted based on the planetary positions in the horoscope.

This science of Astrology reveals every aspect of a person’s life as soon as he or she takes birth on the basis of the horoscope prepared at the time of birth.

At that moment of time he or she sleeps for most of time doing nothing. But with the aid of astrological horoscope every thing can be predicated.horoscope For example, mental health, agonies, nature in great details. Similarly, health, disease, accident etc. which will overtake him and what care and caution has to be taken are all correctly predicted. Persons rise, growth, finance, life style, set backs, married life, divorce, name, Fame, children that is, every thing is correctly predicted at the time of birth itself governing future in all respects.

It is astounding that this Scientific Astrology can reveal every thing at a time when the newly born is doing nothing. This is the beauty of this science that identifies the destiny of a person for all times to come from the birth till death in all aspects. When it comes 100% true then comes the truth that destiny is pre-determined at the time of birth and cannot be changed by any means unless the person taken rebirth. When the person grows in age and start working, and the things happen in the same very as predicted at the time of birth, then it can be assuredly understood that destiny in all respects was sealed for all times to come i.e. predetermined at the time of birth. Even mode of death can be correctly predicted i.e. long term, slow or instant death through accident, massive heart attack or even by murder. Nothing can be changed.

This science is defamed and harmed by so called astrologers who with little knowledge of this vast science prescribe gems, Rudraksh, tantra, mantra etc. to overcome or reduce the evils and charge fantastic sum of money. Are they Gods? Can they change the planets of a person’s horoscope and change the destiny? Not at all. They are human beings. Why do not they change the destiny of his family members, close relatives, avoid diseases, make them rich and avoid death or mode of death. I am a scientist and scholar. I earn money as this class of so called astrologers earn ten to twenty times more money by prescribing remedy and earning easy by fraud means.

For the first time in 1985. When I was honored with the heighest Indian degree Jyotish Maha Maho Paddhaya at the world congress of astrology at Ahmedabad (India). I was asked to deliver speech before a huge gathering of astrologers from India and abroad and was given only five minutes to speak. As I had been a high ranking officer in Government, I was supposed to be a responsible astrologer. I chose the subject Astrology as I saw it, found it and experienced it. Earlier various astrologers in their speech were propagating various methods to remove of cure the evil by means of tantra, mantra, wearing stories, worshiping Gods, etc as if they are Gods in the form of human being.

When I started delivering speech exposing such frauds committed in the name of Astrology for earning easy going money and thus defame this noble science and that destiny cannot be changed even a bit by any means, on the dot of sixth minute I was asked to finish the speech, the whole house literally stood up and asked me to continue the speech. I spoke for twenty minutes and got biggest applause and hand clapping of lifetime from the whole crowd. I have practical examples of a jeweler who had heart attack. I saw a unique combination in his horoscopes that he would die in a state of coma. The person who consulted are confirmed that the jeweler was in a state of coma. I predicted that he would die shortly. The reaction of the person was adverse. He said that the family astrologer says that there is no question of death, He is going to be cured and has long life. For this purpose “Maha Mritungaya Yagna” is being performed for seven thousand five hundred dollars equally and half lac of Indian rupee. I disagreed and said that the whole money will go in gutters, as the death and mode of death cannot be changed as this was decided at the time of birth. He died in three weeks. The main person who conducted it pocketed the whole money. This proves that destiny cannot be changed by any means. Even Gods like Bhagwan Ram Chandra ji and His wife Goddess Sitaji when took birth in human form had to suffer. Shri Ram Chandra ji was banished form the kingdom for 14 years. His wife felt so humiliated that died of her own will. By invoking mother Earth to take her inside which happened according to the mythology. The well known astrologers of that Era sage Vashishta and sage Vishwa Mitra could not do anything and were mere spectators. If assassination of Smt. Indra Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Indian Prime Ministers took place, the planetary combination signifying assassination was in their horoscopes and this was the destiny predetermined at the time of birth. Every body makes effort except insane person. It is the luck factor governed by planets is the chart he would become Bill gates from nobody, the richest person or for that matter some one would become Prime Minister etc.

However, this noble science of Astrology gives you vision in all respects and you can make enhance planning. If it is indicated that speculation, gambling or share market is going to give you losses, you can avoid doing so. In certain cases and situation one can make his will, so that there are no disputes. If any, ailment is indicated, are can take timely precautions to avoid suffering. Things would occur but intensity would be reduced. If separation in married life is indicated. The partner can be selected who goes are tours regularly to avoid the crisis and salsify the used of the planets. Planning and guidance are all available along with do’s and don’ts. So this is the beauty of this noble science.

Actuarial Science? What are actuarial science and actuary? Are they the same things? According to Wikipedia, Actuarial science is the discipline that applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in the insurance and finance industries. An actuary is a business professional who deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty. Actuaries have a deep understanding of financial security systems, their reasons for being, their complexity, their mathematics, and the way they work.

You can be a genius in mathematics but not must in actuarial science. Actuarial science is NOT ALL about mathematics, but involving lots of statistics, modelling, finance, economics, accounting and so on. So, even when you don’t end up as an actuary, you will still have other career options such as working in risk management, investment, etc. Hence, if you love mathematics, you will love pure mathematics. If you love applying mathematics (in business or economics), you will love actuarial science.

