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Artificial Intelligence- Veronica Nocella

Posted by Veronica Nocella in Science And Society - Best - E on

Science: My 5 minutes of Science focuses on the specific aspects of AI that scientists focus on, like human biology and neurology, & what is more significant in the further advancement of AI research. I also focus on Cybernetics, and how creating artificial simulations of animals was essentially the genesis of AI research

Society: I talk about the pros and cons of AI advancement; AI robots can help in natural disaster relief and in medicine, can lead to the creation of more efficient prosthetic limbs, and can eventually solve problems as large as climate change.

Self: Personally, I researched Artificial Intelligence because I used to be incredibly afraid of it. The idea of robots having human emotion and compassion made me immediately think we could be taken over by robots; I was afraid of creating something smarter than us. However, after I did further research, I realized how much AI robots could actually help us further develop our society for the better. 




​https://docs.google.com/a/scienceleadership.org/presentation/d/1kJWwT7zcZCfIEn8aPS9tl5dOWVsT2MRCfsipPvuOKQo/edit?usp=sharing

How to Lie with Statistics Podcast 2

Posted by Gina Sorgentoni in Statistics - Miles - C on
For this podcast we reviewed chapters 6 and 7, going over the overall idea of each, then discussing and reacting to the examples in both chapters. We talked a lot about our discomfort with some of the examples, and with the realization that we need to think deeply about everything because there is a chance that it could be a lie. 
Podcast 2

Q4 Math Bm (Podcast #1) Ilker, Jamie and Brian

Posted by Ilker Erkut in Statistics - Miles - B on
In Jamie, Brian and my first Podcast we introduced the book.  This first podcast proved to be very difficult because it caused a lot thinking.  Our first podcast is longer than the rest will be and this is because we were introducing the book.  This podcast hits on all points in the first three chapters.  The first three chapters are the base of the book and so we gave more detailed information in this podcast.  We all talked a lot and kept the conversation going.  We created good questions to keep the conversation going till the end.  

How To Lie With Statistics

Posted by Amanda Thieu in Statistics - Miles - C on
  • Group members present during the discussion: Amanda, Adowa, Sattera, Nashay 
  • What your club discussed: Whether the methods in the book manipulate people 
  • How you discussed it: We brought up different examples and what we found deceving. 
  • Any points of conflict/disagreement in discussion: The main conflict is that we all feel like there are certain samples that are not considered as sufficient samples to derive a conclusion from. 
  • Questions that came up as a result of the discussion: How did you guys feel about the book so far? etc. 

How To Lie with Statistics Podcast 1-Tiarra & Lindsey

Posted by Lindsey Jones in Statistics - Miles - B on
In our first installation of HTLWS, we cover chapters 1-4. We were both present and ready with our own thoughts and opinions on the subjects within these chapters. It's very long in comparison to some others, but we wanted to go in deph about the topics and (hopefully) not miss a single thing. Tiarra and I both listened to each other thoroughly and even challenged one another on these beliefs. The format in which we disect the book is by (obviously) reading the chapter, taking notes, and then coming up with our own questions to bring to the discussion. Please appreciate it.
chapters1to4stats

Podcast 2 // Bella, Andrew, Kristina, Kevin

Posted by Isabella Beato in Statistics - Miles - B on
​​All of our group members were present for this podcast. For this podcast we talked about the next four chapters of the book, chapters 4 through 8. Basically these chapters talked about misleading graphs and how people accomplish making these graphs. We also talked about an article Mr. Miles asked us to read. We kept with our same plan by writing everything out first then recording. Again we didn't have any conflict or disagreement. No questions came up this time around. Below are the graphs we referenced. 

Here is the article. 
stats podcast 2
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Podcast #2 : Joie, Espi, Sydne and Cameron

Posted by Joie Nearn in Statistics - Miles - B on
​Our group discussed the chapters 4-7. During these chapters we got a first hand look on the saying "How To Lie with Statistics". We learned that it is all about showing what you want and not showing all of your collected data. In chapter 5, it was quoted,"there is terror behind numbers." The point we got from that was that you can cut a graph off and withhold certain data to the audience at any point and it wouldn't be considered as changing the data, but showing what we want. 

Glory Tribute: Capstone By Soledad Alfaro-Allah

Posted by Soledad Alfaro-Allah in Capstone - Kamal - Wed on
Abstract:

I created a tribute to black Philadelphia, by making a piece of short film using many different aspects of the city including its people as well as its youth, the short film is the preface to a larger project which will end up being a documentary on Philadelphia and the abandoned buildings here, and how that relates to gentrification. However this is an artistic play on that because it involves a poem that describes the black joy and what that looks like in America and, the story of black resilience. 

