Project Overview

In this project you will create an infographic and write a blog post about an important ethical issue facing countries around the world: access to clean, drinkable water. Once you choose a topic from the list provided, you will develop an infographic that explains the facts of the situation. Next, you will write a blog post that explains the ethical implications of your topic.

Competency

In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competency:

• Apply ethical perspectives to complex questions in science and technology

Scenario

You work for DOWSE, the Division of Water Sourcing and Education. DOWSE focuses on the ethical treatment of its employees, the environment, and the countries it serves. Your department collects information about people who are affected by water crises.DOWSE is using social media to bring attention to the ethical concerns related to these crises. Your supervisor, Dr. Phil Wehls, has asked you to create an infographic and write a blog post about one of the topics described below:Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan, experienced water problems after the local government switched its water source from Lake Huron to the local Flint River. This change was an attempt to help the struggling city save money. Investigate the decisions that the local and national government made. How did these decisions affect Flint’s water system and the health of Flint’s residents?Privatization of Water UtilitiesAround the world, some cities and countries are selling their water utilities to private companies. Private companies are not run by government agencies. These private companies are trying to turn a profit. At the same time, they are supposed to meet the regions’ water demands and maintain water quality and physical systems. What is the impact of privatization on affected communities?The Agricultural Use of WaterAgricultural crops use approximately 70% of the freshwater withdrawals worldwide. Scientists are interested in whether the use of this water is effective and efficient. They are also concerned about agricultural runoff. Agricultural runoff happens when water used on crops contains contaminants such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers. How does this runoff affect drinking supplies, wildlife, and the ecosystems downstream?

Directions

Dr. Wehls has asked you to research one of the topics listed in the scenario. He would like you to create an infographic or slide that gives an overview of the topic and examines what went wrong or what could go wrong. He also asked you to write a blog post on the ethical implications of the scientific or technical topic you examined.

1. InfographicCreate an infographic using imaging software like PowerPoint or an infographic tool like Piktochart. Your infographic should present an overview of facts about your chosen topic. This could include the history of the topic, interesting statistics, or any pros and cons related to the topic.Note: As you complete your research, you will discover ethical issues related to the topic. These do not need to be covered in your infographic. You will discuss ethical issues in your blog post. 
2. Blog PostYour blog post should discuss the ethical issues surrounding your chosen topic. In your blog post be sure to cover the following:
   • Discuss the ethics of the decision makers involved in your topic. What motivated the decision makers to make the choices they did? How did their decisions affect others?
   • Explain your agreement or disagreement with the decisions that were made.
   • Discuss any ethical perspectives that can be applied to your topic.

What to Submit

Every project has a deliverable or deliverables, which are the files that must be submitted before your project can be assessed. For this project, you must submit the following:

1. InfographicCreate an infographic that presents an overview of the facts related to your topic. 
2. Blog PostWrite a blog post about the ethical concerns surrounding your chosen topic. Your blog post must be 500 to 750 words in length.

Presents the facts of a complex scientific problem

• Unit Resources: Complex Scientific Problems

Blog Post Which Resources Can Help? Describes the ethics of decision makers addressing a complex issue

• Unit Resources: Applying Ethical Perspectives

Explains agreement or disagreement with the decisions made about a complex issue

• Unit Resources: Ethical Implications of Science and Technology

Discusses the ethical perspectives that could be applied to a complex question in science and technology