CE 355: Gasland Information Literacy Assignment A Critical Skill Revisited Objectives: 1.1c.

. Students will be able to synthesize interdisciplinary knowledge (to envision a sustainable future). 1.2a. Students will illustrate their ideas in a concise, organized and responsive manner. 1.2b. Students will integrate diverse credible sources of information (to create strategies to sustainably manage resources). 2.1a. Students will be able to identify the interconnectivity between environmental, social, political, and economic issues surrounding technical solutions. 2.1d. Students will be able to discuss how different perspectives, their own included, are applied to sustainability dilemmas. 2.2a. Students will be able to evaluate conflicting information in the context of sustainability. 2.2b. Students will produce scholarly products that demonstrate proficient information literacy skills. Part II (15pts): 1. In a one-minute response, paraphrase your reaction to Gasland writing down your thoughts. How did you feel? What were you thinking? This documentary played on the emotional aspect of hydraulic fracturing, and it worked. The documentary made me feel terrible toward the people who were affected by the fracturing in their homelands. It made me want to do something about the problem. 2. Fact: Substituting natural gas for coal fuel in electricity generation reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 44% with no loss of generating capacity. Write a short paragraph (3-4 thoughtful, complete sentences) that displays your knowledge of the contemporary issues surrounding natural gas consumption. Consider issues like price, availability, carbon dioxide emissions, etc. and water quantity and quality with respect to sustainability. Even though substituting natural gas for coal fuel in electricity generation reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 44% with no loss of generating capacity, this does not mean that other issues fall in the same realm. You have to consider methane emissions which is a much worse greenhouse gas then carbon dioxide, how much more methane are we letting in our atmosphere. Although natural gas does produce less mercury and nitrous oxide emissions. Hydraulic fracturing uses and loses more water than coal mining, which then can contaminate the local water supply, and also lowering the water supply that the world very much needs. If you consider price natural gas has become more expensive, but people are still buying it due to it being more environmentally friendly then coal. 3. Gasland and fracking are both incredibly polarizing. Write a short paragraph (3-4 thoughtful, complete sentences) explaining what specific metrics you used to justify why your final conclusion is an accurate evaluation and assessment of your assigned issue. In other words, when faced with conflicting information in regards to your assigned issue, how did you specifically resolve discrepancies?

CE 355: Gasland Information Literacy Assignment A Critical Skill Revisited In order to resolve discrepancies you have to look at the source of information and the sample size given. You can see data that will go either way in favor of fracturing or not, but if those sources only looked where they want to look, then the source is not reliable. You have to turn the source who evaluates all sides of the issues, from the companies and the people being affected aspect on the process. Also if the source is not credible you have to disregard any information they might have to say on the matter. 4. As future engineers, professionals, and members of society, do you have an ethical responsibility to move the evaluation arrow of fracking to the left? In other words, do you have a responsibility to make it better for the environment, the economy, and society? Write a short paragraph (3-4 thoughtful, complete sentences) justifying your answer. Any member of society should have an ethical responsibility to make fracturing a safer, sound, feasible venture. These companies should focus less on the amount of money they are making and focus more on the impact they are creating. Everyone who is involved in the hydraulic fracturing process needs to better the environment, economy, and society while they are making money. If fracturing is harming the environment we should make the companies responsible for their actions. If everyone only focuses on their needs this world will collapse. Submission Guidelines: Type up your responses to questions and upload to Blackboard by 11:59 PM, T, Jul-16.