Barbecues should be banned: discuss...

Researchers and teachers have developed a wide range of interesting contexts for exploring socio-scientific issues - where the scientific evidence and arguments are fundamental to exploring an issue, but have to be considered alongside extra-scientific considerations such as economic and cultural factors. Socio-scientific decision-making needs to be informed by good science, but relies upon applying values that are external to science itself.

 Perhaps some of these pupils might be engaged by a question that they can relate directly to their own experiences and interests. I was wondering this afternoon if a good candidate for exploring socio-scientific issues might be a proposal that barbecues should be banned in built-up areas.

Keith Taber, a self-confessed barbeque hater, puts forth some interesting social and scientific reasons we might consider banning barbeques, or at least use the topic as a context for exploring socio-scientific issues with our students.