The Mystique, Mystery, Magic, or Marvel of Models
Case In Point - Predicting Ground Water Contamination Nitrate-Nitrogen and Our Health
Room for Discussion
In summary, the directions this "Access Excellence Science Seminar" discussion
can go are many, especially for the science teacher interested
in environmental issues, public health, student awareness of societal
issues, sustainability of land use practices, biology, chemistry, ecology.
From my own perspective, I might ask several questions, which you could
enlighten me with by your responses:
- What are the physical and biological reasons or causes by which we would
find nitrate-nitrogen occurring in ground water but seldom in surface water
systems? Click here to answer.
- What degree of credibility and utility can we apply to a
correlation-based, statistical model that relies on only two physical
variables and what might be the significance of these variables with respect
to nitrate-nitrogen in ground water? Click here to answer.
- Is there really a significant correlation between nitrate-nitrogen and
some illnesses besides methoglobinemia; if so, where are the documented
references and cases? Click here to answer.
- What is the value of a model - how do we teach the modeling concept in
the classroom and what are the many applications, appreciations, and
implications that can be derived from the modeling effort? Click here to answer.
- Why model? Why construct models? What are the unseen or non-obvious
benefits and outcomes of constructing and using models? Click here to answer.
- How can we teach the nitrogen-nitrate cycling process in the classroom?
What is the significance of such now and in the future? Click here to answer.
- How much reliance can we put on recommendations for alterations in
changes in our behavior in the environment based on predicted outcomes from
statistically based models? Click here to answer.
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