Focus Questions
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What types of factors should we consider when analyzing a potential solution to a problem?
- Is nuclear power a ‘good’ or better alternative to burning fossil fuels?
Everything we do in life, each decision we make carries a certain amount of risk with it. However, if we decide on a course of action, then we have decided, either consciously or unconsciously, that the benefits of the action outweigh the risks. Different individuals often perceive risks of varying types differently. In this activity, students have the opportunity to identify their perception of the risk associated with an activity, the opportunity to compare their ideas with their classmates, and then with actual accident data on these activities. This activity helps the students understand some of the factors (e.g., emotion, knowledge) that go into their perception of risk.
(1) | What images spring to mind when you hear the term ‘nuclear energy’? |
(2) | What are the good things and bad things about nuclear energy? |
(3) | Would you live near a nuclear power plant if it meant your power bills were halved? |
(4) | What you encourage your government to adopt a nuclear energy programme if it reduced carbon emissions? |
(5) | Do you think people will ever see nuclear energy as safe? |
(6) | If there is another disaster on the scale of Chernobyl, do you think governments should stop their nuclear energy programmes? |
(7) | Should only democratic countries be “allowed” to have nuclear energy programmes? |
(8) | What are the best alternatives to nuclear energy? |
(9) | If the money was good, would you work at a nuclear power plant? |
(10) | What happens to nuclear energy when all the plutonium runs out? |
HOMEWORK: