INQ-177 | Not in My Backyard

Topic Description:

Not in my backyard! It's tempting to offer this response when confronted with tough choices such as where to put a new highway, landfill, or factory. We all want to reap the benefits of such projects, but at the same time hope to avoid the less pleasant costs. In this course, we will conduct an in-depth study of one technology-related public policy issue (for May 2000, whether American Electric Power should be allowed to build a new 765kV power line in southwestern Virginia). Basic science, technology, economics, public policy, environmental and health issues will all be considered. As we become experts on this one issue, we'll face the challenges associated with any similar project: to gather and understand the facts, evaluate sources, and eventually come to a conclusion. In this course, students will bring every part of a liberal arts education to bear on a real-world issue

Course Types Offered: On-Campus

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