Preface -- Topics guide -- Introduction -- Unit 1: Place Of Science And Technology In Society: -- Issue 1: Should the public have to pay to see the results of federally funded research? -- Yes: Ralph Oman, from testimony regarding HR 6845, the Fair Copyright in Research Works Act, before the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property of the Committee on the Judiciary (September 11, 2008) -- No: Heather Dalterio Joseph, from testimony regarding HR 6845, the Fair Copyright in Research Works Act, before the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property of the Committee on the Judiciary (September 11, 2008) -- Issue 2: Should "intelligent design" be taught in public schools? -- Yes: J Scott Turner, from "Signs of Design," The Christian Century (June 12, 2007) -- No: National Academy of Sciences and Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, from Science, Evolution, and Creationism (National Academies Press, 2008) -- Issue 3: Should the Internet be neutral? -- Yes: Julious Genachowski, from "Preserving a Free and Open Internet: A Platform for Innovation, Opportunity, and Prosperity," speech at The Brooking Institutions (September 21, 2009) -- No: Kyle McSlarrow, from "The Future of the Internet," testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Hearing (April 22, 2008) -- Unit 2: Energy And The Environment: -- Issue 4: Is it time to think seriously about "climate engineering"? -- Yes: Kevin Bullis, from "The Geoengineering Gambit," Technology Review (January/February 2010) -- No: James R Fleming, from "The Climate Engineers," The Wilson Quarterly (Spring 2007) -- Issue 5: Is it time to revive nuclear power? -- Yes: Allison MacFarlane, from "Nuclear Power: A Panacea for Future Energy Needs?" Environment (March/April 2010) -- No: Kristin Shrader-Frechette, from "Five Myths About Nuclear Energy," America (June 23-30, 2008) -- Issue 6: Is America ready for the electric car? -- Yes: Michael Horn, from "Roadmap to the Electric Car Economy," The Futurist (April 2010) -- No: Rick Newman: from "A Stuttering Start for Electric Cars," U S News & World Report (April 2010) -- Unit 3: Human Health And Welfare: -- Issue 7: Do falling birth rates pose a threat to human welfare? -- Yes: Michael Meyer, et al, from "Birth Dearth," Newsweek (September 27, 2004) -- No: Julia Whitty, from "The Last Taboo," Mother Jones (May-June 2010) -- Issue 8: Is there sufficient scientific evidence to conclude that cell phones cause cancer? -- Yes: Olga V Naidenko, from testimony before Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies, hearing on "The Health Effects of Cell Phone Use" (September 14, 2009) -- No: Linda S Erdreich, from testimony before Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies, hearing on "The Health Effects of Cell Phone Use" (September 14, 2009) -- Issue 9: Should DDT be banned worldwide? -- Yes: Anne Platt McGinn, from "Malaria, Mosquitoes, and DDT," World Watch (May/June 2002) -- No: Donald R Roberts, from "The Role of Science in Environmental Policy-Making," Statement before U S Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works (September 28, 2005) -- Issue 10: Can infectious animal diseases be studied safely in Kansas? -- Yes: Bruce Knight, from "Statement on the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility," before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, House Energy and Commerce Committee (May 22, 2008) -- No: Ray L Wulf, from "Written Testimony," submitted for the record to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, House Energy and Commerce Committee (May 22, 2008) -- Issue 11: Are genetically modified foods safe to eat? -- Yes: Henry I Miller and Gregory Conko, from "Scary Food," Policy Review (June/July 2006) -- No: Jeffrey M Smith, from "Not in My Fridge!" Ecologist (November 2007) -- Unit 4: Space: -- Issue 12: Are we doing enough to protect the Earth from asteroid and comet impacts? -- Yes: J Anthony Tyson, from "Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)-Status of the Survey Program and Review of NASA's Report to Congress," Testimony before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics (November 8, 2007) -- No: Russell L Schweickart, from Asteroid Threats: A Call for Global Response (Association of Space Explorers International Panel on Asteroid Threat Mitigation, September 25, 2008) -- Issue 13: Will the search for extraterrestrial life ever succeed? -- Yes: Seth Shostak, from "When Will We Detect the Extraterrestrials?" Acta Astronautica (August 2004) -- No: Peter Schenkel, from "SETI requires a Skeptical Reappraisal," Skeptical Inquirer (May/June 2006) -- Issue 14: Do humans belong in space? -- Yes: Jeff Foust, from "The Future of Human Spaceflight: Are Astronauts Close to Extinction?" Technology Review (January / February 2010) -- No: Neil deGrasse Tyson, from "Delusions of Space Enthusiasts," Natural History (November 2006) -- Unit 5: Computer Revolution: -- Issue 15: Can machines be conscious? -- Yes: Christof Koch and Giulio Tononi, from "Can Machines Be Conscious?" IEEE Spectrum (June 2008) -- No: John Horgan, from "The Consciousness Conundrum," IEEE Spectrum (June 2008) -- Issue 16: Do government Internet surveillance efforts threaten privacy and civil rights? -- Yes: James A Lewis, from "Cybersecurtiy: Next Steps to Protect Critical Infrastructure," testimony before Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing (February 23, 2010) -- No: Amitai Etzioni, from "Are New Technologies the Enemy of Privacy?" Knowledge Technology & Policy (Summer 2007) -- Issue 17: Does endorsing open source software fail to respect intellectual property? -- Yes: International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), from Indonesia: 2010 Special 301 Report on Copyright Protection and Enforcement (February 12, 2010) -- No: Michael Tiemann, from "The OSI Categorically Rejects IIPA's Special Pleadings Against Open Source," Open Source Initiative (May 3, 2010) -- Unit 6: Ethics: -- Issue 18: Is "Animal Rights" Just Another Excuse for Terrorism? -- Yes: John J Miller, from "In the Name of the Animals: America Faces a New Kind of Terrorism," National Review (July 3, 2006) -- No: Steven Best, from "Dispatches from a Police State: Animal Rights is the Crosshairs of State Repression," International Journal of Inclusive Democracy (January 2007) -- Issue 19: Should we reject the "Transhumanist" goal of the genetically, electronically, and mechanically enhanced human being? -- Yes: M J McNamee and S D Edwards, from "Transhumanism, medical technology, and slippery slopes," Journal of Medical Ethics (September 2006) -- No: Maxwell J Mehlman, from "Biomedical enhancements: entering a New Era," Issues in Science and Technology (Spring 2009) -- Contributors.
Summary:
This title is "a debate-style reader designed to introduce students to controversies in science and technology. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading scientists, technicians, and social commentators, reflect opposing positions and have been selected for their liveliness and substance and because of their value in a debate framework." -- P.[4] of cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.