Science Meets Real Life - Essay Example

Science Meets Real Life Affiliation with more information about affiliation, research grants, conflict of interest and how to contact Hypotheses: 1. What could be the reason for the high rate of absence among the students in band class at Truman and Jackson Middle Schools? 2. Do the band students from both the school have similar symptoms? Based on an examination of the data collected from Truman Middle School, it transpires that one student has been absent as he has been on a family vacation.

Rest of the students have absented due to the symptoms of stomach ache. In the same way, the data collected from Jackson Middle School reveals that one student has been absent due to physical injury. The others have manifested symptoms of stomach ache and related problems just like the students of the former school. Thus, it can be construed that the common reason for high rate of absence in both schools is the symptom of stomach ache and related complaints like, vomiting, fever etc. A comparison of the school calendars of the institutions indicates that the students from both schools have met and interacted on the occasion of the May Day Parade.

They have also met on 15th May for planning meeting for the battle of the bands, which has been scheduled for 19th May. People can become sick when they are exposed to virus and also by consuming contaminated food. An inspection of the restaurant has brought to fore the fact that it is not only unhygienic, but also lacks in the basic facilities. The kitchens of most of the restaurants do not have any ceilings and the shelves of the freezers are dirty. Besides, the cloths that the cooks use for wiping food contact surfaces are not cleaned in sanitizing solutions.

Another major aspect that has come to notice is the fact that “Food thermometers were not being used by employees” (Restaurant Inspections, n.d. para. 2). All these factors clearly establish that the food served to the students may have been contaminated. More students may have become exposed to virus due to their interaction on the occasion of the functions related to band parade. The following testable questions can be offered for further investigation: 1. What specific reasons can be attributed to the absence of students in both schools? 2. What may be the causes for the common disease among the students? 3. How are the students from both the schools affected at the same time? 4. If the students from both the schools are suffering from the same problem when have they been exposed to the virus? 5. How are they exposed to the same disease causing agents? 6. What measures can be taken to prevent food contamination in restaurants?

Reference List Restaurant Inspections, (n.d.). Community Health Department. Retrieved July 12, 2011, from http://science.education.nih.gov/Supplements/NIH6/inquiry/Activities/activity2/restaurant.htm