Controversies in Science and Technology

Chronic oil addiction…(Globe and Mail, April 2, 2005) - on Reserve

1. According to this editorial, what is the U.S. government doing to reduce America’s independence on foreign energy?

2. How does this affect Canada?

3. How do U.S. government tax credits affect the use of fossil fuels?

4. What did the mayor of London do regarding the use of cars? What were the effects of this policy?

5. Describe the 2 policies that the author proposes to make North America less dependent on fossil fuel imports.

6. How effective do you think each proposal would be?

Filmmakers forced to avoid E-word (Leader Post, March 24, 2005) - Reserve

1. What is an Imax theatre?

2. Are many Imax theatres attached to science museums?

3. What films are being rejected by theatres?

4. Is this problem the same in Canada and the United States? Why or why not?

5. How has this rejection affected Canadian filmmakers who make Imax films?

Controversies Regarding Science and Technology (Coursepack)

1. According to the author, what is the difference between a “purely scientific controversy” and a “technical controversy”?

2. Describe the 3 main types of purely scientific controversies according to McMullin.

3. Why is exact replication sometimes difficult to carry out?

4. Describe Stephen Cole’s classification of scientific knowledge as being either core or frontier.

5. Give some examples of theoretical scientific controversies.

6. Why are controversies over theory complex?

7. According to McMullin, what are the three ways in which scientific controversies can be closed?

8. Describe the continental drift controversy?

9. What conclusions does the author make about this controversy?

10. Describe the 4 types of technical controversies listed by Dorothy Nelkin?

11. Give a current example of each type of technical controversy.

12. What situation brought about the Auckland cervical cancer controversy?

13. What scientific and technical issues were involved?

14. What non-scientific and non-technical issues were involved?

15. How was the controversy carried out?

16. How was it resolved?

17. According to the author, what was the controversy about?

18. Describe the 2 claims made by some feminist researchers.