I spent the school year, putting together the video and small tribute to the poem and to the people of the city, by using the time I was given in dig vid and continued to refine it over the course of the year, leaving us with the particular product. However this is not the finished product with anything in life and art it still could be further edited and refined in order to make it much more powerful.

The representation with everything (Colors, Hues of video, faces of youth) have to do with the contradictory ideals of what black joy looks like and what the situation for black lives actually is in relation to America. 2015-2016 and 2014 as well have all been years chalked full of social injustices, that are noticed more lively and loudly because of social media. The Black live matter movement has been one of the largest trending topics revolving around social media, and artistic contribution in my opinion has been one of the most essential points of the movement, in making people care about black lives. 


Annotated Bilbiography

"Trespassing - FindLaw." Findlaw. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Source is a summary of the laws within real estate that talk about the parameters of trespassing on private property, and what the legalities are behind trespassing in abandoned buildings.



"Phila. Rates Highest among Top 10 Cities for Deep Poverty." Philly-archives. 2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Article is a social breakdown of the daily increase in the homeless population within philadelphia due to lack of employment, and an increase in recreational and prescription drug use and abuse.



"Legality Of Scraping Metal." Scrap Metal Junkie RSS. 2010. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Reading on the legalities of taking scrap metal from buildings as well as instructions on avoiding persecution from the law by doing so.



Hurdle, Jon. "Philadelphia’s Success in Helping the Homeless Gets a Philanthropic Boost." The New York Times. The New York Times, 2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Article on the attempt to help the homeless in philadelphia and the potential eradication of tent cities done on a productive level allowing people without stationary homes resources.


Greene, Ilana. "Piecing Together the Scrap Metal Industry." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Reading and explanation on how the scrap metal industry works, and the fact that it is completely dependent upon the illegal acts of those living in poverty and illegal scrap metals from abandoned buildings, cars, scrap yards, and houses.



"Scrap Metal Recycling in the US: Market Research Report." Scrap Metal Recycling in the US Market Research. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Article on the benefit of recycling old metals that can be used for scrap, and prove to be beneficial resources in the newer construction of buildings.


"U.S. Is Awash in Glut of Scrap Materials." WSJ. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Subject matter and counter argument as to how the US is completely dependent upon scrap metal yet there is so much the country is practically drowning in it.



"Recycling Facts | Why Recycle Scrap Metal? | Schupan." Recycling Facts | Why Recycle Scrap Metal? | Schupan. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Rationale on why it is necessary to scrap metals, as well as a proposal to scrap metals inside of abandoned buildings on an industrial level, the question of the buildings possessing more value in pieces than as a whole.


"Scrap Metal Outlook for 2016." About.com Money. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Dialog between economists on the value of scrap metal as a temporary source of well, however currently being deemed as one of the safest investments that almost guarantee reimbursement, as well as profit.



"US Scrap Metal Exports Forecast to Keep Plunging." US Scrap Metal Exports Forecast to Keep Plunging. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Journal addressing the resources of buildings with metal and copper, aluminum, which are the metals being scrapped, whether or not it is sound to continue to sustain scrapping as an illegal means to make money.





How to lie with Statistics Podcast #1

Posted by Carolyn Borock in Statistics - Miles - C on

This podcast is about the book How to Lie With Statistics by Darrell Huff Chapters 1-3.

Speakers: 
Carolyn Borock 
Alejandro Bautista-Garcia
Wilson Biggs 

Topics Discussed: 
- The bias between the numbers and how it wasn't accurate data to compare to the entire population. 
- What average means and how it's used. 
- The fact that it's so easy to mix numbers and lie with stats. 


How To Lie With Statistics Podcast #1

Posted by Tamira Bell in Statistics - Miles - C on
​Here is our first podcast about the book How to Lie With Statistics by Darrell Huff. 

Speakers: 
  • Felix d'Hermillion
  • Tamira Bell
  • Angelica Owens


Points discussed:
  • Examples of how the audience/population is deceived by statistical studies that are biased. 
  • How bias is almost unavoidable in a study.
  • Which is the better and most accurate average: mean, median, or mode?
  • How the average can be skewed depending on the spread of the data and minimum/maximum.
Each topic was discussed by pulling a quote from the text and then everyone offered their opinion. 


Conflicts or Disagreements:
There were no disagreements about what we found in the text. We all agreed that is very easy to lie or deceive an audience or population with a very biased study.


Questions:
  • Have we used statistics in our lives to lie to people?
  • How can we conduct a study that has the least amount of bias as possible and represents the population it's surveying fairly?


