01 Science Technology and the Environment Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions 01
Environmental Science
Title: Science, Technology & The Environment

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You need your student number, assigned by the instructor, to know which question to answer. The student number is e-mailed to the student within 12 hours after the student has submitted a signed Student Statement of Responsibility to turnitin.com. (The Student Statement of Responsbility is located in Angel under the Lessons Tab.)

1. Read The Human Population Is Growing Exponentially at a Rapid Rate, p 15-16 of the text. Provide a detailed summary. What do you think?

2. Science and Environmental Science have some limitations. What are these three limitations? If scientists cannot establish absolute proof, what do they establish? (p. 27 - 28)

3. Describe all of the ways that poverty is related to environmental quality, people's quality of life, and premature death of poor people. How many people die prematurely because of these four factors? (pages 16-17).

4. Read CASE STUDY: China's New Affluent Consumers, p 14. Provide a detailed summary.

5. What is the IPAT model for estimating our environmental impact? Explain how this model can be used to estimate the impacts of the human populations in developing and developed countries. p. 13

6. It is sometimes assumed that there is a conflict between science and religion. But, science and major religions do NOT conflict with each other. In actuality there are many religious leaders who are also scientists (i.e. priests, rabbis, ministers, etc...) Based on what you have learned in this seminar explain why there should NOT be a conflict.  (Hint: Look up the definitions of each discipline. What is the primary difference between the two disciplines?)

7. In the lecture the statement is made that "In science, a fact is generally a close agreement by competent observers of a series of observations of the same phenomena." Provide a brief explanation of this statement. Include a description of what a competent observer is. Give an example where YOU are a competent observer and another example where YOU are not a competent observer.

8.   Read CORE CASE STUDY: It’s All About Sustainability on p. 5. Provide a detailed summary.

9. Read Prices Do Not Include the Value of Natural Capital, p 18. Provide a detailed summary.

10. Describe four features of the Scientific process. Is one more important than the others? Why or why not? (p. 25-26)

11. Read Affluence Has Harmful and Beneficial Environmental Effects, p 17 - 18. Provide a detailed summary.

12. Read The Results of Science Can Be Tentqative, Reliable, or Unreliable p, 26. Provide a detailed summary.

13. Why is it important to be able to distinguish between facts and opinions? Provide an example of how opinions can be misconstrued as facts.  (See dictionary for definitions. Make sure to cite and reference the dictionary.)

14. Read CASE STUDY: The Environmental Transformation of Chattanooga, Tennessee, p 424. Provide a detailed summary. What are three things you would do to model the area where you live after the example of Chattanooga?

15. Read It's All About Sustainability, p. 5. Provide a detailed summary. In your own words define sustainable and describe a sustainable society

16. Read BIOSPHERE 2: A Lesson in Humility, p. 444. Provide a detailed summary.

17. Read We can become More Environmentally Literate p. 445 - 446   Provide a detailed summary. Which of the Major Components of Environmental Literacy do you consider most important?

18. Read We Can Live More Simply and Lightly on the Earth, p. 446. Provide a detailed summary.

19. What is an environmental worldview? Describe with detail the three environmental worldviews. Which description most closely fits your worldview? p. 443 - 444.

20. Read We Can Learn From the Earth, p. 446. Provide a detailed summary.

21. Read read Butterfly in p. 441 Provide a detailed summary.

22. Why is critical thinking important? Describe the skills necessary to think critically.   What are the debating tricks? Why shouldn't you believe everything you read on the web? What did William James say concerning personal biases and beliefs? p. 2-3

23. Read Greening of American Campuses, p. 442. Provide a detailed summary.

24. Read We Can Bring about a Sustainability Revolution during your lifetime, p. 448 - 449. Provide a detailed summary.

Post to the discussion board (LESSONS TAB in ANGEL- Seminar 01) the question which corresponds to your student ID number (assigned by the instructor). After you post your question and answer, read the answers of other students and respond to the statements. Do you have any personal experiences that pertain to the topic? Have you read anything interesting about the topic? Did you learn something that you hadn't realized before? What information can you contribute that hasn't already been contributed? These types of responses will contribute towards quality participation points. Answer the questions using your own words. Remember, you are preparing for a Quiz on day 7. Using the discussions as a form of study is highly recommended.

