CHEM-465 CHEMISTRY SENIOR SEMINAR Project Topics and Groups for Fall 2011

Propositions are listed by number from the Initial Questionnaire. Groups may defend or refute the propositions in their presentations. Several groups have members from both class sections; you may want to consider consolidating into one or the other.

1.    The import of drugs or pharmaceutical ingredients from China and India should be banned for safety reasons.

        Kana Panchmatia, Michele Buoncore, Stephanie Meissgeier, and Ian Tedeschi.

2.    The environmental impacts of ´hydrofracking´ outweigh the benefits of ´clean´ natural gas from the Marcellus Shale.

        Veronica Fones, Stephen Dotts, and Christopher Wright.

8.    "Natural" and "Organic" foods are chemically indistinguishable from their counterparts that are not-so-labeled.

        Michael Brister, Lara Dubuc, Steven Lotter, and Dorottya Miketa.

13.    Media representation of scientists discourages young people from choosing science as a career.

        Stephen Gonski, Alexa Hunter, Michael Shoiock, and Richard Surmaitis.

17.    Mercury emitted by coal-burning power plants represents a significant health concern.

        Derek Ahneman, William Barden, and Matthew Thum.

20.   Raising gasoline prices in the U.S. would provide the incentive for engineering automobiles with improved fuel-efficiency.

        Cory Anson, Nicholas Audette, Ashrafu Hoq, and Soma Jobbagy.

21.   The potential medical benefits described by stem cell researchers are overblown.

        Ayomide Osunkoya, Anna Bruno, Justin McDonald, and Jonathan Saddler.

23.   Solar power generation is the only viable long-term solution to the energy problem.

        Timothy Gilpatrick, David Raciti, Lisa Thomanek, and Corey Heffner.

24.   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.

        Stephen Lynn, Neil Patel, Wrenn Sherwood, and Jonathan Tomczak.

31.   Patenting of genes should be legal, because the biotechnology industry depends on them.

        Christopher Black, William Cressman, Elizabeth Glinka, and Matthew Ralston.

37.   Ethanol is a cost-effective substitute for gasoline as a transportation fuel.

        Kevin Anton, Michael Ghidiu, Matthew Lawless, and Mark, Weiss.

40.   The negative effects of caffeine are sufficient enough that individuals should limit their consumption of it.

        Alexander Chau, Jeffrey Lopez, Danielle Kollmorgen, and Lauren McFadden.