Instructions for completing the questionnaire: You have grown up in a world where advances in science and technology have raised the standard of living and increased life expectancy to the highest level ever.  Despite enjoying these unprecedented benefits, a sizable proportion of the U. S. population has a meager understanding of science and sometimes harbors a deeply-felt distrust of science and scientists.  They see the problems that science and technology have generated and question whether these problems can have technological solutions.
     Whether or not you have considered these issues or share these misgivings, as a person educated in the sciences, you will undoubtedly have to deal with them in your work or as a responsible citizen.  In one way or another chemistry and biochemistry have created the benefits, generated the problems, and promised the solutions.  The following propositions reflect some of the controversies and challenges in our society.   Please indicate in the appropriate boxes whether you agree (A), disagree (D), are undecided (U), or couldn't care less (C) about each of the following propositions relating to science and society.  The positive or negative wording of each proposition does not necessarily reflect the views of the instructors.

[The following table summarizes the responses of senior chemistry and biochemistry majors, class of 2001, to the 40 propositions listed below. The numbers are expressed as initial/final numbers in each category. Responses to propositions 26, 35, 4, & 30 in that order showed the most significant changes in class attitude during the semester. These were among the 13 propositions presented in class.] Link to web-sites
 
 

A	D	U	C	PROPOSITION
13/19	23/21	14/8	1/1	1. Secrecy has no place in academic research done in collaboration with the chemical industry.
10/13	29/30	10/4	2/2	2. Opportunities for women in the chemical sciences are limited relative to those for men.
4/9	40/37	5/2	2/1	3. Taking anabolic steroids for body building is in principle no different from administering growth hormone to persons with inherited dwarfism.
6/19	34/28	11/2	0/0	4. The nature of drug addiction is such that it is irreversible. (web-site)
1/6	40/39	9/3	1/1	5. The principles of biological evolution have little relevance for the theory and practice of medicine.
9/13	31/28	10/5	1/3	6. There is an objectively correct answer to any question relating to chemistry.
21/20	17/20	12/7	1/1	7. A scientist's religious beliefs influence his or her scientific career.
12/17	24/25	11/6	4/1	8. In most cases, there are alternatives to using animals in research.
29/21	2/15	17/9	3/3	9. Because many major breakthroughs in chemistry are the result of serendipity rather than rational planning, applied research cannot over-shadow the value of basic research.
24/27	9/5	17/14	1/2	10. Due to the production of dioxins and the emission of other toxic compounds, Delaware should not consider incinerating its garbage, trash, and chicken waste.
1/6	34/31	15/11	1/2	11. Global warming concerns us less now because we know that particulate matter also produced by combustion negates the effect of green house gases.
20/16	9/19	19/14	3/0	12. The chemical industry took responsible action when confronted with evidence that the ozone layer was being depleted by fluorocarbons.
8/13	8/11	32/22	3/3	13. Without the industrial chemical reduction of atmospheric nitrogen, starvation would be rampant in third world countries.
7/8	19/32	22/13	3/1	14. Vehicles powered by a combination of batteries and gasoline actually cause more environmental damage than those powered by gasoline alone. (web-site)
28/28	5/7	17/13	1/1	15. The environmental impact of chlorinated solvents is sufficient to consider sharply reducing their industrial use.
22/35	21/12	3/1	5/1	16. The negative effects of caffeine are sufficient enough that individuals should limit their consumption of it. (web-site)
3/8	39/34	8/6	1/1	17. Nuclear power generation is the only viable long-term solution to the energy problem.
10/16	16/16	23/16	2/1	18. Fossil hydrocarbons are too valuable as a source of recyclable plastic to be burned for fuel.
6/1	39/46	4/2	2/0	19. Modern combinatorial approaches to drug discovery are so effective that there is virtually no need to seek new drug leads from plants in disappearing tropical forests.  (web-site)
22/32	14/14	10/3	5/0	20. Until the efficacy of herbal supplements is demonstrated, the Federal Food and Drug Administration should ban advertizing claims about them. (web-site)
25/32	20/12	4/3	2/2	21. Low salary is the major deterrent to chemistry and biochemistry majors who might otherwise consider careers as high school science teachers.
34/34	4/3	12/10	1/2	22. To protect human health, the Environmental Protection Agency should reduce current maximum limits allowable for airborne particulate matter.
3/8	38/35	9/4	1/2	23. Knowledge of the genetic determinants of human behavior and the sequenced human genome should be used to screen infants to identify and monitor people who may become criminals as adults. Web-site)
6/7	36/29	7/10	2/3	24. Besides being a whole lot cheaper, Newark tap water is safer than bottled drinking water.  (web-site)
13/14	3/4	31/29	4/2	25. The use of MTBE as an antiknock compound in gasoline should be prohibited throughout the United States.
19/40	9/7	23/2	0/0	26. Antibiotics used in animal food creates long-term health hazards for humans.  (web-site)
24/24	11/18	10/7	6/0	27. It is appropriate to exclude athletes from sanctioned competition if they have consumed performance-enhancing natural products such as creatine, androstenedione, or epinephrine. (web-site 1)  (web-site 2)
6/12	20/18	21/18	4/1	28. The risks associated with Superfund hazardous waste sites in Delaware is insufficient to justify the additional risk and high cost of their cleanup.
16/17	22/27	8/5	5/0	29. For many reasons, Americans should eat less meat. (web-site)
25/39	2/4	23/6	1/0	30. Mercury emitted by coal-burning power plants represents a significant health concern. (web-site)
17/17	19/16	14/15	1/1	31. Irradiation to preserve food, as done by the military, should be used to increase the shelf life and reduce waste of supermarket foods as well.
10/14	21/26	14/5	6/4	32. "Natural" and "Organic" foods are chemically indistinguishable from their counterparts that are not-so-labeled. (web-site)
8/18	35/26	7/3	1/2	33. The dangers of asbestos used for tiles and insulation in buildings are insufficient to warrant the high cost of its removal.
8/7	12/8	26/31	5/3	34. Drinking water should be treated with hydrogen peroxide rather than chlorine.
17/8	18/37	14/4	2/0	35. The experience with "Mad Cow Disease" in Great Britain suggests that there is risk of MCD associated with eating beef in the United States. (web-site)
23/22	2/6	23/17	3/4	36. Man-made chemicals that are widely distributed in nature ("hormone disrupters") are profoundly disturbing the reproduction of certain susceptible organisms.
19/21	24/22	6/5	2/1	37. The fact that college students who smoke cigarettes are aware of the very high health risks associated with smoking, suggests that humans are fundamentally irrational.
5/8	23/20	21/18	2/3	38. Genetically modified (GM) foods pose serious health concerns.
8/11	35/33	8/4	0/1	39 The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should not approve the sale of RU 486, "the morning after pill."
40/37	1/2	9/9	1/1	40. Pollution caused by the run off of lawn care chemicals (fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides) indicates their use should be severely reduced.