Decisions about Science and Technology

Overview

This section of ideas about science covers the way that people make
decisions about science and technology by weighing up the benefits and the
harmful impacts of science-based technologies. The environmental, economic, social and ethical aspects all need to be taken into account.

Students will need these tools to help them in discussion and in writing about their own opinions. As with almost all the ideas about science it is important that every opportunity is taken to make links with these concepts whilst they are learning about the issues.

a & b will be part of almost every topic. Because of current attitudes to risk students may need reminding of just how many benefits we gain from technology.

c the role of science in developing new technologies is evident in almost all the health issues. The relative importance of fundamental research and applied research is a much debated issue even though the dividing line between science and technology is impossible to draw. The role of technology in facilitating scientific development is particularly easy to show in 10.6, cosmology.

d lists all the factors that might influence decisions. The concepts of risk /benefit and cost/ benefit analysis are particularly useful here. These issues will come up in 9.5 antenatal screening, in 9.6 the use of GM crops and in almost all the issues in SPU 2.

e covers regulations and the ways in which these are influenced. The importance of regulation is illustrated by the history of the Clean Air Acts in 10.3. In 9.3 the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and its regular consultations provide an interesting current example. The role of pressure groups is well illustrated by the GM crop issue, 9.6.

f the role of the media should be an integral part of the course. Media stories lend themselves to an analysis of argument. The way in which correlation is described as causation and an individual case is described as evidence will be noticed in many of the stories. This idea ties in closely with risk issues.

g needs some simple ethical principles to be explained. Students can be encouraged to decide whether they are using consequentialism or intrinsic rights and to look at the interests of the different parties involved.

h is important in recognising that there are no right answers and that any discussion needs to be sensitive to individual values. It is also very relevant in evaluating the position taken by pressure groups on controversial issues. Many of the topics in medical ethics will encounter this idea.

i this is at the heart of much decision making. Almost all decisions benefit someone but may harm others. For example, cars are very convenient for the drivers but their fumes cause respiratory illness for others. Society has to balance these interests in some way.