“Innovation in life science will be the major driver of meeting four major societal challenges: challenges of
climate, challenges of food, challenges of energy, and challenges of health.” Phillip A. Sharp, MIT, Co-chair, NRC Committee, A New Biology for the 21st Century
This is your chance to ask your own question about how scientists are working to meet ONE of the four
challenges, and then spend 4-7 hours finding answers to your question using credible sources and preparing a
BRIEF oral presentation for the class.
Examples of questions:
How can biomimicry help architects design buildings that use less energy?
How are stem cells being used to treat illnesses?
How are genetically-modified foods being used to help meet world food insecurity?
Learn about a NEW technique/discovery/approach/invention, etc. related to the challenge – this is the
innovation part!!! Don’t just describe a disease or a problem, but focus on what is currently being done to
address the problem/issue.
Be particular about the websites and/or magazines that you choose to learn information from – always ask
yourself: What is the motivation of the website’s creator? Are they selling something? Is it an academic
institution? Is it a government website? Don’t take anything at face value – snoop around before you settle in…
Doing a search through academic databases is a MUCH better way to find reputable sources than simply
googling!! If you cannot identify the organization or author, and have no way to verify the credibility of the
information, I suggest that you DON’T use it.
It is important that you cite each reference correctly – Do not just provide the link!
This helpful website http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/general has examples for all types of
sources. I suggest that you use the APA format.
1. Prepare 6 slide deck (Powerpoint, Google slides, Canva, Prezi, etc.) of your findings.
a. Slide #1: Title of your presentation and your name
b. Slide #2: What question did you ask, and how does this relate to one of the four challenges: health,
energy, food, or climate?
c. Slide #3: The innovation that you learned about (include at least one helpful image)
d. Slide #4: Use details to further describe HOW the innovation functions, its structure (what it is made
from, how it is produced, the cost, etc) and HOW it addresses the challenge. Provide any other important
fact we should know about the INNOVATION.
e. Slide #5: Connect the innovation that you learned about to a topic discussed in the course or one of the
core concepts of the course. WHY should we care? HOW does this relate to us?
f. Slide #6: List your four sources (you will not show or talk about this slide, so the font can be small.) For
each source, identify the author (or organization) and explain why you think the source is credible. Use
the examples for citing your sources.
2. Submit your slides to Canvas before due date
3. Present your slides on presentation day – you have only 2-3 minutes to present your slides.
http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/general