Last Updated: Sunday, 17 October 2010 23:34:23

		You need your student number, assigned by the instructor, to know which question to answer. The student number is e-mailed to the student within 12 hours after the student has submitted a signed Student Statement of Responsibility to turnitin.com. (The Student Statement of Responsbility is located in Angel under the Lessons Tab.)
	1.	Read The Human Population Is Growing Exponentially at a Rapid Rate, p 15-16 of the text. Provide a detailed summary. What do you think?
	2.	Science and Environmental Science have some limitations. What are these three limitations? If scientists cannot establish absolute proof, what do they establish? (p. 27 - 28)
	3.	Describe all of the ways that poverty is related to environmental quality, people's quality of life, and premature death of poor people. How many people die prematurely because of these four factors? (pages 16-17).
	4.	Read CASE STUDY: China's New Affluent Consumers, p 14. Provide a detailed summary.
	5.	What is the IPAT model for estimating our environmental impact? Explain how this model can be used to estimate the impacts of the human populations in developing and developed countries. p. 13
	6.	It is sometimes assumed that there is a conflict between science and religion. But, science and major religions do NOT conflict with each other. In actuality there are many religious leaders who are also scientists (i.e. priests, rabbis, ministers, etc...) Based on what you have learned in this seminar explain why there should NOT be a conflict. (Hint: Look up the definitions of each discipline. What is the primary difference between the two disciplines?)
	7.	In the lecture the statement is made that "In science, a fact is generally a close agreement by competent observers of a series of observations of the same phenomena." Provide a brief explanation of this statement. Include a description of what a competent observer is. Give an example where YOU are a competent observer and another example where YOU are not a competent observer.
	8.	Read CORE CASE STUDY: It’s All About Sustainability on p. 5. Provide a detailed summary.
	9.	Read Prices Do Not Include the Value of Natural Capital, p 18. Provide a detailed summary.
	10.	Describe four features of the Scientific process. Is one more important than the others? Why or why not? (p. 25-26)
	11.	Read Affluence Has Harmful and Beneficial Environmental Effects, p 17 - 18. Provide a detailed summary.
	12.	Read The Results of Science Can Be Tentqative, Reliable, or Unreliable p, 26. Provide a detailed summary.
	13.	Why is it important to be able to distinguish between facts and opinions? Provide an example of how opinions can be misconstrued as facts. (See dictionary for definitions. Make sure to cite and reference the dictionary.)
	14.	Read CASE STUDY: The Environmental Transformation of Chattanooga, Tennessee, p 424. Provide a detailed summary. What are three things you would do to model the area where you live after the example of Chattanooga?
	15.	Read It's All About Sustainability, p. 5. Provide a detailed summary. In your own words define sustainable and describe a sustainable society
	16.	Read BIOSPHERE 2: A Lesson in Humility, p. 444. Provide a detailed summary.
	17.	Read We can become More Environmentally Literate p. 445 - 446 Provide a detailed summary. Which of the Major Components of Environmental Literacy do you consider most important?
	18.	Read We Can Live More Simply and Lightly on the Earth, p. 446. Provide a detailed summary.
	19.	What is an environmental worldview? Describe with detail the three environmental worldviews. Which description most closely fits your worldview? p. 443 - 444.
	20.	Read We Can Learn From the Earth, p. 446. Provide a detailed summary.
	21.	Read read Butterfly in p. 441 Provide a detailed summary.
	22.	Why is critical thinking important? Describe the skills necessary to think critically. What are the debating tricks? Why shouldn't you believe everything you read on the web? What did William James say concerning personal biases and beliefs? p. 2-3
	23.	Read Greening of American Campuses, p. 442. Provide a detailed summary.
	24.	Read We Can Bring about a Sustainability Revolution during your lifetime, p. 448 - 449. Provide a detailed summary.
		Post to the discussion board (LESSONS TAB in ANGEL- Seminar 01) the question which corresponds to your student ID number (assigned by the instructor). After you post your question and answer, read the answers of other students and respond to the statements. Do you have any personal experiences that pertain to the topic? Have you read anything interesting about the topic? Did you learn something that you hadn't realized before? What information can you contribute that hasn't already been contributed? These types of responses will contribute towards quality participation points. Answer the questions using your own words. Remember, you are preparing for a Quiz on day 7. Using the discussions as a form of study is highly recommended.