Week 6: Working in Remote Teams

This week, we are required to write about working in remote teams. We have all submitted our position papers, and now our research turns to the ethics of our topic, preventive health care.

We've had our team established since very early on in the semester, to our advantage I believe. We've been in contact with each other, thanks to Facebook Messenger, always asking questions and running things by each other. We've gotten to know each other quite well by now, as well as you can know someone these days without meeting them.

Susan Cain (2012), has written about the genius of the individual. Research has shown that some of the most creative minds of history have been loners. Sir Isaac Newton & Steve Wozniak, two undoubted geniuses of history.

I share this philosophy. I've always found it hard to talk to people face to face, and collaborate with people in person. I found it especially difficult when I was in a band, it proved easier and more productive for me to come up with things on my own, then present to the band as whole later on.

However, I see working in remote teams as a way of overcoming these problems. We are not working side by side with each other. We're not working in the same room or even the same building. The internet has given us the potential to work together without being together (Cain, 2012). Research has shown that teams in academia, not individuals, produced some of the most influential work. People working remotely, sometimes in different universities (Cain, 2012).

Working in this way requires strict deadlines and a team of people working for the same goals and objectives. We have all established that we all want A grades on this, so we all want the same outcome. We all seem to know our strengths and weaknesses, which I'm sure will all come to the fore when working on this report together.

Cain (2012) brilliantly points out what she calls "contradictory impulses"; "we love and need one another, yet we crave autonomy and privacy". This is what the internet can provide to creative people. Working in a remote team can be possible for even the most shy and private of us. We can all work for the same goals, while still retaining privacy.

In any case, I feel confident working in this team. We're all working toward the same goals and the same grade. We've all agreed to work on this report through Google Docs, which is very handy and easy to access.

"The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane" - Nikola Tesla.

Cain, S. (2012) The Rise of the New Groupthink. Retrieved from https://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/opinion/sunday/the-rise-of-the-new-groupthink.html?referer=http://t.co/QkQLEnzd

Week 4: Why the debate on vaccination is important

This week, I want to talk about why this topic is so important. Why does the debate matter? Why are vaccines so important to me?

Science clearly says why immunisation is important. There have been thousands of studies done on their safety, effectiveness and even the ingredients. Their importance is shown time and again when the coverage rate for a certain vaccine drops. Mumps outbreak in Auckland earlier this year. Numerous schools closed last year throughout New Zealand. Whenever an infant dies because of some unvaccinated child, the importance of immunisation is revealed.

However, the anti-science crowd somehow think there is a conspiracy. There are no reputable studies to be found to say why you shouldn't vaccinate. There are endless books, YouTube channels, websites funded by natural/alternative medicines to say why the pharmaceutical companies are all out to get them. Doctors are to be feared and mistrusted too, except for the ones that agree with them. Doctors like Mercola, Tenpenny, ex-doctor Wakefield.

The recent propaganda film, Vaxxed has been doing the rounds, with the tour bus following in its destructive wake. Australia has banned the pro-disease activist, Polly Tommey, who called doctors "murderers". Recently in Australia, they have passed a law that means you can't send your child to school unless they're fully immunized, the very topic I'm writing for. Their vaccination rates have increased to safer levels, much to the pro-diseasers' dismay. We may recall a few months back, when the Vaxxed film was screened here in New Zealand and they were met by 2014 New Zealander of the year, Dr Lance O'Sullivan's indignant response. He was invited to the event by a fellow doctor and was disgusted to see these people flouting such science denialism, endangering children's lives with their lies.

Anti-vaccine rhetoric is dangerous and a threat to our safety. We, as science enthusiasts, teachers, students or professionals, need to stand up against this abuse of science and keep arguing.

Week 3: Summarising the debate

Hello everyone. 

