Chemistry in Everyday Life

William P. Green

Brief Description of Papers

Papers are one-page in length, just enough to get your feet wet.  Late papers are accepted, but must be four pages in length and demonstrate a greater research effort.  Papers are list on this page in alphabetical order.

Beautiful:  Describe the most beautiful scene you have witnessed.

Discovery:  If you had your choice of any discovery you would like to see, what would if be.  Be specific, if you want disease cured, which disease would be first. 

Energy sources:  Research an energy source that is either currently available or the subject of current research.  Example sources are:  electric, gas, solar, wind, tidal, nuclear, fusion, coal, and synthesis gas.  Possible topics could include:  how the energy is produced, how much of this source is in, advantages and disadvantages of the source, and barriers to increased usage.

Impacts of pollution:  Choose a pollution source and discuss its impacts on human health and the environment.  Sources may include:  a particular industry, livestock, agriculture, automobiles, urbanization, sediment and silt deposition, soil erosion, wetland destruction, river channelization and dredging, boating, etc.

Life is Beautiful:   A common trend in all the beautiful papers I have seen over the past decade is that an experience related to life (birth, experience in nature, etc) is the most beautiful aspect in people's life.  Demonstrate this concept through a creative work.  (Examples:  poetry, art, film.  One student showed a video on Natural Childbirth another filmed a salmon run near his home.)

The Niche of Homo Sapiens:  A foundation of the study of ecosystems is the niche.  All elements of an ecosystem have a role or place necessary to the proper functioning of the ecosystem, called a niche.  What is the niche that man has or should have in the global environment?  How well is current society fulfilling that niche?

Sustainability:  Define "sustainable", cite one behavior that you consider sustainable.  Focus on something that can be done, rather than something that should be avoided.

Your Cause:  Select one of the areas for government funding of research.  Draft a letter to your congressperson and advocate for that particular line of research, either to maintain or increase funding.  Use statistical information on the impacts of the problem to justify your advocacy.