1. Intended Benefits vs. Unintended Consequences
Objective: I will be able to briefly describe some of the benefits and consequences of new technologies.

2. Intended Benefits
An intended benefit is a positive purpose for which a technology is designed to be used.

3. Unintended Consequences
An unintended consequence is a problem that comes along with a new technology.

4. Cars What are some of the benefits to cars? (intended benefits)
What are some of the drawbacks? (Unintended consequences)

5. Plastic Plastic is Plastic is also Produces toxic fumes when made
Cheap and easy to make
Light
Durable
Long lasting
Recyclable
Plastic is also
Produces toxic fumes when made
Expensive to recycle
LONG LASTING (aka it does not decompose.. Our oceans are beginning to be filled with plastic bits which break down into plastic sand but never go away
Lots of waste in landfills

6. Nuclear Fuel Less greenhouse gases Low operating costs
Unknown risks in an accident (melt down)
Expensive to construct
Uranium is rare
Waste takes thousand years to decompose
Less greenhouse gases
Low operating costs
Waste can be reused to make more power

7. Ethanol (Fuel made from corn)
A renewable and sustainable energy source
Can be produced in the US (Jobs!)
Better for the environment
Cleaner for engines
It would be an expensive switch (think of the millions of cars that would have to be replaced)
Higher demand for corn may raise food prices
Jobs lost in gasoline industry

8. Genetically Modified Organisms
Less pesticides required
Higher yield
crops (more
fruit per
plant)
Super foods may be possible (cheap to produce, don’t require much space to grow, very nutritious)
Super weeds/pests may evolve
Cross pollination with natural plants may create a problems (think kudzu)
Unforeseen health/environmental problems predicted

9. ASSESSMENT
Think of a technology that may be hotly debated (like nuclear fuel), or may just be accepted (like cars). Name
One intended benefit of that technology
One unintended consequence
For your technology, do you think the benefits are worth the negative consequences?

10. Human use of chemicals containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) has contributed to a thinning of the ozone layer in the atmosphere. The ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Which best describes a negative consequence of the thinning of the ozone layer?
too many nutrients are available in oceans
animal cells have become damaged
less light is available for plant growth
less precipitation happens in rain forests

11. Most plastics are made using products manufactured at oil refineries
Most plastics are made using products manufactured at oil refineries. The recycling of plastics most impacts Earth by causing
an increase in the amount of fuel used in cars.
an increase in the amount of pollution in the oceans.
a reduction in the amount of waste in landfills.
a reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

12. Ethanol is an automobile fuel made from corn
Ethanol is an automobile fuel made from corn. Which of these is an unintended negative consequence of using ethanol instead of gasoline?
reducing consumers’ need for fossil fuels
increasing the number of jobs available in agriculture
increasing the demand for corn that leads to a rise in food prices
reducing the amount of gases that could harm the environment