Application Project 01
Environmental Science
Title: Science, Technology & The Environment

       


                                                                   

WHERE AIR POLLUTANTS
COME FROM, ACCORDING
TO INDUSTRY:

Cartoon of an industry spokesman whose nose is growing longer as he answers a reports questions

Sulfur dioxide

From too many people
with too many tummy
troubles eating too
many eggs

Lead

From overly burdensome
taxes on the rich, which
have lessened their ability
to buy fine lead crystal,
the preferred method
of lead sequestration

Methane

From the butts of
left-wing cows chewing
commie alfalfa they got
from a pinko farm co-op

Mercury

From a series of secret space
probes that were sent to planet
Mercury by the Johnson, Carter,
and Clinton administrations that
have kicked up clouds of "mercury
dust," which have now drifted back
to earth

Carbon Dioxide

From living, green plants, of
course, which exhale CO2.
(Anybody who couldn't come up
with that one obviously hasn't
spent enough time learning
how to misrepresent scientific
fact!)
 

Make sure to include a copy of the question followed by your answer to that question. Answer all questions using your own words.

To complete the Application follow the steps below:
       1.

Obtain a science/environmenal science cartoon that is related to what we are studying in seminar 1.  

a. You may use one of your favorites or click on the hotlink                                     "environmentalcartoons" or  "image results for environmental cartoons" to select a cartoon.  Be sure to reference where you obtained the cartoon from.  If you do not reference the cartoon you will NOT receive credit for this assignment.

 

b. Use irfanview or your Snipping Tool to copy and paste a copy of the cartoon and insert it into your Application Project.  You will not receive any credit if you do not include the cartoon in your Application Project.  

 
       2.  Identify the seminar 01 scientific or  environmental issue/problem, in the cartoon.           (1 points)

 
       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. Provide a reference for your facts. (You can use your textbook as a resource but you must indicate that this is your reference.)                (7 points)

 
       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.)  (7 points)

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

 
       6.  How could technology be used to solve this issue/problem? (include reference used)         (5 points)

 
      7.  Write an Application Summary. In this section you will provide a short description of all of the important points of your project. (5 points)
Example of Application Assignment based upon the Cartoon provided above:
   1. Obtain a science/environmenal 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 lieing.  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 emissons emanating from the factories which would be called pollution clean up (output polluton 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. (Reference:   Miller and Spoolman, p 15)

 
   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. 

 

Last Updated: Friday, 21 January 2011 22:30:09