Science & Technology

Focus on Science and Technology

In the 2nd edition of our textbook, there is a prompt loosely connected to technology with sources on pages 166-174 (204-212 of the pdf) that is also an option.

Additional Technology Option: Write to the following technology prompt:

It is no secret that the Internet and smartphones have changed how we do things. After all, who ever looks anything up in the physical yellow pages anymore? But in the past few years, a number of people have been raising concerns about how modern technology is affecting our brains. Other people argue that the Internet is changing the way we think -- for the better! Let’s enter this conversation.

Carefully consider the conversation excerpted for you in the links below. Then, in an essay that synthesizes at least three of those sources, develop a position on the effects of the Internet and its accompanying technologies and how we should manage those effects.

Additional Science Option: Write to the following science prompt:

One of the great, if not greatest, issues of our time is that of global climate change. There is actually little if any real scientific debate on the issue, but there is vociferous public and political debate on the issue. Interestingly it is not just what we should do about global climate change, but about whether to believe the science that explains it. America is virtually alone in the world in doing so.

Carefully consider the conversation excerpted for you in the links below. Then, in an essay that synthesizes at least three of those sources, develop a position on the effects of global climate change and how we should manage those effects.

Come up with your own topic. Interesting currently is the role of science in shaping public policy. What if scientific consensus is politically inconvenient for one's political position(s)? What if scientific consensus shows your positions to be detrimental to people and their quality of life? Lots of crazy stuff going on now that intellectuals are talking about. (Especially if you get into political issues, please not that this is an academic discussion. There are many people talking about politics that are not academics. Many that are cynical opportunists. Those are not good sources. Be careful.

Technology Sources

A note of the following sources: The sources that follow contain a variety of perspectives and issues. They are by no means exhaustive of the issue or conversation. Your Brain on Computers immediately below contains a series of articles on that very issue and might be a good place to begin.

Your Brain on ComputersArticles in the Your Brain on Computers series from The New York Times.

Five Ways Your Smartphone Can Help Your Health

Hooked On Our Smartphones

Smartphone Light

Smartphone Addiction

Why Excessive Consumption Limits your Creativity“When a creative artist is fatigued it is often from too much inflow, not too much outflow” — Julia Cameron

How smartphone addiction is affecting our physical and mental healthThe only difference between smartphone addiction and any other is that it’s socially accepted. But that doesn’t mean it’s not detrimental.

How Smartphone Light Affects Your Brain And BodyThere's something incredibly powerful about the blue lights that the designers of our smartphone, tablet, and laptop screens have been able to create. The

Should Smartphones Be Banned From Classrooms?From middle schools to colleges, cellphones’ adverse effects on student achievement may outweigh their potential as a learning tool.

How Phones Prevent SleepOr, the health case for books. New research looks into how screens tell our brains to stay unnaturally alert.

Is Google Making Us Stupid?What the Internet is doing to our brains

This is How Artificial Intelligence Will Influence the Human Mind | OpenMindWill artificial intelligence be an ally to our mind or will it become the enemy of our brain? Delegating to robots may be too comfortable but, could it enpower us too?

Response to Nicholas Carr's 'Is Google Making Us Stupid?' -- Campus TechnologyAcademics sometimes express concern or nervousness over how commonly used technologies like the Web, the Internet, and social software may affect information habits and even the way net-gen students read, write, think, and learn. In a 2008 Atlantic article Nicholas Carr came right out and asked, 'Is Google Making Us Stupid?' Here, Web 2.0 editor Trent Batson responds to the question.

Google Is Making Us Stupid and Smart at the Same Time?New research about how the Internet affects our brains. Summary: It's complicated

Shouldn’t We All Have Seamless Micropayments By Now?The web’s founders fully expected some form of digital payment to be integral to its functioning. But nearly three decades later, we're still waiting.

The ChatGPT Effect: How advanced AI changes us - Cognition TodayChatGPT marks the starting point of a new step in our evolution. I explore its consequences for work, intelligence, creativity, and curiosity.

What Kind of Mind Does ChatGPT Have?Large language models seem startlingly intelligent. But what’s really happening under the hood?

Science Sources

A note of the following sources: The sources that follow contain a variety of perspectives and issues. They are by no means exhaustive of the issue or conversation.

Scholarly articles via Google Scholar

ScienceDriect.com

NOAA

Uncertain projections help to reveal the truth about future climate changeA team of four scientists from the US and the UK explain how differing climate model projections can be used collectively to reduce uncertainties in future climate change, in a paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Analysis | The disconnect between the Trump administration and reality on climate change keeps growingA flooded air force base contrasts poorly with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's dismissiveness.

Climate study warns of vanishing safety window—here’s whyMillions of possible scenarios were analyzed, and only a few are acceptable, the scientists said.

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