This week, I'm going to break down the two sides of the argument. The topic I have chosen, "Children should not be allowed in schools  (or pre-schools) unless they are fully immunised", while contentious, has still proven difficult to find a fair breakdown of the debate. There is a wealth of information and studies showing the safety, effectiveness and need to be vaccinated. But, as mentioned in my earlier blog, the opposition has been more elusive. 

The most recent controversy in the world of vaccine debates has come from a so called documentary film, called Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, (Bigtree, D.M., & Wakefield, A.J. 2016). Wakefield and (some) supporters of the Vaxxed film claim they are not anti-vaccine, but just pro-choice. Most are just full on anti-vaccine. The film's marketing claims "The film they don't want you to see". The film's premise is alleging the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was involved in a cover up that destroyed evidence and hid data that showed a link between autism and the MMR vaccine. It revolves around two retracted studies that showed this link. They claim to have a whistle-blower within the CDC that is coming out and telling the truth. This is a quote (not included in the film) from their CDC insider, Dr. William Thompson (Carey, M. 2017),

I want to be absolutely clear that I believe vaccines have saved and continue to save countless lives. I would never suggest that any parent avoid vaccinating children of any race. Vaccines prevent serious diseases, and the risks associated with their administration are vastly outweighed by their individual and societal benefits.

Is this the information the Vaxxed crew don't want us to know? As Dr Thompson mentions, there are risks involved, because in science and medicine alike, nothing is perfect. Some people may be allergic to certain ingredients for instance. These people that can't be vaccinated are the ones that rely on the rest of the community to be immunised. However, all risks considered, there have been plenty of studies showing there is no link to autism.

The other reference I will use here is from a recent study explaining the importance of herd immunity and maintaining a high coverage rate to protect the population (Hayman, D.T.S., Marshall, J.C., French, N.P., & Carpenter, T.E., 2017). With New Zealand being such a desirable country to live, learn or work, with families emigrating here from all over, we are exposed to people from outside our highly immunised population. Other countries are making the same effort in trying to eradicate these diseases, but it has to be a global effort in such a connected age. 

Hayman, D.T.S, et al. showed that younger children are at a much higher risk of measles, particularly 0-2yrs  and 12-17yrs. The efficacy, or effectiveness, of the MMR vaccine is increased when the children have had both doses, otherwise the likelihood of infection and subsequent outbreak is increased. The study found that this was true for the majority of the cases from 2007-2014. In fact, 82% unvaccinated and 17% were from children vaccinated only once. 

The herd immunity coverage rate is 95%, which means that 95% of the population must be immunised to prevent the spread of Measles. Because of this herd immunity, it means that vaccinating is not a personal choice that only affects the individual, it affects the entire community, all the people that can't be vaccinated due to legitimate medical reasons. 

It's clear to me that making full immunisation a compulsory part of schooling in New Zealand is the logical step to eradicating these infectious, preventable diseases.

References:

Bigtree, D.M. (Producer), & Wakefield, A.J. (Director). (2016). Vaxxed: from cover-up to catastrophe [Documentary]. USA: Cinema Libre Studio

Carey, M. (2017) A look back at the so called "CDC Whistleblower" story and how Vaxxed is misleading Retrieved from https://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2017/02/10/a-look-back-at-the-so-called-cdc-whistleblower-story-and-how-vaxxed-is-misleading/

Hayman, D.T.S., Marshall, J.C., French, N.P., & Carpenter, T.E. (2017). Global importation and population risk factors for measles in New Zealand: a case study for highly immunized populations. Epidemiology and Infection (145) 1875-1885. Retrieved from https://www-cambridge-org.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/global-importation-and-population-risk-factors-for-measles-in-new-zealand-a-case-study-for-highly-immunized-populations/AA7A61E06F421945937D0BCB01DD11A8

Week 2: The literature

Hello, everyone. This week, I'm going to run through my search for information on my topic. The topic I have chosen for my position paper is, "Children should not be allowed in schools (or pre-schools) unless they are fully immunised". For anyone who has ever been on the internet, you'll know how contentious this topic can be.

