EVS - Example Seminar Report

To Useful Notes or To first Day Handout - Syllabus

Seminar 1: Title: Science, Technology and the Environment John Doe  020001   Part 1- Objectives Guide Questions 1. Explain what science is and how it differs from technology.  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. Technology creates products to enhance the quality of our lives by making processes more efficient, or simply making our lives more comfortable. In many cases, technology is developed using scientific principles, but science is simply an idea, something intangible, whereas technology is something concrete, a product. Scientists are usually eager to share their finding with colleagues, to have them validated, and challenged. Technology, for instance, computer software, is frequently proprietary and usually secretive until the patent process is complete and a place in the market is secure. It can be many years before a technology is proven scientifically. • • • • • 7. Explain the present-day industrialized societies affect the environment. Industrialized societies affect the environment in the many ways. Increasing populations utilize natural resources at a greater rate. The need for comfort (more cars, more electricity, more houses on former forested or agricultural land) also depletes the natural resources. Pollution, carbon dioxide and other toxins are causing record cases of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The global warming caused by these toxins contributes to the unpredictable weather. Pollution and development are also causing the loss of entire species of plant and animal lives, causing extinction. Part 2 - Discussion Questions 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. 2. Identify a scientific model, that you have observed, used to predict or describe a phenomena in your community. I use mathematical models daily in my job as a programmer. I provide data to our customers. To do this, I use equations, and determine what I think the reasonable outcome of the equations will be. Then I compare the outcome with my hypothesis, based on my experience with the data and my knowledge of the business. Part 3 - Application Project (Good Quality Picture) Title:  Measuring tropospheric pollution from space Author:  Britt E. Erickson Purpose of Article: The purpose of this article is to show how the use of technology is capable of determining certain levels of pollution in the Troposphere.  NASA has created a satellite called the MOPITT, launched in December of 1999; it has been providing clues as to how air pollution in one part of the world affects another Three Facts from Article: :  1.      An instrument on this satellite is capable of measuring tropospheric carbon monoxide and methane concentrations over the entire globe in about 4 days.  2.      The concentration of CO in the troposphere varies both vertically and horizontally, ranging from 50 to 300 parts per billion.  3.      The concentration of CO, which is a pollutant, can also be used as a tracer to follow the paths of other pollutants that cannot be directly measured. Two opinions from the article:  1.      According to John Gille, the co-investigator of MOPITT and head of NCAR’s Global Observation Section, “Areas with CO concentrations of 50 ppb or less are typically considered “clean”.  2.      John Gille believes “At least half of the CO in the troposphere is produced by human activities, primarily from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass burning.”  Was this the original article or a condensed version?  This was the original article.  It appeared in Environmental Science and Technology magazine, September 1, 2001/volume 35, Issue 17/ pp375.  Would I use this article for a primary source if  I had to write a research paper? I wouldn’t use this article as a primary source for a research paper because this article interprets material from a study from the MOPITT Satellite, it is a secondary source of information. Summary of activity related to seminar: The selection and careful analysis of a reference materials 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 creditable and is based on fact not opinion.       Part 4 – Web Research (Poor Quality Picture) 1. California Rivers Assessment link This website is a great resource with links to various environmental projects and programs. The California Rivers Assessment link was interesting because it discusses various water projects and conditions in California. Concepts a. One of the concepts of the ICE site was biodiversity. Many of the sites related to the loss of and preservation of biodiversity. The information in this site was obtained through the use of modeling presented in this seminar. b. Another concept was sustainability as it relates to our water supply and fisheries. • • • •   Part 5 - Summary and Final Thoughts The last part of your Seminar Report, Summary and Final Thoughts, 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