Do countries, as independent sovereign nations have the right to do what they will with the land/resources contained within their borders (i.e. preserve, harvest, pollute, etc.) and are there any limits to this right?

Jason Gerbsch                                                             Approximately 170 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105: Science Writing

Appendix IV of “The Heart of the Antarctic” by E. H. Shackleton details the findings on the ice and snow of Antarctica.  Depending on the air temperature, the the crystals that would form would be any number of sizes and patterns, the most common being spikes or hexagonal in shape.  The team built a laboratory adjacent to their main structure with the purpose of using the space for experiments.  However it quickly became unsuitable for anything but ice experiments as warm, moist air from the hut entered the lab and created thick layers of “ice blades” on the walls.

I find this quite fascinating, that these crystals can form such different patterns with different temperatures.  Those on the expedition described these ice formations as “exquisitely beautiful” and I can say the same from some limited personal experience, as well as from pictures and video.  The ability of nature to create such detailed, geometrically perfect, and in some cases grand structures of ice and snow is something to behold.

In her article “On Immunity”, Eula Bliss writes about the “herd mentality” vs. the “homestead mentality” when concerning vaccination as well as the trend of those who receive the most vaccinations based on socioeconomic status.  The herd mentality regarding vaccination is used to describe the method of the mass vaccination of a population in order to greater protect the community from the spread of disease.  Those who disagree with this prefer the homestead mentality, where if you take care of you’re family’s health it anyone who is ill around you won’t matter, as “herd mentality” leads to the thought of masses of people making stupid decisions.  Concerning socioeconomic status, wealthier, more educated citizens don’t get as many vaccines due to the mindset that because of their status they won’t engage in risky behavior that leads to greater risk of infection.

I feel that all citizens should receive all recommended vaccinations regardless of any circumstance because in doing so you are ensuring the safety of the community as a whole.  By getting vaccinations for you and your children, you are ensuring the family’s safety from infection but also all the families around you, as well as preventing the spread of contagions.

Jason Gerbsch                                                             Approximately 200 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105: Scientific Writing

In her article “Whisper of the Wild,” Kim Tingley joins Davyd Betchkal, a sound catcher, in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska.  Davyd’s goal is to collect, record, and interpret data on an endangered and highly important resource, natural sound.  Human noise pollution has expanded more and more over time, disrupting and even overpowering the ambiance of nature.  In doing so, we have altered the balance of ecosystems and even the course of evolution, as those species who cannot adapt to the intrusion of artificial noise will struggle to survive and even die out.

This article brings up a rather crucial topic that does not seem to get the attention it deserves.  We may not think that the sounds of civilization affect the natural environment in the ways that oil spills or illegal dumping of sewage or chemicals do because the effects of noise pollution on nature aren’t immediately noticeable.  However, according to Betchkal, our interference with the sound of the Earth is very detrimental; disrupting ecosystems, altering the course of evolution, even throwing off the balance of survival by causing predators and prey not being able to hear the other, for example.

Jason Gerbsch                                                             Approximately 200 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105: Science Writing

The main topic of the article concerns the crisis Palestine is encountering involving water and sewage.  Waste treatment in Gaza City was designed to treat up to 40,000 cubic meters of sewage per day.  However, the actual amount produced exceeds that, measuring about 150,000 cubic meters of sewage.  The only solution has been to dump the excess into the Mediterranean Sea.  In doing so, the largest supply of water is threatened, not only for Palestine, but for Israel as well.  Palestine has the potential means of solving this problem, but the materials required to do so have been withheld by Israel after a tunnel was discovered built by Hamas to infiltrate the country.

After reading the article, I understand Israel’s fears of giving Palestine materials that could serve a dual purpose of war and peace construction, but I feel that Israel should set aside this rather staunch stance in favor of one that could benefit millions of people.  By providing the necessary materials and the extra electricity required, Israel could improve the lives of millions of Palestinians, safeguard the future of both Palestine’s and Israel’s main water supply, and possibly improve Palestinian-Israeli relations through such a humanitarian action.

Jason Gerbsch                                                             Approximately 315 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105: Scientific Writing

Scientific breakthroughs throughout history have always been a doubled-edged sword.  For every discovery that has an initial positive benefit, others have found its negative or vice versa.  The discovery of nuclear power is one such example.  Nuclear power is itself a relatively clean and very efficient energy source.  However, this enormous power has also been used for destruction in the form of nuclear weapons.

