книги / Business English for Students of Technical Universities

Task 5. Translate the nouns in the attribute function.

1)large and small scale advanced wind turbines;

2)large-scale self-assembly;

3)high-voltage superconducting direct current lines;

4)systems engineering;

5)single multi-function and multi-purpose devices;

6)transistor microchips;

7)a promising systems engineering frontier;

8)healthcare and nutrition issues;

9)water and energy supply;

10)bacterial electricity generators;

11)biofuel engines;

12)fuel cells;

13)long distance power losses;

14)biomass and waste incinerators;

15)semiconductor electronics;

16)computer architecture.

Task 6. Translate the sentences paying attention to the adjectives used.

1)Systems engineering of the highest order is called for.

2)Systems engineering must also encompass more traditional engineering systems.

3)More sophisticated robots and robotic systems are created for a wide range of applications including helping the disabled.

4)Semiconductor electronics and computer architecture will make ever more powerful computers possible.

5)Personal portable devices will become more integrated into single multifunction, multi-purpose devices.

6)Photovoltaic generators and thermal collectors with greater efficiency will be applied in the energy domain.

7)Large-scale self-assembly of materials and microstructures is a more distant but important possibility.

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Task 7. Translate the sentences paying attention to the Participles, Gerunds, Infinitives and their functions.

1)It is becoming increasingly possible to create materials with a broad range of capabilities, from enhanced structural strength to sensing, transferring energy, interacting with light, and changing characteristics on command.

2)High-voltage superconducting direct current lines offer the prospect – by reducing long distance power losses – to capture distant sources of energy and to transmit energy globally.

3)Continuing advances in semiconductor electronics and computer architecture will make ever more powerful computers possible, with enormous impact being made on engineering analysis and design.

Task 8. Translate the first and fifth paragraphs of the text “Global Priority Fields of Engineering” (Task 3) according to the Russian language stylistics and rules.

Text C. The Priority Research Fields

of Perm National Research Polytechnic University

Tectonic changes are taking place in the way engineers are being produced and in where engineering and research and development are being done.

Vest C. M. Educating Engineers for 2020 and Beyond, 2005

The future engineering curriculum should be built around developing skills … We must focus on shaping analytic skills, problem-solving skills, and design skills. … We must teach future engineers to be creative and flexible, to be curious and imaginative.

Katehi L. The Global Engineer, 2005

Task 1. Answer the following questions:

•What methods of engineering education are the most promising? Is it efficient enough to integrate education and research when teaching engineering subjects?

•What skills must successful engineers have? How should they be taught to develop these skills?

Task 2. Match the words (1–10) with their pronunciation (a–j).

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Task 3. Read the text and make a short description of the main research areas related to your major. Make a vocabulary of the keywords and give their definitions.

The Priority Research Fields

of Perm National Research Polytechnic University

There is a diverse and increasing range of fields, branches, disciplines and subjects of engineering. The emergence of new engineering branches is usually indicated by the establishment of new university departments, new professional engineering organizations, or starting new research.

According to Charles M. Vest, research universities and their engineering schools have to do many things: “advance the frontiers of fundamental science and technology, advance interdisciplinary work and learning, develop a new, broad approach to engineering systems, and focus on technologies that address the most important problems facing the world …”

Being one of the major engineering universities of Russia, Perm National Research Polytechnic University meets these challenges successfully by combining engineering education and research. The priority research fields of the University are as follows: 1) Urbanization; 2) Nanotechnology and nanoengineering; 3) Gas turbine engine technology; 4) Mining and processing of oil, gas and mineral resources.

Urbanization is an emerging global development issue with now half of the global population living in cities. As for George Bugliarello, “the urban engineering challenges are to help find ways to provide … urban growth with solutions for adequate housing, mobility, water, sanitation, electricity, telecommunications, and clean air for citizens by using local resources as much as possible to develop infrastructure systems”. Urbanization also requires the improvement of quality of life in cities by managing congestion and reducing

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pollution and noise – in any country. In this priority direction, the scientists and specialists of the University carry out research related to the development of urban infrastructure (water supply and water waste treatment, heating and power systems, telecommunications and transport systems, construction and maintenance solutions, etc.), technological safety, modern urban planning IT.

Nanotechnology and nanoengineering is a new branch of engineering on the nanoscale. It is focused on the research, design, development and use of nanoparticles. The researchers of the University aim at solving the problems of the powder metallurgy production (for example, the manufacture of powder materials based on iron, copper, aluminum, titanium, ceramics and other substances), the development of porous ceramics with controlled porosity, nanopowder and nano-structured coating materials.

