H A N D 0 U T II

SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES THAT HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES

DIRECTIONS

Read through the questions below. Then refer to the items in Handout 1, "Science in Everyday Life. "Answer the questions and prepared to explain the reasoning behind your answers.

1. On a sheet of paper make three columns. Head each of the columns as shown:
EVERYDAY USE
SCIENTIFIC BASIS
SOCIAL NEED/PURE SCIENCE

Confer with others and suggest how each of the items in the list has made life better for people generally; for each item also indicate what basic scientific discovery, principle, and basic science is involved with the process, e.g., washers/dryers-form of electricity. (Students may need to do some research on this item to pin down the precise science involved.) In the third column, continue to probe the idea: Which came first the societal need, or the basic science? This is not always clearly evident, e.g., need for quicker travel may well have led to the demand for more powerful engines -leading to the discovery of jet propulsion; or was jet propulsion an idea that was later utilized by the airplane industry? There is the example of Leonardo DaVinci's ideas concerning flight, which came long before the technical/scientific applications that made it a reality.

2. What other items of societal or scientific importance do you feel should be included?
3. Which items in the list do you think are of least importance and probably should have been omitted? But then develop a justification for the inclusion of these items.
4. Pick one of the items and list one positive and one negative effect that item has had on society. Be prepared to explain your examples.

(Teachers should be very conscious of emphasizing both the scientific process AND the social implications involved in each of the advances and others contributed by students.)

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