Introduction

You are a test pilot for the U.S. Air Force with 14 years experience flying all types of airplanes. You also have a degree in physics. Because of your vast knowledge, experience and unique combination of skills, you have been hired by congress to head a special committee on the problem of lasers and air traffic safety. In recent years, many airline pilots have complained about being blinded by lasers as they try to take off and land. Although this is not a new problem, the number of such attacks has increased. Added to this fact is the knowledge that terrorists may be thinking about using lasers in this way as a weapon. In modern times, lasers are relatively cheap, and even a common laser pointer is powerful enough to temporarily blind, and even permanently damage a person’s eyes. Worse, they can hinder a pilot during the most critical aspects of flying, that is taking off and landing.

Task

Your task is to produce a PowerPoint presentation that will inform congress on the science behind how lasers work, as well as the science behind how they can damage vision. Congress will use the information you give them to set public policy on the use of lasers, therefore you must also include information on what the current policy is, if there is any policy, and what evidence there is that there really is a problem. Since the members of congress are not necessarily knowledgeable in science, you will also need to present them with possible solutions to the problem. Can technology be developed to help with this problem, or must it be dealt with through only through social and legal means?

Process

Your PowerPoint presentation must include the following six steps as outlined in the Science Public Policy Analyst website. Each of the links will take you to a page giving you details on the specific step, along with a worksheet (on the bottom of the page.)

1. First define the problem.
2. Next you need to gather the evidence that shows this is indeed a problem that needs to be addressed.
3. You should also identify the causes of this problem.
4. Evaluate a policy in place now that addresses these issues, such as requiring that all new cars built are more fuel efficient.
5. Research and develop solutions that might be available.
6. Most importantly, you need to select the best solution as you see it, explaining why.

You must complete each of the 6 worksheets – these will be collected.

The worksheets will not be graded, but will help you to complete the final presentation, which will be graded (see below.)

Your final product will be a PowerPoint presentation (approximately 10 slides) that addresses the six steps given above.

Resources

Use the following links to find information for your report. You can find all the information on these pages, along with the links they provide. Of course you may look for other websites, but you must include the sites you’ve used.

• How Lasers work
  A basic introduction to the science behind Lasers.
• CNN Article on Lasers
  An article from CNN describing the recent rise of the problems pilots encounter when confronted by ground based Lasers.
• FOX News
  An Associated Press article further describing the problems pilots face with Lasers.
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
  This article offers information that might contradict the perceived safety issues of Lasers, and why they might be advantageous to pilots.
  The associated links and related documents section includes the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) reports on the issue, along with several tables packed with information.
• Azom
  This company is working on an alternative to the drastic measures of banning Lasers, yet protecting pilots using special eyeglasses.

Evaluation

Keep the following table in mind when preparing your report. This is what I will be using when grading your presentations.

	Exemplary 20 points	Accomplished 17 points	Developing 14 points	Beginning 12 points	Score
Knowledge of Scientific Content	The presentation included a great deal of scientific content, and also indicated a deep understanding of the underlying concepts of the scientific information.	The presentation included a good deal of scientific content, and also indicated a good understanding of the underlying concepts of the scientific information.	The presentation included a good deal of scientific content, but did not show a firm grasp of the concepts underlying the information.	The presentation did not include enough scientific information.
Use of the SPPA model	The presentation demonstrated a deep understanding of all six steps of the Science Public Policy Analyst model.	The presentation demonstrated a good understanding of most of the six steps of the Science Public Policy Analyst model.	The presentation demonstrated some understanding of most of the six steps of the Science Public Policy Analyst model.	The presentation did not demonstrate an understanding of the Science Public Policy Analyst model.
Analysis of Information Gathered	A lot of information such as statistics, graphs, and other research findings were included. The information was interpreted correctly.	Some information such as statistics, graphs, and other research findings were included. The information was interpreted correctly.	Some information such as statistics, graphs, and other research findings were included. The information was not always interpreted correctly.	The report did not use enough research in order to come up with a thesis.
Persuasiveness of Arguments Presented	The arguments made were persuasive. Information was presented in an interesting manner, and the arguments were based on solid scientific research.	The arguments made were persuasive. Information was presented in an interesting manner, and the arguments were based on solid scientific research.	The arguments made were persuasive. Information was presented in an interesting manner, and the arguments were based on solid scientific research.	The arguments made were persuasive. Information was presented in an interesting manner, and the arguments were based on solid scientific research.
Writing Style	The presentation was clear, logically organized, and grammatically correct. The writing was interesting.	The presentation was generally clear, logically organized, and grammatically correct. The writing was interesting.	The presentation was grammatically correct, but not too clear or organized. The writing was not very interesting.	The presentation was unclear. Grammatical errors were present throughout.

Standards

This Web quest meets the following NY State Science and English Standards:

Science Performance Standards:

S5 Scientific Thinking

S5d: Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and critiques alternative explanations; and distinguishes between fact and opinion.

S5e: Identifies problems; proposes and implements solutions; and evaluates the accuracy, design, and outcomes of investigations.

S6 Scientific Tools and Technologies

S6d: Acquires information from multiple sources.

S7 Scientific Communication

S7a: Represents data and results in multiple ways.

S7b: Argues from evidence.

English Language Arts Performance Standards:

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E3c:  Prepare and deliver an individual presentation.

E4b:  Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.

Conclusion

At the end of this project you should have come to realize that science plays a role in everyone’s lives. It is important for everyone to have a good background in science in order to understand and take part in making public policy decisions that will affect all of us. In this project you will learn specifically about how Lasers work, and why they are dangerous. You will also see that they may become a very real threat in the future, if they have not become so already. Using this information, you will be able to come up with sound public policy regarding the use of Lasers. You should also learn how to differentiate between good information backed up with research and statistics and questionable information. Finally, you will develop critical thinking skills that will allow you to form opinions that you can back up with this knowledge.