Research Prospectus

(*) Introduce the issue to be studied.
• Exploring the scientific experiments currently being conducted on the International Space Station.

(*) Introduce to background of the research area.
• The International Space Station was first put into orbit in 1998, and since then has been conducting experiments to further space exploration and experiments that could only be done in spaces zero gravity environment.

(*) State the key issue, the overall research problem, specific research question/s. There may be 1-3 separate questions connected to research problem area. Should be formulated in a very clear language in a form of a question.
1) What kinds of experiements are currently being done on the ISS?
2) Why can’t these same experiments be done on earth?
3) How many scientific fields have assets currently being tested on the ISS?

(*) Statement of relevance to the field. Define your audience of experts.
• My audience is scientists in the fields that which are currently being researched on the ISS. Also, it is intended for anyone interested in space exploration and the scientific advancements that are currently being done.

(*) Justify the research problem area with references to references to journal articles (and in some cases also popular articles) pinpointing the importance of the research area.
• http://www.nalusda.gov/awic/newsletters/v6n2/6n2borko.htm - A source that outlines NASAs research currently being done on live animals in space.
• http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/news/news/releases/2002/02-216.html - Official NASA site that explores the research that is being done on Semiconductors. The zero-gravity environment makes it ideal for trying to make Semiconductor technology smaller and more efficient.
• http://www.latech.edu/ideaplace/nerc/lithographs/research_on_the_international_space_station.pdf - Tissue culture is being tested where cells are unaffected by gravity. In the future, these living cells may make breakthroughs in Cancer treatment, causing no harm to patients.



(*) Introduce your proposed methods of study, in brief, if you can at this time.
• I plan to mostly look at sources that are affiliated with NASA, as I believe these will be most accurate and credible. I plan to give an overview of several (3-4) specific areas of study that are currently being done on the ISS. I will also plan to relate each one to how they will affect life on earth. I believe that this can be done using websites like www.scirus.com to look for scientific sources, more specifically scientific articles.

(*) Introduce limitations of the study, if you can at this time.
• I do not plan to get into the technical aspects of each scientific field of research. My paper will be intended for a reader with interest in the specific area, not a background in it. So, therefore a basic understanding of what each field of research is and what the specific goal of each area is.

(*) Include bibliography of sources. Provide in-text citations where appropriate.
• http://www.latech.edu/ideaplace/nerc/lithographs/research_on_the_international_space_station.pdf
• http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/news/news/releases/2002/02-216.html
• http://www.nalusda.gov/awic/newsletters/v6n2/6n2borko.htm
• http://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/1853/26420/1/125-137-1-PB.pdf

(*) Note scholarly publications (1-3 publications, by title) where you might be able to publish the resulting paper you would write.
• http://www.scientificamerican.com/
• http://www.sciencedaily.com/
• http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/resources/journals.shtml