Problem 1:
- Has the air quality improved over the last few years? Has it gotten worse? What about decades?
- How does the air quality index of your city compare to other cities in the country?
- What might be the main causes of this change and what is your local government doing to try and improve air quality
- What kinds of pollution are produced around a smokestack factory?
Problem 2: In 2015 Volkswagen was the number one auto manufacturer in the world, but that was short-lived as the company was involved in a huge corporate scandal. The company had installed a cheat device in the computer engine that could sense when it was being tested for smog. The computer would then switch over to a more environmentally friendly mode. However, when it was out on the road, the engine became much dirtier than the average car.
- What motivated Volkswagen to cheat the emissions tests?
- What were a couple of the major mistakes that Volkswagen's management made that led them to act unethically and break the law?
- Can you think of another company that has acted unethically in respect to the environment and sustainability? What happened?
- Finally, tell the class about your Module 8 science in practice experiment. What did you learn about the air quality in your area? Be sure to share a couple of photos if you chose the second experiment.