Infusion Tips

The late Dick Brinckerhoff suggested the following criteria for ways to infuse societal topics into our science courses: items should be a) challenging, b) relevant, c) brief, and d) require a value judgment. Consider the following:

1. In this issue Irma Jarcho reviews an article about fetal surgery (Dario O. Fauza, "The Littlest Patient"). In his article, "Making Babies With New Technologies," in the 30 July 1999 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, Peter Monaghan cites the viewpoint that obstetrics degrade women by viewing them as life support systems for fetuses. Monica Casper, author of The Making of the Unborn Patient: A Social Anatomy of Fetal Surgery (Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ, 1998) is quoted as wondering whether courts will be able to order fetal surgery as they order Caesarean sections. Do you feel that courts should have the right to do this?

2. According to the 9 July 1999 issue of Science, Oak Ridge National Laboratory chemist Reed Durham has been excluded from continuing his life's work on beryllium chemistry because a blood test showed him testing positive for beryllium sensitivity. Those testing positive for beryllium sensitivity are more likely to develop chronic beryllium disease (berylliosis). Chemist Durham now regrets having his blood tested. Do you feel that he should be allowed to continue working with beryllium if he chooses to, in spite of the test?

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The TEACHERS CLEARINGHOUSE FOR SCIENCE AND SOCIETY EDUCATION