The search for resources has been draining, to say the least. Reading through people's opinions on the other side of the argument has brought up some interesting, and horrifying, information. The ammount of skewed data and misinformed people out there is shocking. This isn't a new topic for me either. I have followed facebook pages on the topic of science for around a year now. The people who run these pages make it their duty to expose and bring forth the darker side of the internet, the pseudoscience community. Pages like 'We Love GMOs and Vaccines', 'Genetically Modified Humans for Monsanto', 'A Science Enthusiast', 'Refutations to Anti Vaccine Memes' and 'Things Antivaxers Say'. I joined a closed group called 'Revolution for Vaccine Truth' and posted a questionnaire on their page. I asked a few questions trying to find out exactly why they're against vaccines and what has lead to their choice and what if anything, would change their mind. It was informative, at first, but then I was labeled as a "demon" and quickly banned from the group.

The search for information on the scientific side has been much more enjoyable and fruitful. I've learned a lot from the lessons this week, how to use Google Scholar through the Massey Library account and now have found a lot that will help me. I've also requested library books that will help with data. I emailed the Ministry of Health for information as well and even had a reply. They explained how their recent plan for "No jab, no pay" policy was canned because it was seen as a violation of the Bill of Rights Act, 1990, "The right to refuse to undergo medical treatment".

 I've found even after two weeks of being in this course, my critical reading has been sharpened usefully. I'm learning how to read papers and studies in an efficient way to find if it's useful or not and I'm finding general news stories on science are being scrutinised more carefully by me now.

My position paper is taking shape in my head and I look forward to crafting it.

A quote from a brilliant man, about the quest for knowledge, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself", Carl Sagan.

Shaun

Introduction: Week 1

My name is Shaun de Malmanche. Over the next three months, I will be sharing 8 posts with you all. I'm planning to complete a Bachelor of Science with a major in Animal Science or Biological Science. This is my first paper at University and I'm excited to get started. 

The name is French, but I'm a Kiwi, and yes, a lot of people have trouble pronouncing my name. I've been alive for 29 years. I live in Palmerston North and grew up on a farm just out of Palmerston North, in Taikorea. I'm the father of two wonderful girls, Haylie and Emily, 10 and 5 respectively. I've been with my partner, Christine for over 10 years now. She is my rock and an amazing inspiration to me. She recently quit her job and started a course at UCOL to become a builder. She's now working full time as an apprentice, helping to build houses in a new section on the edge of Palmerston North. She has inspired me to finally complete papers at Massey and work to get a degree. 

Since Haylie was young, I've always tried to instil life lessons through scientific means. Children are natural born scientists; always asking questions, wondering why or how something works or why or how something does something. I myself have always been a "fan" of science. I enjoy watching documentaries, and commentaries on science, such as Brian Cox, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Carl Sagan, Bill Nye and David Attenborough. 

I also enjoy reading well-written science books. Sometimes, they can be a bit boring and dry, which can seem as though the writer doesn't understand, or enjoy, the topic they're writing about. I'm part way through "The Art of Science" by Richard Hamblyn, but have had to put it down to start studying for this course. I think this course in Communication can help me to become a better communicator, as well as appreciate other talented scientific communicators a little more. 

I have worked at Massey University for a little over 7 years now, as a Technician with IVABS. My main role has been running the feed mill, making specialty diets for research trials and wildlife centres and zoos across New Zealand. I also help to run trials here. I want to take on more in my role and get more into the formulation of diets and more of the data side of things. I think a degree in science will help me to realize these ambitions.

My strengths are my passion for science and learning, my English and writing skills. My weakness is definitely my anxiety around public speaking. I am much better at communication through writing than talking. My ideas can sometimes become a bit confused when speaking, as my partner knows all too well.

You will be hearing from me over the next three months as I share my experience with you all.

"Together we can save the world!" - [Nye, 2017]