Michael D. Morgan

Understanding the Greenhouse Effect and the Ozone Shield: An Index of Scientific Literacy among University Students

The authors administered a survey to nearly 1400 college students to assess their understanding of the greenhouse effect and stratospheric ozone shield. This survey addressed basic scientific under...

Recent trends in hemispheric temperature and growing season indices in Wisconsin

Abstract In Wisconsin, the growing season became cooler and shorter from 1958 into the mid-1960s. These trends accompanied a pronounced drop in the mean annual tropospheric temperature of the Northern Hemisphere. Although Northern-Hemispheric—tropospheric temperatures continued to fall (albeit at a lesser rate) from the mid-1960s through 1973, the growing season in Wisconsin showed a general trend toward lengthening and warming. In view of concern over the potential impact of climatic variation upon agriculture, these observations point out the need for a detailed examination of the modes of translation of hemispheric—tropospheric temperature trends to climatic changes at ground level, and at smaller temporal and spatial scales.

Growth response to light of Carex inopinata Cook, an endangered New Zealand sedge

Abstract The effect of five light environments on the growth of Carex inopinata clones was examined. C. inopinata exhibited the least growth in full sunlight for wet weight increment, leaf area, tiller number increment, and above-ground biomass. Generally, plants grew best in moderate shade (22–33% ambient sunlight). These results support field observations suggesting that optimum habitat for this species is low forest or shrubland rather than open grassland. Implications of the study for the conservation management of C. inopinata are discussed.

Northeast Wisconsin Science Forum, an Example of Cooperative Effort in Upgrading Science Education.

ConclusionsIn view of growing national concern over the decline in scientific literacy among students and the need to attract more students to science and engineering, it is incumbent upon college and precollege science faculties to work together to find ways to help solve these problems. To this end, college and precollege science teachers and administrators established the NEW Science Forum and its dinner-and-lecture series and Science Teacher Day field trips. These activities stimulate teacher interest in science, upgrade scientific understanding, and provide new insights and information for classroom use. In addition, the Forum is an opportunity for discussion among techers and between teachers and university science faculty members. The continued high level of participation by teachers and professors during the seven years since the founding of the NEW Science Forum attests to its value to area educators. Our experience prompts us to encourage our colleagues at other colleges and universities to explore the feasibility of establishing a similar program in their regions. The rewards of strengthening ties with area school science teachers far outweigh lost time from research and the trepidation of operating with a zero budget.

The Energy Relationships of Corn Production and Alcohol Fermentation.

The production of alcohol from corn lends itself well to illustrating the practical applications of scientific principles that deal with energy transformations and inefficiencies.