Science Debates Sci 421 Technology Should we advance

Science Debates Sci 421

Technology Should we advance the development of Artificial Intelligence? - Should we make things like Siri smarter? Are cell phones safe? - Is the amount of radiation emitted a concern? Should we end Daylight Savings Time? - Should we abolish the “fall back, spring ahead”?

Environment Is climate change real? - Or is a made up term to trick millennials? Alternative Energy vs. Fossil Fuels - Can we sustain off fossil fuels or should we explore other types of energy like solar, wind, or hydro? Is the plastic ban good or bad? - Should we get rid of plastic bags and straws? Is the Earth flat? - Is it flat like a map? Or round like a globe?

Heavy Hitters Should Governments be allowed to clone people? - Should we be allowed to photocopy a human? Should vaccinations be mandatory? - Should we vaccinate all children? Should animals be used in scientific testing? - Should we use monkeys to test for diseases? Or rats for cosmetics? Should organ donation be mandatory? - Should everybody be an organ donor? Should Euthanasia be legal? - Should we have the option of doctor-suicide?

Light Hearted Are aliens real? - Does life exist in space somewhere? GMO’s: Good or Bad? - Are GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) a good thing or a bad thing when it comes to food? Should we explore deep space? - Do we explore the galaxy? Should we explore the ocean? - Do we venture down into the deep? Zoo’s: Good or Bad? - Are places like Seaworld harmful?

Sides of a Debate Affirmative - Be “for” the point - Prove the positives outweigh the negatives - Not attack the other POV, but defend your side Negative - Be against the point - Convince the audience the cons outweigh the pros - Attack the other side, while sticking only to the facts All arguments should be based on facts and not opinions. You should only “attack” the oppositions facts, no personal attacks.

Debate Process Opening Statement (30 sec - 1 min) - Affirmative side goes first - Time to introduce the topic and your standpoint Main Points (1 min - 2 min) - Affirmative side goes first - Use your best arguments, but don’t say anything about the other side Rebuttals (30 sec - 1 min 30 sec) - Negative goes first - Use this time to try and discredit your opponents points Closing Statement (15 sec - 45 sec) - Affirmative goes first - Say anything you have left to say, and finish strong

Desert area residents should be required to use desert landscaping. Stem cell research should be expanded. Factory farming does more harm than good. The Endangered Species Act should no longer include exemptions for subsistence or traditional use. Human genome sequencing does more harm than good. The FDA should increase the frequency with which they inspect meat. Hydrofracking does more harm than good. The international community should ban nuclearpowered spacecraft. Media Coverage of Ebola does more harm than good. The U. S. Space Program should be privatized Canada should establish a national DNA database of all residents.