The case was used in a small class of second semester chemistry for non-majors.  Polymer chemistry was covered briefly before the assignment.

The student references were handed out in class.  The class was split into groups of four with one group of five.  Each person was assigned to a role:  mother, consumer reports scientist, plastics industry rep., judge (moderator for the discussion), and in the group of five an outside scientist.  Each student was to read the references and think about points which they would like to ask the other experts (in the form of five questions).  In addition they were to prepare answers from their assigned perspective which they felt might be addressed.  The judge was given the task of coming up with the method to present the case with the group.

On the next class period, the groups discussed the case.  Occasionally, groups needed assistance in discovering what might be valid arguments in the consumer report.  Once the discussions died down I presented highlights of the main points that one might want to consider.  Then a vote was cast about who would use polycarbonate bottles.  Surprisingly, only a small portion of the students would continue using the bottles even though they believed that the consumer report case was not supported by facts.  The students then recieved a copy of the summary of the RTI report given in 2001 confirming the safety of polycarbonate bottles.

The case was well received and very engaging.

Comments submitted 04/16/2003 by:

Kerry Breno
Chemistry Department
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington
kbreno@ups.edu