Connections: Science, Technology, and Society
Writing Assignment
Biology 211
Fall 2005
Introduction
Biology and its applications have a profound impact on culture - on our perspective of nature, on our environmental awareness, and on our health and quality of life. It is important to appreciate that ethics has a place in science, and that technology brings with it the need to examine values and make choices. Many of our environmental problems, such as the destruction of tropical forests, are complex issues with cultural, political, and economic considerations as well as biological ones.
Objectives
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To incorporate biological concepts learned in lecture and lab into a larger world context.
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To develop skills in retrieving and evaluating published information.
To develop writing skills.
Assignment
1. Select one question from the list of Science, Technology , and Society questions provided by your lab instructor.
2. Write an answer, addressing the question or issues presented in the chosen question.
3. If you need assistance in locating references for this assignment, review the following resources. http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/instruction/classign/bi211.html b) How Reference Librarians Can Help You http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/reference c) For a general guide on library research, try the OSU Libraries Research Tutorial at http://osulibrary.orst.edu/instruction/tutorials/
You may also contact Anne Christie, reference librarian at the Valley Library (ph. 737-7291)
( anne.christie@oregonstate.edu
).
4. After writing your report, give it to another BI 211 student in your lab, who will critique your writing and who will also critique your ideas and conclusions, using the evaluation form that is included with this assignment. Incorporate as many of your editor’s comments as appropriate.
5. You will do the same critique for another Biology 211 student. Make a copy of your critique and turn it in with your assignment. Review the following guidelines on completing an effective review: http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/PeerReviews.html
6. Answering your chosen question requires that you review and summarize information from published sources. It is important that you summarize this information in your own words and avoid plagiarism. Review the guidelines for creating a successful summary developed by the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Summaries and plagiarism http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/QuotingSources.html
7 . The source (reference) of every specific fact or theory that you derived from reading must be indicated in the text of your paper. Citing references is a way to support your arguments and acknowledge the work of others. The complete citation for these references must be listed in the References Cited section. For purposes of this paper, do not use direct quotes. If a reference is used in more than one area of the paper, it must be cited each time it is used.
Review guidelines on using and citing references:

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What do I need to document? http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocGeneral_What.html
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What are documentation styles? http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocGeneral.html
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Which documentation style do I use for this assignment? Use the CBE documentation, year-name system. http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocCBE.html
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How should I gather information for documenting sources? http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocGeneral_GetInfo.html
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How to create in-text citations http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocCBE_NameYear_Intext.html
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How to create a reference list http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocCBE_NameYear_RefList.html
8. Your answer may include as many references as you need but you must include at least three references that are not from general science textbooks, encyclopedias, or Internet references.
9. For hints on writing a paper that communicates well, review the following web pages:
 http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/CommonErrors.html
 http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/Proofreading.html
Additional resources
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The CWL's Writing Center offers free help with any writing task at any stage of the writing process and is open to all OSU students. The CWL Writing Center web site at http://cwl.oregonstate.edu/ includes useful information and references for writers and a link to the OSU Online Writing Lab (OWL).
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The Oregon State University WIC sites at http://wic.oregonstate.edu/ includes a “Writing
Help” page that links users to a variety of online grammar, usage and style guidelines as well as to the OSU Online Writing labs and other resources for composing, evaluating, and citing electronic and print texts.
Assignment format
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Put the title and your name on a separate first page. Your answer to your chosen question will follow on the next three pages (excluding References Cited) with doubled spaced text with font 12 point, 1-inch margins and pages numbered.
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References Cited section should include all references cited in your essay and only these references.
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Your answer may include as many references as you need but you must include at least three references that are not general science textbooks, encyclopedias, or Internet references.
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Include a copy of your critique of another student’s essay.
Due dates
Task
Give draft paper to student peer editor
Review and return comments on draft paper
Turn in final revision of paper
Due date
Week of October 24, during your scheduled lab period
Week of October 31, during your scheduled lab period
Week of November 14, during your scheduled lab period
Evaluation

The report is worth 13 points distributed as follows: communication (6 pt), content (6 pt) and peer editing (1pt). The attached evaluation form will be used by your lab instructor as a guideline for evaluating your report. Grades for late papers will be reduced 5% per day.

