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Chapter Four

Hard Stuff is Hard

Part One

Decision-making isn't easy
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Video Questions

Featured Hot Take

How do you solve complex problems and make better decisions? Well, Dr. Kerry Bowman might be able to help. He’s a world-renowned ethicist and quite possibly the most interesting man in the world. Kerry took the time to join us in conversation to discuss the art of decision-making.

We’re featuring this podcast across all five Nature Labs subjects. You might not like every course you take in school, but they are all related. By listening to this podcast, hopefully you’ll better understand why.

More on Kerry Bowman
  • What do you think defines good ethics?
  • Do you agree with Kerry that good ethics is based on good science?
  • Do we do a good enough job of considering ethics in our scientific inquiries and decision-making processes?
  • When we talk about ethics, do we realize different regions and different people hold different ethical values? How should we weigh different ethical standards when making decisions?
  • What are the social, cultural, economic and biological ramifications of including ethics in our decision-making processes? What are the ramifications if we don't?
  • What role should ethics play in scientific research going forward?
  • How will you apply lessons learned in this story to this class and your life?

Part Two

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS YOU NEED TO LEARN IN THIS CLASS. YOUR TEACHER WILL SELECT WHICH ACTIVITIES YOU NEED TO COMPLETE BELOW.

The Art of Decision-Making

Think decisions aren't hard? Try your hand at reaching a consensus agreement between divergent stakeholders.

Hmmm

Core Concepts

Learn more about natural selection and extinction, and understand why this knowledge matters when making decisions.

Learn more

Problem Solving

Good scientific studies don't start with an idea, but rather with a focused question that requires solving. * Recommended

Go!

Genetic Evolution Lab

Explore the concept of evolution and how species genetics change over time. Learn from the teachings of biologist Verne Lehmberg.

Start

Species Adaptation Lab

How do species adapt to a changing environment? Find out by learning from the teachings of biologist Verne Lehmberg.

Begin

Endangered Species Lab

What makes a species endangered and why might it go extinct? Learn from the teachings of biologist Verne Lehmberg.

Find out

Part Three

HOW DOES THIS CLASS RELATE TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES?

Inquiry Media

Does one individual matter?

Go!

Further Exploration

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Canada at a Crossroads: Asking Better Questions for the Canada We Want

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It was a pleasure to bring a taste of Nature Labs to the Victoria Forum, moderating a fascinating cross-partisan discussion with four Canadian MPs...
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Resources From the Curated Library

Protecting just 1.2% of Earth’s land could save most-threatened species, says study

Bias: none Source: The Guardian File Type: Study/Article Overview: Protecting just 1.2% of Earth’s land could...

Despite Biotech Efforts to Revive Species, Extinction Is Still Forever

Bias: Centre Source: Yale File Type: Essay Overview: Despite Biotech Efforts to Revive Species, Extinction Is...

In Defense of Biodiversity: Why Protecting Species from Extinction Matters

Bias: None Sub-Category: Natural Selection Source: Yale File Type: Essay Overview: Why preventing extinction matters Web Link: https://e360.yale.edu/features/in-defense-of-biodiversity-why-protecting-species-from-extinction-matters

Natural Selection & Extinction

Science Resources
Want to know more about natural selection? Evolution? Extinction? The threat posed by invasive species? How about umbrella and keystone species? We've got you...
Read more
More From the Curated Library

Additional Resources

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Chapters

Chapter One

The System of Things

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Chapter Two

The Context of It All

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Chapter Three

We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

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Chapter Four

Hard Stuff is Hard

You are here!

Chapter Five

Here’s How

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Chapter Six

Your Turn

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Chapter Seven

Dig Deeper

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Chapter Eight

Be Better

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Chapter Nine

Own Your Hypocrisy

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Chapter Ten

Keep Going

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Chapter Eleven

One Last Thing

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Chapter Twelve

The End (of the Beginning)

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