Assignment:
The topics below are acceptable for the major (group of 4) projects. This list is not extensive, so if you have an idea, please let me know what it is so I can approve it.
1. X-Men Super humans could be reality in 30 years. Gene technology could help humans gain mutant powers as seen in the X-Men movies. This could lead to genetic inequality. It could also lead to solving physical difficulties caused by genetics.
2. National DNA Database. Police want this register to be compulsory from birth. This would assist in missing person cases etc. Civil libertarians say this is a gross invasion of privacy.
3. Privacy. Managers are exploring applicants and employee social media pages to select new employees and monitor current staff. Posts that made when applicants were teens are being used against them years later.
4. Apple has upgraded their security policy which gives them extensive use of your personal information. The policy itself is pages long, making it difficult for the average user to read and understand what Apple is doing with their information. Is this ethical on the part of Apple?
5. Genetic Testing. Doctors are offering (at a cost) to perform genetic testing on unborn babies. This service could be of great benefit, especially if a serious medical condition potentially exists for the baby. It could also lead to designer babies.
6. Disaster Ethical Dilemmas. Disasters are increasingly common; such as pandemics, earthquakes, bushfires and flooding. Many decisions are made during the decision at the height of emotion; often resulting in long term trauma once the immediate crisis is over. One example is the release of water from the Wivenhoe Dam in Queensland which resulted in an ‘inland tsunami' and killed many people. Dam operators were following procedure. This process has now resulted in a case action against the Queensland government; which will cost the government millions of dollars in addition to restoring the damage done during the floods. Should the dam operators have acted differently?
7. Climate Change. Climate change is discussed in the media on a daily basis. As a citizen we are encouraged to recycle, consume less electricity, take public transport where possible, etc. What ethical issues are involved if everyone followed the above measures? What if only some people followed the above measures?
8. Google Maps. Google has cameras operating at street level for their upgrade of Google Maps. Some people have caught in compromising situations. Privacy advocates are not supportive of the detail that Google Maps captures.
Report Structure and Advice
The report is to be written in a report format following these guidelines:
• Headings
• Harvard Referencing
• Minimum font size 10
• 4000 words
• Executive Summary
• Table of Contents
• Appendix of supporting articles and material (not counted in word count)
• Contribution of members
• 1 page summary of topic and your findings
• Only ONE submission per group is necessary.
The topic you select will have a great deal of documentation connected to it. Your report should demonstrate that you have made a serious effort to become the -expert- on that topic. Your focus should be on the ethical concerns associated with your topic.
This project should use an ethical theory to illustrate the concerns that you and your group have in association with it.
Presentation Structure and Advice
Your presentation will be allocated in Week 6 tutorial.
My preference is for you to use Prezi (www.prezi.com), although Powerpoint is still acceptable.
You should include a title page and group members and an outline of your presentation. These are your only text-based slides. The rest of the presentation should be graphic.
Graphic Content: illustrations, photos, YouTube clips, tables, charts, graphs, maps, newspaper clippings etc
The requirement for graphic content is to put the focus on the group members during the presentation rather than the slides. You need to be rehearsed and comfortable with the content you are presenting.
Your presentation should highlight the main points of your report. You will need to explain the topic and your ethical review of the topic. You will present the expert findings you have come to about the topic.