In the field of the gas turbine engine technology, the University scientists and researchers study the lifecycle and reliability improvement of gas turbine engines for aircrafts and power plants, especially reducing fuel consumption, noise pollution, emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases and improving economic efficiency of the engines.

In the field of mining and processing of oil, gas and mineral resources the University researchers develop the techniques of the oil, gas and minerals extraction, geological structure analysis, integrated extraction assessment, hydrocarbon processing and oil treatment.

Training a sufficient number of engineering professionals focused on development and innovation should become a high priority, as the critical ability of the global community is to deal with the emerging and urgent issues that confront it today.

Task 4. Match the words (1–10) with their definitions (a–j).

7)reliability g) to give special attention to one particular person or thing

8)technique h) to try or intend to achieve something

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9)assessment i) to appear or come out from somewhere

10)treatment j) all the different levels of development

Task 5. Translate the nouns in the attribute function.

1)research universities – …

2)the priority research fields – …

3)infrastructure systems – …

4)gas turbine engine technology – …

5)an emerging global development issue – …

6)water supply and water waste treatment – …

7)heating and power systems – …

8)maintenance solutions – …

9)powder metallurgy production – …

10)fuel consumption – …

11)the lifecycle and reliability improvement – …

12)geological structure analysis – …

13)gas turbine engines – …

14)noise pollution – …

15)greenhouse gases – …

16)power plants – …

17)the oil, gas and minerals extraction – …

18)integrated extraction assessment – …

Task 6. Translate the sentences paying attention to the Participles, Gerunds, Infinitives and their functions.

1)Engineers focus on technologies that address the most important problems facing the world.

2)Being one of the major engineering universities of Russia, Perm National Research Polytechnic University meets these challenges successfully by combining engineering education and research.

3)Urbanization is an emerging global development issue with now half of the global population living in cities.

4)The urban engineering challenges are solved by using local resources as much as possible to develop infrastructure systems.

5)Urbanization also requires the improvement of quality of life in cities by managing congestion and reducing pollution and noise.

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6)The researchers of the University aim at solving the problems of the powder metallurgy production and development of porous ceramics with controlled porosity.

7)The University researchers study the lifecycle of engines, especially reducing fuel consumption and improving economic efficiency of the engines.

8)Training a sufficient number of engineering professionals focused on development and innovation should become a high priority as the critical ability of the global community is to deal with the emerging and urgent issues that confront it today.

Task 7. Translate the fourth paragraph of the text “The Priority Research Fields of Perm National Research Polytechnic University” (Task 3) according to the Russian language stylistics and rules.

PART 2. ENGINEERING RESEARCH PROJECT

Text A. Applying for Research Funding

Task 1. Read the following extract from a website and then answer the questions below.

The Sheridan Australian Research Fellowship (SARF) aims to develop science in Australia by attracting outstanding scientists in their field to continue their research in an Australian university or research institution. SARF fellowships are awarded to individual scientists with future potential for leadership in their field. Successful applicants receive a 5-year grant covering salary, travel and relocation costs.

1)Can an organisation apply for this scholarship?

2)Would you be interested in applying for SARF? Why / Why not?

3)What information might you need to include in your application form?

4)What are the advantages of attracting scientists “with future potential for leadership in their field” to a country?

5)Do you think it’s fair that scientists coming from abroad are often given higher salary than the native ones?

6)Do you think that the conditions offered by SARF are rather attractive for Russian scientists and could be one of the reasons for leaving our country?

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Task 2. A postgraduate student has decided to apply to SARF and has downloaded an application form. Look at the list of sections in the form (1–10) and match each one to the student’s notes on the information he needs to provide (a–j).

Task 3. In the Section 7 of the Application Form, applicants write a project summary of their research proposal. Read the project summary completed by a postgraduate student and say what you think the commercial applications of the research might be.

Project summary

Provide a brief summary of aims, significance and expected outcomes of the research plan.

A 3-D odour-compass for odour-detecting robots

Odour-sensing robots offer many benefits over the current use of animals in similar roles, including safety, efficiency and durability. [A] However, the robots which have been developed to date are limited by the fact they can only accurately detect and navigate towards odour plumes if they are within direct “sight” of the

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chemical source. Clearly, in real world situations, obstacles may well impede the robot’s detection ability, and at present, odour-sensing robots are therefore only of limited use. [B] The proposed research will concentrate on developing a robot which is able to gather readings in three dimensions and therefore overcome the limitations of current models in odour-detection. [C] This technology will make robots a more effective substitute for animals.

