Presents a case in which a congressional staffer must weigh a number of competing needs, including the popular reaction to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the need to eliminate vitamin A deficiency, in deciding how to present information to her boss, an influential congressman drafting legislation to support agricultural research.…

Uses the story of Dawn Langley Simmons, who may have been misidentified as male at birth, to illustrate the developmental basis of human sexual dimorphism and how gender misidentification may occur. Considers the emotional, legal, and societal implications of gender misassignment and reassignment. (Author/ASK)

Tackles a tricky problem of probability based on the well-known carnival game Chuck-a-Luck which, at first glance, appears to favor the bettor. Presents an activity in which students correct a common fallacy in probabilistic reasoning and extend play to a gambler's ruin analysis. (Author/ASK)

Presents an activity in which students grapple with the complex issues surrounding the use of DDT to control malaria which affects millions of people in developing nations. Considers risk/benefit analysis and the pre-cautionary principle, two techniques used when making policy decisions involving the impact of science and technology on society.…

Presents an activity for students to determine the sex and age of an individual from a collection of bones. Simulates some of the actual procedures conducted in a forensic anthropologist's lab, examining and identifying bones through a series of lab activities. (Author/ASK)

Discusses nuclear power and the consequences of a nuclear accident. Covers issues ranging from chemical process safety to risk management of chemical industries to the ethical responsibilities of the chemical engineer. (Author/ASK)

Introduces students to the topics of electricity and circuits within the context of house wiring. Explores the properties of series and parallel circuits, researches local wiring codes, calculates the current used by appliances based on their power ratings, and designs circuits in a typical kitchen. (Author/ASK)

Explores various theories for the extinction of the great Ice Age mammals and Homo neanderthalensis. Presents an activity in which students research evidence for and against the various hypotheses, then meet in class to discuss the merits of each. (Author/ASK)

After reading a newspaper article on Alzheimer disease, an incurable medical problem involving gradual and debilitating loss of memory, students examine the key elements of the scientific method as conveyed in the story. During their analysis students explore the workings of the nervous system and consider the role of animal model systems in…

Provides information on the experiences of 50 children displaced during Argentina's "dirty war" of the 1970s who underwent DNA and protein analysis and subsequently were reunited with their biological families. Considers not only genetic evidence but the moral, political, and emotional dimensions of these children's stories as well. (Contains 19…

Explores the fundamental principles of memory, eyewitness accuracy, and police questioning techniques in witness identification in a criminal case. Studies the details of an actual series of attacks and the subsequent police investigation to illustrate that memory is a reconstructive process rather than an accurate recording of events. (Author/ASK)

Makes the case that undergraduate science education is debilitating and crippling because of its focus on memorization and rote learning. (MM)

Identifies specific difficulties students had with ionizing radiation and radioactivity using interviews. Explores students' pre-instruction thoughts on these topics. (Author/MM)

Describes methods for teaching wetland ecology classes based mainly on direct, hands-on field experiences for students. Makes the case that classroom lectures are necessary but there is no substitute for field and laboratory experiences. (Author/MM)

Reports on Westfield State College's Animal Behavior course which requires students to design their own research projects, write a scientific research proposal, conduct experiments, and present results in the form of a scientific paper. (Author/MM)