Finding Balance in Contentious Issues

It is Scientists' jobs to manage populations of threatened species, or pest species, and prevent certain species becoming pests or becoming threatened.  Yet often their suggestions can become highly debated in the public and political sphere.

Your assignment will be to write a letter to the relevant policy maker on one of the following questions.  

Click on the link to view the assignment and the required readings.  A sample letter is also available, or you can use your own.

Brumbies: Should they be culled out of the NSW Snowy Mountains?

Deer: Should they continue to be protected in Tasmania?

Foxes: Should we continue to pour millions of dollars into keeping Tasmania fox free?

Cats: Should they be confined 24/7?


How on Earth do I get started?
1. Start by reading (or listening) thoroughly to one of the resources.
2. Take notes from this resource.  It might help to draw up sections in your book about each topic required (ie scientific facts, experts, other views etc). so you can keep track of the ideas better
3. Read (or listen) to one more resource.  Take notes.
4. Do you have enough information now to fill in some of the sections of your letter?  Focus just on completing the sections you know you can do.
5. Keep going until you have enough info for all the sections.


How Am I Getting Assessed?
You are primarily getting assessed on your capacity to understand the issues at hand through researching, and effectively communicate these in a real world context.
The rubric can be found here


Short Option
Choose one issue.  Look at one resource (or two).
1. Summarise the issue > what is being argued here? Three or four sentences
2. What are the scientific facts? Dot point with references
3. What are the conflicting community views? Dot point with references 
4. What would you do, if you got to make this decision?  Make sure you back up your view with reason.