Discussions

Small Group Discussion 4

Starts Jun 8

Group/section restrictions. 

Must post first.

1st posting due , answer the following questions:

1. In chapter 13, you learned about many different energy sources.  Each has advantages and disadvantages.  Of you were an energy policy analyst, how would you compare such different problems as the risk of nuclear accident versus air pollution effects from burning coal?  

2.  How would you evaluate the debate about net energy gain or loss in biofuels?  What questions would you ask the experts on each side of this question?  What worldviews or agendas do you think might be implicit in this argument?

3.  It clearly will cost a lot of money to switch from fossil fuels to renewables.  How would you respond to someone who says that future costs from climate change are no concern of theirs?

2nd Posting- due Thursday, has two parts:

First part:  Respond to at least one person's 1st posting

Second part:  Answer the following questions:

1.  Why do you think controlling mercury is such a difficult problem? What are the technological, economic, political, or other factors involved?  Whose responsibility is it to reduce these emissions?

2.  Utility managers once claimed that it would cost $1,000 per fish to control acid precipitation in the Adirondack lakes and that it would be cheaper to buy fish for anglers than to put scrubbers on power plants.  Does that justify continuing pollution?  Why or why not?

3.  What questions do you have about chapter 9 and 13 that have not bee sufficiently answered?

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Up the anty on GM discussion- GM mosquitos!

Starts Jun 15

• Correlation and Causation
  Must post first.First Post due- Friday  May 31 at 11:59pm
  1. What did you think about the article and questions?  Have you experienced this confusion in your daily life?
  2. Find a real-life example (not on from lecture videos) of when people have confused correlation for causation (intentionally or unintentionally).  Explain the scenario and how it plays on people's misunderstanding between correlation and causation.  
  3. Must post first.

You had great discussions in your groups about GMOs.  I found this news clip the other day. Listen to this ~6 minute news clip about the first genetically modified mosquito for the class-wide discussion.  It is recent, from February of a couple years ago.  

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/02/20/npr-scientists-release-controversial-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-security-lab First Post- due  Answer the following questions:

1) What are your reactions to this article and the production of a GM mosquito that is lethal to its own species?

2) What would be the impacts of mosquitos being eradicated?  How might this impact ecosystems?  Bring in your knowledge from chapter 3 and what you have learned about the importance of biodiversity.  

3) What questions do you have? (none is not an option)

Second Post- due

Respond to at least one classmate's post.  Your response should add information and answer their question.

Tell us your thoughts!

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