Link To Our Podcast:

Support SLAMedia -- Get a Magazine Subscription!

Posted by Larissa Pahomov in Journalism - Pahomov - y1 on
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To all members of the SLA community:

SLAMedia -- the school's student journalism group -- is thrilled to present the first issue of their print magazine! 

The website version of SLAMedia has existed for a long time, but students this year decided to branch out into print media as well. This edition includes reporting and photography on both local and global events. Read the latest student editorial, and check out the photo spread profiling SLA's Muslim community. Don't miss the quiz on the inside back cover!

The entire process of putting the magazine together was a real joy, but to keep it going we need your support. A $20 donation will help sustain the printing into next year and beyond. As a thank you, we'll send you every issue we put out next year, either mailed directly to your home or delivered via your child who attends the school. We hope to put out three issues in the next school year... of course, more donations means more funding for publication! And the first 25 people who donate this year will get a copy of our inaugural issue as well, being distributed around school this wee.

Use the Paypal link below to donate today, and we'll be in touch about which delivery method would be best. Make sure to include your email address when you donate!

Angelica Owens 5 minutes of Science- Dementia

Posted by Angelica Owens in Science And Society - Best - E on

For my project, I focused on Dementia. Dementia is a disorder that causes you to lose your memory. When you have dementia, the cortex shrivels up and that damages the areas involved in thinking, planning and remembering. Shrinkage increases in the hippocampus which is an area that works on creating new memories and the ventricles grow larger. The symptoms are loss of memory, hard time communicating and language, the ability to focus and pay attention, reasoning and judgement and visual perception. To diagnose it, doctors do physical examination, careful medication history, lab tests, characteristics changes in history, day-to-day function and behavioral associated with each type. 


For Society, A lot of people can be diagnosed with it under 65 years old,  other terms are “early onset dementia”, “young onset dementia” and “working age dementia”. In the U.S, 5 million are reported to have age related dementia and in Louisiana about 100,000 have it. 1 in 6 women and 1 in 10 who live past 55 will develop dementia in their lifetime. People with often have to have a care provider since they can’t take of themselves. 


For Self, I chose to do this project because my grandmother had it for a while. She was declining rapidly. I don’t like this because there were times where my grandmother didn’t even know who I was and kept asking who I was. I would see her struggle to remember things and to try to take care of her. Two of my great aunt’s, my grandmother sisters have it too so I wanted to find out if it is genetic. 

5 minutes of science

Finney and Co. Shut Out King; Advance to Sweet Sixteen, Face Central on Mon, 5/23

Posted by Douglas Herman on
Screen Shot 2016-05-21 at 4.09.18 PM
Screen Shot 2016-05-21 at 4.09.18 PM
​For the past seven seasons the Rockets have been fighting to reach the level where real Baseball takes place every day. After finally earning a win in their 9th attempt (2010), the program has never looked back. Having only lost four regular season games in the past four seasons, SLA's overall record has surged to 66-19, and a 25-game regular season winning streak has secured consecutive undefeated seasons and back-to-back DivisionTitles.

The climb out of the cellars of D and C has been hard fought, and so their seat at the A-Table next season is well-deserved. SLA's magical run to the 2015 Final Four has been backed up by another outstanding season, and a chip has resided squarely on their collective shoulder after politics got in the way of their push to become the first unranked team to ever win a City Title. Earning a Bye and hosting a 2nd Round Playoff game was a perfect way to start another run. But the entire house of royal blue dreams built off blood, sweat and tears nearly came crashing down upon them.  

In standard fashion The Rockets got off to a quick start against their rival King, a team SLA had bested 12-2 early in the season. Sophomore Tony Brown had a patient at-bat, and worked for a pitch he could smack into left field for a lead off single. He quickly stole 2nd and easily scored a heartbeat later after Leon Finney ripped a Triple into the Left Center gap. Finney scored three pitches later on a passed ball as King's starter Johnson tried to stay away from hard-hitting senior Kevin Courtney. 

Both sides expected the lead to grow exponentially each inning as it did back in March, but there it stood for the next five innings- Rockets 2, King 0. Serious chances to change that evaporated each inning as both sides bent, but neither broke.

While King discussed what could have been and reluctantly celebrated the end of a solid season, the Rockets reflected on how they had the skills, passion and collective mind to never step this close to the edge again. 

For the 2nd consecutive season SLA advances to the Sweet Sixteen and faces 4th-seeded, perennial contender Central High. If their 2015 run is any indicator, the Rockets are right where they want to be. 