[D] This research aims to develop existing robotic technology to create a three-dimensional (3-D) odour compass to be used as a navigation tool in searching for an odour source. [E] This will then be tested experimentally in simulated environments where wind direction is not stable or where obstacles interfere with odour distribution. A second stage in the research will be to develop the robot’s environmental sensors, thus allowing it to safely negotiate the terrain to reach the source of the odour. [F] This should produce a robot which is able to both detect and move to the source of an odour, even on difficult terrain.

Task 4. Match each highlighted section in the summary (A–F) to the correct function (1–6) from the list below.

1)State the aims of your research.

2)Define what the problem is.

3)Explain why your topic is worth researching.

4)Say what the expected outcomes of the research are.

5)Outline the procedures you will follow.

6)Outline how you will limit your investigation.

Task 5. Use the correct word or phrase from the box to complete the project summary below written by some researcher.

Consumer interest in wines produced in organic vineyards has increased significantly in the last few years. (1) __________, to date it is unclear whether these production methods actually improve soil or grape quality. (2) __________

will be the first phase of a long-term study on a New Zealand vineyard. These results (3) __________ whether methods of viticulture improve grape quality.

The research (4) __________ investigate the effects of organic agriculture on soil and grape quality. (5) __________ will consist of two treatments, organic and conventional (the control), each replicated four times in a randomized,

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complete block design. All organic practices will follow the standards set out by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)

(6) __________ will assess soil quality using physical, chemical and biological indicators over six years. The next phase will then assess the physiology of the vines.

Text B. Contacting Journals

Task 1. Answer the following questions:

•Have you ever published a scientific paper?

•What advice would you give to someone who wants to get an article published?

Task 2. Read the eight extracts from an article giving advice on publishing your research (A–H). Match the headings (1–8) to the extracts (A–H).

1)Write your cover letter

2)Choose your journal carefully

3)Submitting your paper

4)Follow the guidelines

5)What to do if your paper is accepted

6)Reacting to a journal’s response

7)What happens next

8)What to do if your paper is rejected

A

Talk to other researchers in your field. They will be able to suggest journals for your work and will know whether the journal has any rules that make it particularly easy.

B

Read the journal’s instructions for authors before you submit. These are usually available on the journal’s website. Look at the format of the journal’s papers.

C

Different journals have different rules about the number of copies to submit and whether to submit electronically or in hard copy. Make sure your manuscript is submitted correctly.

D

Keep your cover letter short as the editor who will read it probably receives many papers.

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E

The journal will probably contact you to say they have received your article. If you do not hear anything, send the editor a short email asking for an acknowledgement of receipt and a reference number. When your paper has been read, the editor will write to you with a decision.

F

The editor’s letter will dearly explain how you should revise your paper before resubmitting it. If any points are not clear, write back to the editor asking for an explanation.

G

If the journal rejects your paper, discuss this with a colleague. It might be better to submit your paper to another journal. Do not send angry or abusive letters.

H

Ask the editor about the journal’s rules about copyright and any other conditions. Finally, thank all those who have helped you, letting them know when and where the research will be published.

Task 3. Read the letter that a researcher has sent to a journal with his paper. Has the letter been written in an appropriate style? Explain your opinion.

Dear Dr Brown,

Please find (1) with this letter a (2) draft paper called “Protection for

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Deinococcus radiodurans exposed to simulated Mars environmental conditions by surface material” which I am (3) sending only to you at the International Journal of Astrobiology for publication as a full-length article. The paper demonstrates that a 2 mm thick layer of oxidized iron minerals provides enough protection against radiation and Mars environmental conditions for the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Deinococcus radiodurans to survive. It (4) gives more information on the work by Ungwe, published in Issue 17 of the journal. This finding increases the possibility that life could perhaps exist on Mars. This paper should (5) be interesting for people in astrobiology, planetary science and extremophile research.

(6) A person who could check the paper is Tom Ungwe (tungwe@umal.ac.uk) since, as mentioned, this work further develops his recently published findings on Acidithiobacillus’ polyextremophile nature. (7) I don’t want Mia Drake of South Lakes University to review the work.

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