Actuarial science DOES NOT guarantee a HIGHLY paid job. Only qualified Actuary get paid in millions depend on the need in different countries. Fresh actuarial science graduate does not make you different from any other graduates at all. And, there are MANY Malaysians currently studying actuarial science. (JPA scholars, Bank Negara scholars, SC scholars, Khazanah scholars, UKM, UM, UiTM, USIM, UTAR, INTI, Taylor, HELP)

Its easy to get a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science. But it’s not easy to be an actuary. Undoubtedly, the route becoming an actuary is a very tough. If not, millions of people will become actuaries and the job prospect for actuaries will be really bad. My advice is thinking thrice before you make a decision to get into the program, don’t jump into it for the wrong reason, i.e. money. I know that some actuarial majors brag about actuaries getting paid millions, including me! Yes, it is true but take note that you only get paid well if you’re good in term of many things, such as soft skills.

Become an actuary, you must not have the actuarial science degree. You can become an actuary by taking any bachelors degree, but it is better to take something related degree, like mathematics, statistics, economics, finance, etc. The most important is the professional exams. But, most people who take actuarial science fail to become a qualified actuary.

What are the criteria to become an actuary? According to Be An Actuary website, you must have an excellent business sense with a knowledge of finance, accounting, and economics, keen analytical, project management, and problem solving skills, specialized math knowledge, strong computer skills, and solid written and oral communication skills. In addition, you must enjoy learning, like to solve complicated problems, enjoy writing and talking to people, can work effectively alone or as part of a team, are interested in a variety of historical, social, legislative, and political issues, and are self-motivated achievers.

After a short briefing of actuarial science and actuary, lets talk about Why Actuary? If I say I take this course not because the highly competitive salary, then you will definitely not believe me! To be honest, yes, the MAJOR reason I choose actuary as my career is because FINANCIAL FREEDOM (just a major reason, there are some minor reasons). Then, I thought that I have a moderate amount of logical, mathematical, and analytical ability. Since I do not want to teach, being more practical than abstract, mathematically, I thought that being an actuary would be all right. And as a not-so-bad student, I have no other choices! Because there is a myth in Malaysia: Best student always take Medicine, Engineering or Actuarial Science. Finally, I choose actuary as my career due to the myth.

If you are really interested in Actuarial Science, what I think is that getting a local degree or overseas degree is just the same. The most important is the professional examination. There are many ways to pursue actuarial science degree, since I am studying in local university, I just talk about the local one (Malaysia). For SPM students, you can try to get the scholarship, such as JPA/MARA (I think it will become easier to get this scholarship after the 308! ), Bank Negara, Khazanah, SC, Great Eastern and so on. If you didnt get it, you can try to get into Asasi UiTM (for Bumiputera only!), Matriculation, STPM or Private College/University, like INTI, Taylor, HELP ).

After Matriculation or STPM, with CGPA 4.00, you may do actuarial science degree locally at UKM, UM, USIM, UiTM. For non-Bumi, you just can gain the admission into UM or UKM only. One more option is UNITAR.

Well, for those who aspires to become an actuary but failed to get admission to the course, should not give up but instead go into courses like Statistics or Mathematics and start taking actuarial professional examinations.

The path to become an actuary involves going through a well-structured education plan. This involves university-level education and professional examinations, as well as other requirements. You should prepare and start your professional examinations since the first year you get into to University or College ( or even STPM ). For the professional examinations, you have to think about what are the options of societies or institutes.

For me, like my most other seniors, choosing Society of Actuaries (SOA). But now, I am still just a second-year, first-semester actuarial student. The road is still very long. I hope can finish 5 papers before my graduation. Here we go!

With ozone-layer depletion a great issue nowadays, inventors are developing new ideas. The transportation sector in particular is getting all the bad publicity. And as carbon monoxide emissions become the focus of tighter regulations both in the US and Europe, the race for eco-friendly vehicles is on.

One of the inventors who rely on the powers of Mother Nature is Vladimir Zam. His wind-powered bike is designed with a triangular sail. The big question is: how will the bike run?

The design for US Patent 6932368 calls for a sail attachment to be linked to the bicycle harnesses wind to move the bicycle forward. A wind receiving sail is available at the attachment, which can generate the wind needed to power the bike.

Would the addition of a sail attachment qualifies it an invention? It looks more like a science project gone bad. Seriously, the design for this patent is an awkward cross between a sail boat and a bicycle. Considering that the patent retains most of the features of a regular bike, the sail attachment just complicate matters. Whereas, people could simply rely on their two feet to forward a bicycle.

Imagine yourself driving this thing around in the middle of the metropolis traffic jam. That is provided you could survive peddling a long the streets without being dragged through your sail by speeding vehicles. On the upside, well you could make money using this bike to money. For instance, why dont you convince your local pizza delivery store to advertise on your sail. Youll just have to capitalize on your endurance and be able to bike for three acres or until you drop dead, whichever comes first.

So what do you guys think? Is this an innovative invention or just a product of a man having too much time on his hands?