CONTENT
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Title
Sample Evaluation Form for
Science, Technology, and Society Assignment
Biology 211
Fall 2005
Comments
Questions and/or issues are addressed thoroughly and in depth
Arguments are logical
Arguments or points are backed up with accurate referenced information
COMMUNICATION
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Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization
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Correct sentence construction
Paragraph structure: sentences are in logical order within a paragraph and support one main idea
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Paragraph organization (paragraphs are connected and organized in logical order)
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Writing is concise and clear
References are cited correctly in the text
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Reference Cited section lists all references cited in text and is in the required format
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Pages numbered
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Text double-spaced

Topics for Science, Technology, and Society Assignment
Biology 211
Fall 2005
Friday Weniger 228
1.
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing, and global temperature has increases over the past century; however, scientists do not agree about the extent to which the phenomena are related. Most say that greenhouse warming is under way, and we need to take action now to avoid drastic environmental change. Some say it is too soon to tell, and we should gather more data before we act. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing something now to slow global warming? What are the advantages and disadvantages of waiting until more data are available?
2.
Water use is a serious social and environmental issue in the arid southwestern United
States. In recent years, there has been growing criticism of water-intensive ornamental landscapes like lawns and golf greens. These areas are maintained artificially by diverting water from rivers and streams or pumping from ancient subterranean aquifers.
Is this form of water use something society should limit or even eliminate in such areas?
Or should property owners be free to landscape as hey choose? Defend your answer in this debate.
3.
Why are tropical rain forests being destroyed at such an alarming rate? What kinds of social, technological, and economic factors are responsible? Most foress in developed
Northern Hemisphere countries have already been cut. Do the developed nations have a right to ask the developing nations in the Southern Hemisphere to slow or stop the destruction oft their forest? Defend your answer. What kinds of benefits, incentives of programs might slow the assault on the rain forests?
4.
There are 90 million acres in the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System, representing most of the habitats within the United States and protecting thousands of animal species.
Many refuges permit logging, grazing, farming, mineral exploration, and recreational activities. Each year 400,000 animals are legally taken from refuges by hunters and trappers. Pressure is mounting to permit oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge of Alaska. What level of human activity do you think should be permitted on wildlife refuges? Should they be open to ‘consumptive’ uses, such as logging, farming, and hunting? Or should refuges be sanctuaries where animals are touched as little as possible by human activities? Give reasons for your answers.

Topics for Science, Technology, and Society Assignment
Biology 211
Fall 2005
Tuesday and Friday
Weniger 112
1.
Ascribing economic value to ecosystem services is a new way to communicate environmental concepts to a capitalistic society. What are the pros and cons of this approach? If you were responsible for putting a value on ecosystem services, how would you go about doing it? What questions would need to be answered, or what information would you need? How would you go about getting the information? Include a table of examples of the economic values scientists have assigned to specific environmental services. What is their goal in assigning these values? Do you think they have a good argument?
2.
Explain how the excessive or inappropriate use of antibiotics [or antibiotic products such as soap] poses a health hazard for a human population.
3.
Many people regard the rapid population growth of developing countries as our most serious environmental problem. Others think that the population growth in developed countries, though smaller, is actually a greater threat to the environment. What kinds of problems result from population growth in (a) developing countries, and (b) the industrialized world? Which do you think is the greater threat and why?
4.
The world’s oceans are in danger of over-fishing. Many fisheries are close to or above their maximum sustainable yield. A few fisheries and shellfisheries at risk include the
California sardine fishery, the Newfoundland cod fishery, and the king crab fisheries of the Bering Sea. What are the short-term and long-term costs and benefits of large-scale fishing in terms of the economics and the ecology (e.g., impact on natural marine food webs) of the oceans?

Topics for Science, Technology, and Society Assignment
Biology 211
Fall 2005
Wednesday
1.
By 1935, hunting and trapping had eliminated wolves from the United States except for
Alaska. Because wolves have since been protected as an endangered species, they moved south from Canada and become reestablished in the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Lakes region. Conservationists who would like to speed up wolf recovery have reintroduced wolves into Yellowstone National Park. Local ranchers are opposed to bringing back the wolves because they fear predation on their cattle and sheep. What some reasons for reestablishing wolves in Yellowstone National Park?
What effects might the reintroduction of wolves have on the ecological communities in the region? What might be done to mitigate the conflicts between ranchers and wolves?
2.
Biosphere 1 and Biosphere 2 are two self-contained research stations designed to emulate
Earth to better understand how the planet functions as a whole. This information may be useful for the design of future human-inhabited space stations. Focus on either Biosphere
1 or Biosphere 2. Describe the project and its simulated Earth ecosystems. Why was the project designed to include these elements (e.g., what are the main functions of the systems, why were the ecosystems/organisms selected)? Evaluate the success of the project.
3.
Famine plagues certain parts of the world today. Some people argue that distributing food more equitably to the various countries would reduce starvation, at least for a while.
Others counter that it is erroneous and ultimately harmful to perceive starvation as a global problem, because the causes and long-term solutions are usually regional.
Evaluate the biological, political, and ethical aspects of this debate.
4.
What are the most diverse ecosystems on Earth? What are the similarities and differences of biodiversity between marine ecosystems and tropical forests?
5.
Some organizations are starting to envision a sustainable society – one in which each generation inherits sufficient natural and economic resources and a relatively stable environment. The Worldwatch Institute, an environmental policy organization, estimates that we must reach sustainability but by the year 2030 to avoid economic and environmental disaster. To get there, we must begin shaping a sustainable society during the next ten years or so. In what ways is our current system not sustainable? What might we do to work toward sustainability, and what are the major roadblocks to achieving it?
How would your life be different in a sustainable society?

