Welcome to the Socially Responsible Science Web site where you can find teaching resources for engaging students of school science in inquiry learning about ethical dilemmas associated with social applications of science and technology.
To access a Dilemma Story, click on a title below and choose Guest Access. ~no password is required~
tsunami has hit Japan, damaging a large nuclear power plant which is responsible for providing energy to the entire country. You are a team leader for a company working in conjunction with this power plant, and as such, are responsible and answerable to the government, your employees, employers, the local community and your family. What would you do?
The year is 2050. You are the Australian Prime Minister in a time when Australia and the international community are faced with increasing social antagonism and disparities in wealth. With a limited budget, will you improve the livelihood of millions of Australians or alleviate the suffering of the world's billions?
It is the height of Western Australia’s mining boom and like many West Australians working in the mining industry, your dad is a fly-in fly-out contractor. He is then offered a position in a new mine, established in the region where you live: the beautiful and ecologically delicate Kimberleys. Do you support your dad’s decision to take the job? Or do you support your mum, siblings and local community protesting against the new mine?
It is the middle of the Great Depression and you are a newly arrived migrant to Australia. In the "old country" you were a farmer; a vocation you decide to continue here in Australia. You buy land which you cultivate into a market garden. This dilemma story follows your relationship with Australia's delicate ecosystem and the struggles you face, stemming from the 1930's to the 1990's. However, when the "fruits" of your labour begin to show, they are not as you anticipated...
You and your family are walking along a beach when you come across approximately 100 stranded whales. Time is running out and it is clear that not all the whales will survive the ordeal, but who should live and who should die? As you work alongside scientists, rangers, locals and tourists to return the whales to the ocean, you are confronted by varying issues relating to human intervention in the natural world.
You are an athlete and during a game you injure your knee. Meanwhile, your friend has a degenerative life-threatening disease. Further research in both areas will be equally beneficial to society, yet government funding is sorely lacking. What can and should be done to improve the field of medical research?
As a youth representative of the local Western Swamp Tortoise preservation group, you are confronted by a series of issues concerning the conservation of the tortoise. You must make some difficult and uncomfortable personal decisions concerning the future of Australia's iconic Western Swamp Tortoise.
You are a farmer in Australia's wheatbelt, and drought has plagued the farm for several years. Climate change is forcing many farmers off their farms, and if it fails to rain soon, you will be forced to sell the farm in order to pay off your debts. A dilemma facing many Australian farmers: Sell now, or wait for the rains to come?
The dilemma stories on this Web-site deal with a range of ethical issues some of which might be considered offensive by some people. While the authors and administrators regret any offense this may cause readers, no responsibility for any such offense can be accepted by either the authors or administrators.
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