Narrow Results

Using data from the 2010 Graduates Occupational Mobility Survey, this paper examines the wage effects of over-education (OE) among graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at the early stage of their careers. In the pooled OLS analysis, the negative correlation between OE and wages remains even if we were to estimate an augmented specification where OE is disaggregated according to perceived skill mismatch. However, the pooled OLS estimates are changed dramatically when we control for unobserved individual heterogeneity (i.e., ability) using the panel FE estimation procedure; namely, reduced coefficients in the wage equation compared to pooled OLS estimation.

Metallic nanoparticles have attracted intense interest for the potential applications in biocompatibility due to the reduced particle size. However, the methods to produce metallic nanoparticles usually produce an inhomogeneous size distribution. In this work, Cu nanoparticles were generated using a gas-aggregation cluster source technique, employing a specially designed quadrupole mass filter to control the size of the nanoparticles with a mass resolution (m/$\mathrm{\Delta }$m) of 5. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis was used to confirm the size control of our technique. The generally high angular electronic scattering analysis revealed the spherical shapes of the Cu nanoparticles. We used beams of these nanoparticles to prepare nano-granular films on a Si substrate. Their antibacterial effect of the modified materials on Escherichia coli was assessed by means of a bacterial adhesion test. Our results may not only reveal the cluster technique to produce the uniform metallic nanoparticles, but also form the basis of antibacterial applications.

Transitioning between academia and industry in the life science sector

Preparing students for jobs that do not exist now

For the month of February 2021, APBN takes a look into the future. Our Features section highlights the key points from the STEM Conference 2020organised by the Science Centre Singapore where experts in the field discuss the future of STEM education. In the Spotlights section APBN interviewed Fabrice Leguet, Managing Director and President, Southeast Asia for Siemens Healthineers to gain insight to the company's efforts in bridging technology gaps in the healthcare industry as well as its COVID-19 response. For the Columns section, we take a look at the future of digital technology in the healthcare industry and how the internet of things (IoT) and blockchain technology could pave the way for new innovations.

High performance dielectric capacitors are ubiquitous components in the modern electronics industry, owing to the highest power density, fastest charge–discharge rates, and long lifetime. However, the wide application of dielectric capacitors is limited owing to the low energy density. Over the past decades, multiscale structures of dielectric ceramics have been extensively explored and many exciting developments have been achieved. Despite the rapid development of energy storage properties, the atomic structure of dielectric materials is rarely investigated. In this paper, we present a brief overview of how scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is used as a tool to elucidate the morphology, local structure heterogeneity, atomic resolution structure phase evolution and the correlation with energy storage properties, which provides a powerful tool for rational design and synergistic optimization.

Mars is the planet most similar to Earth in the universe. In recent years, several NASA exploration rovers, such as Curiosity and Insight Lander, have sent a considerable amount of information, gradually solving the mystery of Mars. Scientists are planning to turn Mars into an “Earth 2.0”. To that end, a virtual Mars mission was designed and used in science education.

This design applies the idea of STEM science education and follows the 6E process. Plants are seeded on Mars virtually. Through soil testing, plant selection, and observation of plant interactions during photosynthesis and their influence on the changes in air oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, the students are encouraged to learn about chemistry, soil science, and botany.

Through this virtual Mars mission, learners can reflect on the evolution of Earth and cherish its limited resources.

This report presents preliminary results from a survey commissioned for ICME-14 on teaching and learning of mathematical modelling and interdisciplinary mathematics educations. The systematic literature review focusses on how a well-understood relation between mathematics and the real world underpins interdisciplinary work, interdisciplinarity in research and teaching teams, issues and challenges in the relationships among mathematical modelling, mathematics, the real world and interdisciplinarity, and mathematical modelling and a well-understood relation to the real world ensuring mathematical depth in STEM integration.