Case Study: Brainstorm Posters

Instructions: In your assigned groups, you will brainstorm the potential impacts of the scientific breakthrough scenario provided by your teacher (from Scientific Breakthrough Scenarios). Use the large paper or poster board provided by your teacher to add your ideas to the following sections:

Positive Social Impacts

• What are the potential benefits this scientific breakthrough could bring to society?
• Who would benefit? How?
• Think broadly about health, environment, economy, daily life, etc.

Negative Social Impacts

• What are the potential harms or risks this scientific breakthrough could introduce to society?
• Who might be negatively affected? How?
• Consider ethical dilemmas, unintended consequences, social inequalities, etc.

Group Discussion Prompts:

• Are there any impacts that could be both positive and negative depending on the context?
• Which impacts seem most likely? Which seem less likely but still possible?
• How might different stakeholders (individuals, communities, governments, industries) view these impacts differently?

Scientific Breakthrough Scenarios

Instructions: Your group will be assigned one of the following scientific breakthroughs. Read the scenario carefully and consider its potential impacts before starting your brainstorm on the poster.

Scenario 1: Genetically Engineered Crops for Drought Resistance

A new genetic engineering technique allows scientists to modify crop DNA to withstand severe drought conditions, significantly increasing yields in arid regions and potentially ending food shortages in many parts of the world. However, concerns are raised about the long-term ecological impact of these modified crops on biodiversity, potential cross-contamination with wild plants, and the economic control of seed technology by a few large corporations.

Scenario 2: Advanced AI for Personalized Healthcare

Developers have created an advanced AI system that can analyze a person's complete genetic code, medical history, and lifestyle data to predict future health risks with near-perfect accuracy and recommend highly personalized preventative treatments and lifestyle adjustments. While this could revolutionize healthcare and extend lifespans, there are significant debates about data privacy, equitable access to such personalized care, the potential for discrimination based on predicted health risks, and the role of human doctors in diagnosis.

Scenario 3: Brain-Computer Interfaces for Enhanced Cognition

Scientists have developed a non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) that can significantly enhance human cognitive abilities, such as memory recall, processing speed, and learning capacity. This technology offers incredible potential for education, problem-solving, and overcoming neurological disorders. However, ethical questions arise concerning who has access to such enhancements, the potential for a societal divide between enhanced and unenhanced individuals, and the long-term effects on natural cognitive development.

Scenario 4: Fully Autonomous Driving Systems

Engineers have perfected fully autonomous driving systems for vehicles, promising a drastic reduction in accidents, improved traffic flow, and increased accessibility for individuals unable to drive. This technology could transform transportation and urban planning. Yet, concerns linger about job displacement for professional drivers, the ethical programming of vehicles in unavoidable accident scenarios, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the legal liability in the event of system failures.

Class Debate: Weighing the Future of Scientific Breakthroughs

Debate Question: Is the scientific breakthrough we discussed ultimately beneficial for humanity, or do its potential risks and ethical challenges outweigh its advantages?

Instructions for Students:

• Listen respectfully to all viewpoints.
• Support your arguments with reasoning and examples from the case study or your brainstormed ideas.
• You may agree or disagree, but always do so constructively.

Debate Flow (10 minutes)

Opening Statements (2 minutes - Teacher Facilitated)

• Teacher: "Based on our case study and brainstormed posters, let's hear some initial thoughts. Who believes this breakthrough is overwhelmingly beneficial? Why? Who sees significant risks? Why?"
  

Open Discussion and Rebuttals (6 minutes - Teacher Moderated)

• Teacher: "Now, let's open it up for discussion. If you agree with a point, you can elaborate. If you disagree, explain your reasoning. Remember to refer to the positive and negative impacts we identified on our posters. Consider:
  • Are the risks manageable through regulation?
  • Are the benefits truly transformative enough to justify the risks?
  • What responsibility do scientists and society have when pursuing such innovations?"

Concluding Thoughts (2 minutes - Teacher Facilitated)

• Teacher: "To wrap up, what is one final thought or key takeaway you have regarding the ethical decision-making process for scientific advancements like the one we discussed?"
  

Teacher Script: Lesson Conclusion

Wrap-up: Class Debate (10 minutes)

Teacher: