Animas test kitchen project
Communicating Science about the Gold King Mine Spill and Water quality in the animas river:
Essential questions:
a. How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine
drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?
b. What ecological and human health threats might be associated with the Gold King Mine
spill: initially, currently and in the future?
c. What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the
Animas River watershed?
d. What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?
b. What ecological and human health threats might be associated with the Gold King Mine
spill: initially, currently and in the future?
c. What actions can be taken to improve the water quality in Cement Creek and the
Animas River watershed?
d. What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
project reflection
TJ Rifkin
12-7-15
Steve Smith
Chemistry 11
I believe that scientists have a moral obligation to provide data for the public in an understandable way because they are responsible for letting people know if things are safe or if scientific rumors are true. If they don’t allow the public to understand what is going on in things like the river, then they could be responsible for killing people if they choose to partake in river activities in a river that is toxic to human life. A scientist can stop these things from happening, and it would be on their conscience if they didn’t tell people where toxicity exists. Through science, scientists can prove things to be false that have caused people to stress. For example, science could prove that vaccines don’t actually have any correlation to autism, which would be a good thing to know if you are a parent.
My scientific knowledge has changed drastically since the beginning of the semester. Coming into chemistry this year, I was kind’ve scared because I thought that I was going to have no idea what I was doing, and I was right. Starting out I was always confused, and I didn’t know how to analyze or process data. Through a long and strenuous process, I have learned how to analyze relevant data and use it in my advanced writing. An example of this would be in my lab reports.
There are a few viable options for treating the water that flows in cement creek and the Animas River. One of these options has already been pursued as the immediate course of action for the EPA in Silverton, lime treatment. Lime treatment helps raise the pH of a solution, and by doing so it precipitates out toxic metals. The other treatment options include filtration, and bioaccumulation. Lime treatment is the most cost effective option and it is the easiest to accomplish. It is arguably whether or not it is the most effective in the long run, but for now it is the best option for the EPA.
Science has a critical role in the political world, this is because it can show factually if things are good or bad for society as a whole. For example, if a small mountain town was debating whether or not they should allow mining to take place. They could look at factual scientific data to show them whether or not mining has negative effects on the ecosystem. They could make their decision based on evidence and feel good about it. Politicians could make their decision on a larger scale for the same types of reasons. It is all about a cost benefit analysis, and science reinforces one side almost all the time.
12-7-15
Steve Smith
Chemistry 11
I believe that scientists have a moral obligation to provide data for the public in an understandable way because they are responsible for letting people know if things are safe or if scientific rumors are true. If they don’t allow the public to understand what is going on in things like the river, then they could be responsible for killing people if they choose to partake in river activities in a river that is toxic to human life. A scientist can stop these things from happening, and it would be on their conscience if they didn’t tell people where toxicity exists. Through science, scientists can prove things to be false that have caused people to stress. For example, science could prove that vaccines don’t actually have any correlation to autism, which would be a good thing to know if you are a parent.
My scientific knowledge has changed drastically since the beginning of the semester. Coming into chemistry this year, I was kind’ve scared because I thought that I was going to have no idea what I was doing, and I was right. Starting out I was always confused, and I didn’t know how to analyze or process data. Through a long and strenuous process, I have learned how to analyze relevant data and use it in my advanced writing. An example of this would be in my lab reports.
There are a few viable options for treating the water that flows in cement creek and the Animas River. One of these options has already been pursued as the immediate course of action for the EPA in Silverton, lime treatment. Lime treatment helps raise the pH of a solution, and by doing so it precipitates out toxic metals. The other treatment options include filtration, and bioaccumulation. Lime treatment is the most cost effective option and it is the easiest to accomplish. It is arguably whether or not it is the most effective in the long run, but for now it is the best option for the EPA.
Science has a critical role in the political world, this is because it can show factually if things are good or bad for society as a whole. For example, if a small mountain town was debating whether or not they should allow mining to take place. They could look at factual scientific data to show them whether or not mining has negative effects on the ecosystem. They could make their decision based on evidence and feel good about it. Politicians could make their decision on a larger scale for the same types of reasons. It is all about a cost benefit analysis, and science reinforces one side almost all the time.