(This student is in section 02, student 22, seminar 01)

 1.  Explain what science is and how it differs from technology.
Science is an inexact study of how nature works, what is happening, and what will happen in the future.  It differs from technology in that it is a study of intangible processes, while technology produces real, concrete products that enhance our lives and our world. 

Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/techist.html
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/plate_tectonics/introduction.html

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8.  Explain [how] the present-day industrialized societies affect the environment.

Current day industry causes pollution that destroys species of plants and animals as well as causing increased respiratory disease.  Use of fossil fuels also causes pollution that leads to damage of the atmosphere by increasing the CO₂ content in the atmosphere.  Increasing population uses up the resources quicker than they can be replenished.

Sources:

Lecture

Environmental Science, 11^th Edition textbook  page 79 http//library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/acid_rain.htm 
http:/lungaction.org/reports/SOTA07_stateozone.html?geo_area_id=26 http://www.yaleclimatemediaforum.org/dept/1107_1970s.htm

1. Define Science and indicate at least two examples of its affect on you.

Science is one way to improve our knowledge by attempting to discover order in nature and to use that knowledge to make reasonable predictions about what should happen in nature. Science uses trial and error to establish these predictions. A goal of science is to develop knowledge or ideas. Science is frequently abstract, an idea, not something you can see or touch.

A major way science affects me is medical research. Scientists develop and study new drugs, which can enhance my and my family’s health and well being, and hopefully, provide a longer and better quality of life. Gene research may, if used properly, lead to cures for some diseases.

Scientists have improved my quality of life by discovering how to grow and preserve fruits and vegetables, so they can be eaten at peak freshness year-round, contributing to an improved quality of life.

Sources:

Lecture

Environmental Science, 11^th Edition textbook  page 33 http//library.thinkquest.org

 

Also, post this section of your report to the Virtual Classroom.  Read the Discussion Questions of your classmates and provide comments.

 

 Part C - Application Project
 

 1. Obtain a science/environmental science cartoon
     that is related to what we are studying in
     seminar 1.   The above cartoon was retrieved from
        http://tinyurl.com/dg3u8w             

 2. Identify the seminar 01 scientific or
    environmental issue/problem, in the
    cartoon.                                             

 Answer:  The environmental science problem in the cartoon is air pollution.  This is discussed on page 14-15 in Miller and Spoolman, 12 ed. 

 3. Identify and state at least two facts pertaining

to the  issue/problem  that is identified in the cartoon and explain how these facts are observable in this cartoon.                                                                                             

Fact 1:   Factories emit copious amounts of air pollutants into our atmsophere.    We can verify that air pollution is emitted into the atmosphere by visiting the EPA's website that provides the country with air quality information.  http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/   Explanation:  We can see the factory in the background of the cartoon that is emitting the pollutants into the atmosphere.                                                                               

Fact 2:  There have been industries that downplay the environmental damage that the air pollutants they emit do to the environment. This has actually happened in the past.  A famous incident is when the lead industry tried to downplay the scientific research that showed that the lead in air pollution was harming children.  Reference:  http://www.publichealthreports.org/userfiles/120_3/120330.pdf Explanation:  We can see this in the cartoon because the cameraman is interviewing one of the factory's representatives.  The statements made by the representative are in the text surrounding the comic.  From what the representative is saying, we can see that he is downplaying the damage to the environment from his factory and blaming the pollution on other sources.

 4. Identify and state at least two opinions or beliefs pertaining to the issue/problem that is

 identified in the cartoon, and explain how these opinions are observable in the cartoon.  (You are not being asked for YOUR opinions.  You may include your opinion, but the assignment is for you to identify the opinions being presented in the cartoon.)

Opinion/Belief 1:   The title of the Cartoon, "Where air pollutants come from, according to industry," and the text surrounding the cartoon imply that all factories will lie to the public about their emissions. Also the length of the factory representative's nose is increasing which is indicating that he is lying.  Although there are industries that have done this and are doing this, there might some industries that do provide accurate information concerning their emissions to the public. 

Opinion/Belief 2:   The camerman in the cartoon is smiling as he films the factory representative's lies.  This implies that the media is aiding industry as it attempts to lie to the public about it's emissions.  Although this might be true sometimes, it doesn't mean that it is true all the time.      

 5. How can science be used to solve this issue/problem? (include reference used)

Scientists can devise methods to clean up the emissions emanating from the factories which would be called pollution clean up (output pollution control), or find methods to prevent the pollution in the first place which is called pollution prevention (input pollution control).  Pollution prevention is more desirable because it is more effective and less expensive than pollution clean up.    (Reference: Miller and Spoolman, p 15)  

 6. How could technology be used to solve this issue/problem? (include reference used)

An example of technology that can reduce the amount of pollution into the atmosphere are the catalytic converters used in cars to reduce their exhaust emissions.  This type of technology could be applied to factories to reduce their emissions into the atmsophere.

 7. Summary of Application:

The selection and careful analysis of the cartoon provided the opportunity to practice an analytical skill that will be used in obtaining information regarding the environment. Since the seminar is based on science, technology, and the environment one must carefully select a source of information that is credible and is based on fact not opinion.  Although there are many environmental problems science and technology do provide us with solutions to some of these problems. 

 Part D – Web Research 

          This picture is considered GOOD QUALITY because the web address can be read.

    Summary of Contents: This website is a great tool for census and population information and
     statistics. It has information about genealogy as well which I found interesting and useful.

    How this site relates to the seminar: This site relates directly to the seminar because it gives all
     kinds of information about the census and population and how it is growing. It gives you population
     numbers and projects the growth of the population.

    Facts from the Census Bureau Home Page link:
     1. 55% was the percentages of 15- to 44-year-olds who are mothers in 2004. This is a fact  
          because this percent was recorded and figured out. It was not a guess or estimate, but an exact
          percent.

     2. 4.3 million was the number of births in the United States in 2006. Of this number, 435,427 were
          to teens 15 to 19, and 112,432 to mothers 40 or older. This is a fact because this number has
          been proven and documented. It has been calculated and is not an estimate.

    Opinions from the Census Bureau Home Page link:
     1. Estimates usually are for the present and the past, while projections are estimates of the
         population for future dates. This is an opinion because it says that estimates are usually for the
         present and the past, but this sometimes may not be the case. This is just an opinion and not a
         fact.

     2. 82.8 million was the estimated number of mothers in the United States in 2004. This is an
          opinion because it is just an estimate. It is not an exact number so it is not a fact.  

 Part E - Summary and Final Thoughts
                Summary of Seminar:
                     Provide a summary of the specific facts presented in this seminar.  

Final Thoughts:
   The Final Thoughts section, draws together your thoughts, based upon the work of this seminar,  feelings, about the content of the seminar, and how this seminar relates to your life.  

Also, post this section of your report to the Virtual Classroom.  Read the Summary and Final Thoughts of your classmates and compare to what you have written.  Is yours as complete and detailed as theirs?