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Masters Topic with Skeptical Twist. Help Needed

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Samael:
Hi everyone

I was wondering if you guys could help me chose topic for my masters (there is a skeptical twist). I was already working on a few topics, but all projects that I would be "working on" were canceled, long story, I don't wanna bother anyone with it, BUT one good thing came out of it and that is that I was given "carte blanche" by my mentor to write about anything I want and I would be very much interested for my topic to be VERY MUCH skeptic and real science oriented.

I'm studying to be biomedical engineer, so I think that topic could be VERY interesting. I was thinking about maybe doing some things related to melanoma and skin research, but I have no idea where to start and no older colleagues to talk to. My mentor did tell me that I could make a comparison of different devices that "search" for melanoma and give my own propositions for improvement and look at existing solutions from skeptical standpoint, but I don't know what to think about this. I would very much appreciate if I could get some feedback on this.

The whole "skeptical twist thing" is very important to me, since few people from my group based their Masters on some not very scientific topics and when I say "not very scientific" (read, acupuncture) I'm trying to be a good friend and not go to much into it, but I guess you guys get what I'm trying to say here.

Thanks everyone for their time  :)

Pernille:
Hi, when you say "skeptical twist", do you mean debunking something mildly/wildly unscientific?

Regards,

Samael:

--- Quote from: Pernille on Aug 05, 2012, 03:48:35 AM ---Hi, when you say "skeptical twist", do you mean debunking something mildly/wildly unscientific?

Regards,

--- End quote ---

Yes

Zytheran:
Here's one idea.
You could look at the effectiveness of skin cancer awareness campaigns across different countries. And in particular some of the belief systems that have an impact on their effectiveness. This would initially get you looking at how the health profession collects data as to the effectiveness of interventions, and some stats.
A comparison of cultural beliefs and adoption of protection measures, so for example is there an issue in cultures which promote a 'healthy tan'. Why does this apply to some cultures and not others? There will be existing studies which you can pull together into a body of work that would be suitable for Masters level work. You could look at all the factors involved and even go into cultures who mostly clothe their skin, why they do it and how the maintain such a belief system which has a side effect of better skin health.
You could look at why some countries in the west have issues with the standard programs and investigate what other 'out of the square' solutions might work. Are there issues with the technical solutions we currently have to skin protection?
Although this doesn't sound very bio-engineery it does give you a reason to examine the mechanisms behind less-than-rational belief systems which would form a useful basis for understanding why people believe in stupid things. i.e. skepticism
It also gives an insight into the interaction of health/medicine issues and the culture in which it is applied which in itself would be a usefull body of knowledge for applying any medical technology.

So is there anything to having a 'healthy tan'?

Samael:

--- Quote from: Zytheran on Aug 05, 2012, 06:29:43 AM ---Here's one idea.
You could look at the effectiveness of skin cancer awareness campaigns across different countries. And in particular some of the belief systems that have an impact on their effectiveness. This would initially get you looking at how the health profession collects data as to the effectiveness of interventions, and some stats.
A comparison of cultural beliefs and adoption of protection measures, so for example is there an issue in cultures which promote a 'healthy tan'. Why does this apply to some cultures and not others? There will be existing studies which you can pull together into a body of work that would be suitable for Masters level work. You could look at all the factors involved and even go into cultures who mostly clothe their skin, why they do it and how the maintain such a belief system which has a side effect of better skin health.
You could look at why some countries in the west have issues with the standard programs and investigate what other 'out of the square' solutions might work. Are there issues with the technical solutions we currently have to skin protection?
Although this doesn't sound very bio-engineery it does give you a reason to examine the mechanisms behind less-than-rational belief systems which would form a useful basis for understanding why people believe in stupid things. i.e. skepticism
It also gives an insight into the interaction of health/medicine issues and the culture in which it is applied which in itself would be a usefull body of knowledge for applying any medical technology.

So is there anything to having a 'healthy tan'?

--- End quote ---

THIS IS AMAZING ! :) Thank you so much for this input. I talked to my mentor last night. We agreed that I would brain storm this week and get at least 5 ideas, then talk to him and he would tell me which path would be best to take, then get another few ideas related to main idea and then get the final topic. This IS DEFINITELY something I would be interested in, plus it would be a good intro for a job I'm interested in. Wow, I'm really happy about this, thank you. Be sure, if this topic gets the green light I will mention you in my "thank you page" :)

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