Communicating Science about the Gold King Mine Spill and Water Quality in the Animas River
Essential Questions:
How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine
drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?
Acid drainage is actually normal due to rain. When it rains the metals in mountains can break off and dissolve in the water. This is a naturally occurring process, where these metals can seep into rivers, lakes, and ponds. However, this process of acid drainage is exacerbated by mining. When humans mine holes they are basically allowing more metals, that may be toxic, to be brought into freshwater. Mines, created by humans, allow the rain to absorb the metals inside and bring them to freshwater, causing more acid drainage.
What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
Science is extremely valuable to have when making policy decisions that involve quality of life. Having background on the science of the topic may change what the policy decision is. The role of science in making these policy decisions is to guide the decision to be rational and uplift human life. For example, if the Gold King Mine Spill were to be harmful to human life for, let’s say, a year the EPA would make a policy decision that does not allow the river to be used for recreational purposes or drinking. The role of science in making policy decisions is to help make a decision, backed by data, that will keep humans safe.
Reflection Questions:
To what degree do scientists have an obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to
the public in an understandable manner?
I believe it is scientists’ obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in an understandable manner especially when the information pertains to the public. Ways that it may pertain to the public is when it impacts their lives. What they eat, drink, buy, and do. Scientists should also communicate new scientific concepts that may give new insight to more general topics, such as with the Atomic Theory it would be beneficial to explain a new model of the atom. Of course scientists should share information that may affect our health but they should also share information for the sake of learning. So we may all further our understanding of our universe.
How has your understanding of scientific knowledge and/or the process of doing science
changed throughout the semester as you’ve examined and manipulated data collected by
professional scientists and performed analogous experiments to collect and analyze your own
data?
My understanding of the process of doing science has changed throughout the semester for my benefit. At first I did not understand the process of doing science. I didn’t know any of the equations and concepts of chemistry such as a simple reaction equation. Now I feel like I can create basic reaction equations with ease and represent the reaction symbolically, macroscopically, and particularly. For example, during classroom activities when we practice drawing these equations I am able to excel at representing the problem. This is just one example of how I understand the process of doing science much more.
How have geological, biological and human factors created and exacerbated acid mine
drainage and water quality issues in the Animas River?
Acid drainage is actually normal due to rain. When it rains the metals in mountains can break off and dissolve in the water. This is a naturally occurring process, where these metals can seep into rivers, lakes, and ponds. However, this process of acid drainage is exacerbated by mining. When humans mine holes they are basically allowing more metals, that may be toxic, to be brought into freshwater. Mines, created by humans, allow the rain to absorb the metals inside and bring them to freshwater, causing more acid drainage.
What is the role of science in making policy decisions?
Science is extremely valuable to have when making policy decisions that involve quality of life. Having background on the science of the topic may change what the policy decision is. The role of science in making these policy decisions is to guide the decision to be rational and uplift human life. For example, if the Gold King Mine Spill were to be harmful to human life for, let’s say, a year the EPA would make a policy decision that does not allow the river to be used for recreational purposes or drinking. The role of science in making policy decisions is to help make a decision, backed by data, that will keep humans safe.
Reflection Questions:
To what degree do scientists have an obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to
the public in an understandable manner?
I believe it is scientists’ obligation to communicate scientific concepts and data to the public in an understandable manner especially when the information pertains to the public. Ways that it may pertain to the public is when it impacts their lives. What they eat, drink, buy, and do. Scientists should also communicate new scientific concepts that may give new insight to more general topics, such as with the Atomic Theory it would be beneficial to explain a new model of the atom. Of course scientists should share information that may affect our health but they should also share information for the sake of learning. So we may all further our understanding of our universe.
How has your understanding of scientific knowledge and/or the process of doing science
changed throughout the semester as you’ve examined and manipulated data collected by
professional scientists and performed analogous experiments to collect and analyze your own
data?
My understanding of the process of doing science has changed throughout the semester for my benefit. At first I did not understand the process of doing science. I didn’t know any of the equations and concepts of chemistry such as a simple reaction equation. Now I feel like I can create basic reaction equations with ease and represent the reaction symbolically, macroscopically, and particularly. For example, during classroom activities when we practice drawing these equations I am able to excel at representing the problem. This is just one example of how I understand the process of doing science much more.