Topics for Science, Technology, and Society Assignment
Biology 211
Fall 2005
Thursday Weniger 112
3.
A lot of money and attention have been directed toward saving a few endangered animals, such as the black-footed ferret and the California condor. (Millions of dollars have been spent in efforts to maintain and breed these two species – more than has been spent on all endangered invertebrates, reptiles, and plants combined.) Condors and ferrets have recently been returned to the wild, but it is questionable whether they can withstand the human encroachments that endangered them in the first place. Should we work hard to save these animals? Why or why not? Would it be better to use our resources to save more species that have a better chance of survival? What are some biological arguments for focusing preservation efforts on whole ecosystems instead of individual endangered species?
4.
Identify some of the problems the world faces for future food production with increasing human populations and outline some possible solutions. What economic and environmental costs are associated with each of these solutions?

Topics for Science, Technology, and Society Assignment
Biology 211
Fall 2005
Tuesday Weniger 228
1.
In 1986, an explosion at a nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, Ukraine, released clouds of radioactive material. Since then, researchers have been using mosses and other bryophytes as
‘living radioactivity meters’ to monitor biologically harmful radiation in the regions most likely affected by the Chernobyl fallout. [Only briefly describe the Chernobyl incident and its long-term effects on the environment.] What characteristics of bryophytes make them especially sensitive to radioactivity and other harmful agents in the environment?
2.
Define and compare three types of biodiversity. What are the threats to biodiversity? How do we measure biodiversity? What are the reasons for preserving biodiversity?
3.
How do hydrothermal vent ecosystems function (e.g., environment, food webs)? Where are they located? What are some problems that organisms face in this harsh environment and their solutions? Why is research of hydrothermal vents economically important to humans
(e.g., mining, medicinals)?
4.
About 10% of U.S. cropland is irrigated. Agriculture is by far the biggest user of water in arid western states, including Colorado, Arizona, and California. The populations of these states are growing and there is an ongoing conflict between cities and farm regions over water. To ensure adequate water supplies for urban growth, cities are purchasing water rights from farmers. This is often the least expensive way for a city to obtain more water, and it is possible for some farmers to make more money selling water rights than growing crops.
Discuss the possible consequences of this trend. Is this the best way to allocate water for all concerned? Why or why not?

Topics for Science, Technology, and Society Assignment
Biology 211
Fall 2005
Thursday Weniger 228
1.
Some organizations are starting to envision a sustainable society – one in which each generation inherits sufficient natural and economic resources and a relatively stable environment. The Worldwatch Institute, an environmental policy organization, estimates that we must reach sustainability but by the year 2030 to avoid economic and environmental disaster. To get there, we must begin shaping a sustainable society during the next ten years or so. In what ways is our current system not sustainable? What might we do to work toward sustainability and what are the major roadblocks to achieving it? How would your life be different in a sustainable society?
2.
Construction of a dam and irrigation canals in an African country has enable farmers to increase the amount of food they can grow. In the past, crops were planted only after spring floods; the fields were too dry the rest of the year. Now fields can be watered year-round.
Improvement in crop yield has had an unexpected cost --- a tremendous increase in the incidence of schistosomiasis. Look at the blood fluke life cycle in Figure 33.11 of your textbook and imagine that your Peach Corps assignment is to help local health officials control the disease. Why do you think the irrigation project increased the incidence of schistosomiasis? It is difficult and expensive to control the disease with drugs. Suggest three other methods that could be tried to prevent people from becoming infected.
3.
In pet shops throughout North America, you can purchase a variety of nonnative fishes, birds, and reptiles. Describe some scenarios in which such pet trade could endanger native plants and animals. Should governments regulate the pet trade? Are there currently any restrictions on what species a pet shop can sell in your city? How would you balance such regulation against a person’s individual rights?
4.
As mandated by the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act, the EPA has announces its intention to evaluate the safety of the most commonly used organophosphate insecticides. In agriculture, the most frequently used organophosphates account for half of the 58 million pounds applied annually nationwide. Organophosphates typically interfere with nerve transmission by inhabiting the enzymes that degrade the transmitter molecules that diffuse from one neuron to another. Noxious insects are not uniquely susceptible; humans and other vertebrates can be affected as well. Thus the use of pesticides creates some health risks. As a consumer, what levels of risk are you willing to accept in exchange for an abundant and affordable food supply? Is it prudent to expect a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from pesticide exposure? What other facts would you like to know about this situation before you could defend your opinion?
5.
Discuss the pros and cons of the exploration of global ecosystems for pharmaceutically useful organisms. Give examples. How does this impact the local region (e.g., humans, ecosystem)? How does this impact the Earth as a whole?