C-465 Initial Survey Questions, Fall 1998

CHEM-465 Chemistry Senior Seminar

Comparison of Initial and Final Student Responses to Societal Issues Questionnaire - 1998

Comment: The questionnaire below was filled out by students at the beginning of the first day of class (2 September) and on the last day of class (9 December). The results from both sections are combined and shown in the table. The first number is the inital response total and the number after the slash is the final response total. Of the 36 propositions, twelve were selected for research and presentation to the class. Those are indicated by the links to student web-sites on the subject. Four of the twelve topics were presented to both sections. Can you tell which presentations affected the class's position? Are there any topics which were not presented formally where there was a change in position?

Instructions: Please indicate in the appropriate boxes whether you agree (A), disagree (D), are undecided (U), or couldn't care less (C) about each of the following propositions relating to chemistry and society. The positive or negative wording of each proposition may or may not represent the position of one or both instructors.

Issues relating to the use and conduct of science

A	D	U	C	PROPOSITION
11/12	16/19	16/10	0/1	1. Secrecy has no place in academic research done in collaboration with the chemical industry.
4/7	25/26	13/9	0/0	2. Opportunities for women in chemistry are limited relative to those for men.
2/4	32/29	7/7	1/1	3. Taking anabolic steroids for body building is in principle no different from administering growth hormone to persons with inherited dwarfism.
36/34	1/5	5/3	0/0	4. There are important issues that face society that cannot be resolved by scientific study.
21/21	6/13	9/7	1/1	5. There are some areas of scientific inquiry that should never be pursued for ethical or humanitarian reasons.
4/8	25/25	13/9	0/0	6. There is an objectively correct answer to any question relating to chemistry.
18/17	10/11	8/11	6/3	7. The account of creation in the Bible is in direct conflict with chemical and physical evidence for the age of the earth. (web-site)
11/16	20/14	9/12	2/0	8. In most cases there are alternatives to using animals in research.
19/22	15/11	7/9	1/0	9. A major problem with science education in this country is that there are few incentives for bright, enthusiastic people to consider a teaching career. (web-site)

Issues relating to industrial chemistry

A	D	U	C	PROPOSITION
5/6	20/17	16/17	1/2	10. The economics of recycling aluminum are prohibitive.
20/25	5/7	17/9	0/1	11. Acid rain can be prevented without compromising industrial output.
22/14	6/21	14/7	0/0	12. The chemical industry took responsible action when confronted with evidence that the ozone layer was being depleted by fluorocarbons. (web-site)
11/13	15/22	16/7	0/0	13. Federal safety regulations inhibit research and development of potentially beneficial drugs. (web-site)
27/26	12/10	3/6	0/0	14. Raising gasoline prices in the U.S. would provide the incentive for engineering automobiles with improved fuel-efficiency. (web-site)
4/10	4/5	32/26	2/1	15. Without the industrial chemical reduction of atmospheric nitrogen, starvation would be rampant in third world countries.
3/4	22/24	16/13	1/1	16. The concept of "green chemistry" is incompatible with industrial practice.

Issues relating to national policy

A	D	U	C	PROPOSITION
6/7	21/16	15/9	0/0	17. Nuclear power generation is the only viable long-term solution to the energy problem.
5/5	7/13	28/21	2/0	18. Fossil hydrocarbons are too valuable as a source of recyclable plastic to be burned for fuel.
9/10	30/26	3/6	0/0	19. Chemical and biological warfare should be considered as viable components of a national security program. (web-site)

Issues relating to chemistry and the environment

A	D	U	C	PROPOSITION
2/1	10/10	27/29	3/2	20. Dioxin is not as toxic as the press makes it out to be.
9/9	4/2	29/29	0/0	21. Anti-knock compounds in gasoline that have replaced tetraethyl lead are likely to produce environmental problems also.
22/27	2/7	18/5	0/1	22. The use of antibiotics in animal food represents a long-term health hazard to humans by promoting antibiotic resistance in pathogens. (web-site 1) (web-site 2)
12/10	14/17	15/14	1/1	23. The widespread use of insecticides is a waste of money and ineffective in the long run.
8/11	25/25	9/6	0/0	24. The dangers of asbestos used for tiles and insulation in buildings are insufficient to warrant the high cost of its removal.
12/30	11/2	18/10	1/0	25. The risks and costs of cleaning up hazardous waste dumps need to be reassessed. (web-site)
19/23	8/7	15/8	0/3	26. Paper bags for groceries are environmentally and economically preferable to plastic bags.

Issues relating to human health and disease

A	D	U	C	PROPOSITION
29/41	3/0	9/1	1/0	27. Sequencing the human genome is likely to benefit human health. (website 1) (web-site 2)
10/11	22/21	9/9	1/1	28. Consumption of mega doses of Vitamin C is healthful. (web-site)
2/6	29/28	11/8	0/0	29. Molecular genetic analysis of blood creates more problems for society than it solves.
1/2	11/14	29/25	1/1	30. There are real dangers associated with using transgenic crops as human food.
5/10	23/19	13/11	1/2	31. Drug discovery by rational design should take precedence over screening natural products from tropical rain forests and marine invertebrates.
36/38	3/4	3/0	0/0	32. Understanding the molecular basis of cancer is a prerequisite for effective treatment of cancer. .....(web-site 1) (web-site 2)
13/13	10/8	19/20	0/1	33. Developing a vaccine for malaria should be a high priority objective for the NIH.
1/6	12/3	27/32	2/1	34. Drinking water should be treated with hydrogen peroxide rather than chlorine.
16/21	12/10	14/11	0/0	35. It is likely that biomedical research will lead to total control of HIV infections.
6/27	11/7	20/8	5/0	36. Olestra is a benign, non-digestible, fat substitute. (web-site 1) (web-site 2)

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Last updated: 14 December1998 by Hal White