When one is asked about who has been affected by American nuclear weapons, most would say the Japanese, as they are the only human population to have had a nuclear weapon used against them.  Many would not think Americans have been affected, Terry Tempest Williams argues otherwise.  She comes from a family where 9 women were diagnosed with cancer and seven had died.  Her family isn’t alone, nearly 1,200 others had been affected.  The common factor they all shared? They lived in the part of Utah deemed perfect for nuclear testing due to it being “virtually uninhabited desert terrain.”  While many tried to bring this to the attention of the American government and people, it was difficult due to the intense patriotism of the time (namely 1950s America) and the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity, a law that states that the government can do no wrong.  Do I think we should have never delved into the nuclear world? No.  Despite its destructive power when used in such a way, its benefits as a clean and massive source of power outweighs this negative.  Do I believe the US government was wrong in ignoring the fact that through the testing of nuclear warheads it was in fact hurting its own people? Yes I do.  Americans were suffering from these tests and the American government was too busy trying to get a leg up during the Cold War to care about these citizens; instead, relying on a ridiculous law that is centuries out of date and goes against the values of our Democracy.

Jason Gerbsch                          Approximately 200 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105: Scientific Writing

The article “Mars Contamination Fear Could Divert Curiosity Rover” by Alexandra Witze, describes the predicament of NASA scientists regarding the Mars Curiosity rover and possible traces of water on the Mars surface.  A total of 452 dark streaks have been identified on Mars’ surface that exhibit traits similar to that of liquid water.  These dark streaks that could indicate water on the Mars surface provide obstacles for the rover as international law prevents NASA from bringing the rover near the streaks, as to prevent Earth microbes on the rover from contaminating the potential water.

This article is an excellent example of a public facing science article for multiple reasons.  First off, the article provides a lot of information in a down-to-earth way that is easy for the average person to read and understand.  Many terms which may be unknown to the average reader are clearly labeled and defined.  There are a few moments where vocab and ideas may provide a slight difficulty to comprehension, but they are few and far between.  Secondly, the article provides the information in a way that captivates the reader.  The author utilizes strong language to give the article energy and sense of importance.

Article: http://www.nature.com/news/mars-contamination-fear-could-divert-curiosity-rover-1.20544

Jason Gerbsch                                                             Approximately 180 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105-19: Scientific Writing

Philospher Bruno Latour in his book We Have Never Been Modern brings up the key idea of networks, how everything in our world, both human and nonhuman, are connected in one way or another.  The ivy clinging to the walls of Sturges Hall, provide an excellent example of the existence of these connections.  However, walk up to any student on campus and tell them this idea.  More than likely they’ll be confused and question why in the world is this important.  To answer this question, the importance of this idea is how it opens the mind to how big and connected the world actually is.  You may think the ivy is just that, ivy, an inanimate growth on the side of a building that just exists.  The real beauty of the ivy is how connected to us it actually is, despite appearing so uninvolved.  Its connections to us range from the physical, being in direct contact such as groundkeeper, to the aesthetic, where we as humans may enjoy marveling at such life.

Jason Gerbsch                                                             Approximately 200 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105-19: Scientific Writing

Latour states in his essay that the term “modern” is designated by two sets of practices, translation and purification.  Having read their definitions, I can label Latour a translationist.  This is supported by the fact that he mentions creating networks, “either the networks my colleagues in science studies and I have traced…”.  Knowing the fact that Latour is most likely a translationist makes it easier to consider what he’d argue about my object.

The object in question is Sturges Hall and its ivy.  Latour would point out various connections between the building and the ivy, as well as combinations of the two with humans existing around it.  For example, biology students can study the ivy as part of research or class work, or the connection between a grounds keeper tending to the vine because he’s required to by superiors who gave the order to have the ivy planted around the hall.  After reading his essay, I’d agree with many of Latour’s connections, but I believe he would miss connections that don’t seem as connected as a grounds keeper and the vines.  My example being students indirectly interacting and connecting with the vine when they simply observe the plant when passing by.

Jason Gerbsch                                                             Approximately 230 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105-19: Scientific Writing

To be modern, according to Latour, is to be simultaneous in our ideas.  Because of this, humans are not modern.  Latour states that, “as soon as one outlines the symmetrical space and thereby reestablishes the common understanding that organizes the separation of natural and political powers, one ceases to be modern” (Latour 1991, 13).

As a society, we don’t like to mix networks together, it becomes too confusing.  An event must belong to one network or the other.  Latour brings up the example of the hole in the ozone.  He states that the ozone hole is too social and too narrated to be truly natural, meaning that the media has so much coverage on the issue, that it can’t be scientific.  However, this is entirely false as many events in our society have multiple networks intertwining.  Using the example of the ozone hole, networks such as science, politics, industry, and more are involved in a matter such as this.  No event or issue can be labeled as belonging to one singular network, because beneath the surface, everything is connected.  Because of this, we are not modern.

I can see the connection between my object and the idea of intertwining networks created by Latour.  Like many events and issues in real life, there are many connections between the ivy and Sturges Hall, as well as humans.