2016 PIAA Public League Sweet Sixteen
B1 SLA Rockets vs A4 Central Lancers
Monday, 5/23 Central High School
15th & Somerville- 1st pitch, 315pm 



 





Finney & Co. Shut Out King 2-0; Advance to Sweet 16 vs Central on Mon, 5/23

Posted by Douglas Herman on
Screen Shot 2016-05-21 at 4.09.18 PM
Screen Shot 2016-05-21 at 4.09.18 PM
​For the past seven seasons the Rockets have been fighting to reach the level where real Baseball takes place every day. After finally earning a win in their 9th attempt (2010), the program has never looked back. Having only lost four regular season games in the past four seasons, SLA's overall record has surged to 66-19, and a 25-game regular season winning streak has secured consecutive undefeated seasons and back-to-back DivisionTitles.

The climb out of the cellars of D and C has been hard fought, and so their seat at the A-Table next season is well-deserved. SLA's magical run to the 2015 Final Four has been backed up by another outstanding season, and a chip has resided squarely on their collective shoulder after politics got in the way of their push to become the first unranked team to ever win a City Title. Earning a Bye and hosting a 2nd Round Playoff game was a perfect way to start another run. But the entire house of royal blue dreams built off blood, sweat and tears nearly came crashing down upon them.  

In standard fashion The Rockets got off to a quick start against their rival King, a team SLA had bested 12-2 early in the season. Sophomore Tony Brown had a patient at-bat, and worked for a pitch he could smack into left field for a lead off single. He quickly stole 2nd and easily scored a heartbeat later after Leon Finney ripped a Triple into the Left Center gap. Finney scored three pitches later on a passed ball as King's starter Johnson tried to stay away from hard-hitting senior Kevin Courtney. 

Both sides expected the lead to grow exponentially each inning as it did back in March, but there it stood for the next five innings- Rockets 2, King 0. Serious chances to change that evaporated each inning as both sides bent, but neither broke.

While Johnson kept SLA's bats oddly silent, Leon Finney and Lukas Supovitz-Aznar held it down by combining for 9 Strikeouts over 5 shutout innings of two-hit ball, setting up Ben Simon for the save. But King's best chance came in the 6th when they loaded the bases on a walk, fielder's choice, walk and error. Simon kept his composure and worked out of the jam by recording back-to-back Strikeouts. The Rockets had a chance in their half of the 6th but couldn't tack on any insurance, setting up a dramatic finish.

With the top of the order on deck, King's DH worked a lead-off walk and reached 2nd on a passed ball. Simon struck out King's lead-off (Johnson), but then walked two to load the bases. As the intensity ratcheted up the Rockets and their fan base grew nervous for the first time all year. This was certainly the kind of Baseball they had always craved, but they simply didn't expect it this early in the playoffs. 

And so the stage was set for a storybook come-from-behind upset win, only this time it would be SLA that could be "shocked and awed". How quickly the tides can turn. 

King's clean-up hitter Ellison stepped in, worked the count full but Simon froze him with a fast ball on the outside corner. With two down, Simon reached inside and found something last seen (nearly a year ago to the date) when he dealt against the heart of the order to upset #1 Frankford. In an eerily similar spot, King's 5-hitter Willburn battled the count even at 2-2. Simon attacked and the crowd erupted when Willburn struck out on a check-swing. Players started to move, but home plate umpire Derrick Seagers said Willburn held up, making the count full again. Simon was beside himself.

For a moment Mt. Airy fell dead silent. Ben looked down, both inside himself and for a sign from freshman Catcher Avi Cantor. No one was breathing as he delivered. It's cliche, but time slowed down to 960 frames per second with SLA's season hanging on the pitch. Simon's fastball snapped hard. Cantor's glove remained perfectly framed on the outside corner. Seagers called third strike ended King's season. 

As the crowd screamed in relief the Rockets slowly came off the field and lined up to shake hands. But the tension wouldn't leave them. The tension couldn't leave them. They knew how close they had come to putting their dream on hold for another entire season. Words weren't needed, but junior Lukas Supovitz-Aznar and their coaches tried anyway.

While King discussed what could have been and reluctantly celebrated the end of a solid season, the Rockets reflected on how they had the skills, passion and collective mind to never step this close to the edge again. 

For the 2nd consecutive season SLA advances to the Sweet Sixteen and faces 4th-seeded, perennial contender Central High. If their 2015 run is any indicator, the Rockets are right where they want to be. 

2016 PIAA Public League Sweet Sixteen
B1 SLA Rockets vs A4 Central Lancers
Monday, 5/23 Central High School
15th & Somerville- 1st pitch, 315pm