SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

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“Science and Society”
Instructions: Please select one (1) of the following three options for your primary post. Completely address the discussion questions in the topic you choose, in a primary post of at least 125 words. Additionally, please reply to a fellow student on any topic.
(1) Read the blog post by Aizenman (2016). Explain what so-called ‘parachute research’ is about. Why is it considered a problem? Discuss possible solutions that would satisfy all stakeholders. How does this issue relate to the field of biology?
(2) Review the editorial (Cox, 2015) in the “Instructor Insights” folder for this week (Week 1). What is Cox’s position? Explain the basic the logic of his argument. Discuss whether or not you agree with the editorial, and explain why. Explain how this issue relates to the field of biology.
(3) In a recent blog post, O’Neil (2016) describes five lines of evidence that, taken together, seems to indicate that the Zika virus causes microcephaly. Choose one of these lines of evidence and explain why that line of evidence, in and of itself, does not establish a causal link between the Zika virus and microcephaly. Explain whether the other lines of evidence bolster the claim.
References:
Aizenman, N. (2016, April 2). Scientists say it’s time to end ‘parachute research’. Goats and soda [blog]. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/04/02/472686809/scientists-say-its-time-to-end-parachute-research
McNeil, D. G. (2016, April 1). 5 reasons to think that the Zika virus causes microcephaly. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/04/01/health/02zika-microcephaly.html