5A- Identifying Local Opportunities
1. Title: Alaska's Cook Inlet Beluga Whales Continue to Decline
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/ZZ/news/20200128/survey-alaskas-cook-inlet-beluga-whales-continue-decline
Description: In Alaska, there is a population of Beluga Whales that are called the Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. In the late 1900's, this species of whales began to decline all throughout the years until the population was cut nearly in half. This was mainly due to Alaskan natives harvesting the whales, which was made illegal after the dramatic decrease in the beluga population. Thinking this would allow the population to recover, the hunting ban had little to no impact. Thus, Beluga Whales were declared endangered in 2008, and they are continuing to decline rapidly to this day.
Problem: The main issue is that these Beluga Whales are already endangered species with roughly 250 left in the world. If these whales are not preserved and taken care of, there is a possibility that they may go extinct, forever leaving the planet.
Who has the problem: In this case, the problem is of main concern to the World Wildlife Fund, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and any other fisheries that do everything in their power to make sure that the preservation of these animals is of top priority.
2. Title: Lane Ranger: Why are four lanes slower than two?
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200126/lane-ranger-why-are-four-lanes-slower-than-two
Description: Strangely enough, there are a few roads in Alachua county that have a very odd speed limit set up. There is a section of the freeway that contains four lanes of cars. Within those lanes, the speed limit is 45 MPH. Yet, when the lanes split in half and become only two lanes, the speed limit goes up to 55 MPH. This has come as a shock to many people because if anything, they believe that the more lanes there are, the more room there should be for a higher speed limit. The organization who controls and sets speed limits claims that the speed limits merely depend on the surroundings of the roads. That is most likely why there is this discrepancy in speed limit.
Problem: The issue is that there are a lot of people who keep getting pulled over while driving through the four lanes because they forget to slow down after the transition from the two lanes. It is a very weird and impractical setup, and people are wondering why this is the case since it makes no sense that the four-lane freeway is slower than the two-lane.
Who has the problem: In this case, the problem is mainly for those who are driving on this freeway, for the police who are pulling people over, and the Florida Department of Transportation since they are the ones setting the limits.
3. Title: US Beefs up Screening of Travelers for New Virus from China
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/ZZ/news/20200128/us-beefs-up-screening-of-travelers-for-new-virus-from-china
Description: As some people may know, there is a new virus called the coronavirus which is rapidly spreading in the Wuhan region of China. The reason that this has become such a huge concern is that American travelers who have visited the region and come back to the United States could possibly either have the virus or be silent carriers of the virus. Because of such, the CDC has began to give health screenings for international travelers to and from China at several airports around the United States. There are also plans by the United States government to evacuate many US officials who are at the US Consulate in Wuhan in order to avoid infection. To American's, the CDC assures that the virus is of little to no risk at all right now. There are incubation and quarantine plans of those who are believed to be infected.
Problem: The Center for Disease Control is doing everything in its power to make sure that the coronavirus does not enter the US. The issue is that there is increased fear and sense of risk whenever travelers from China come to the US, so the CDC has to take precautions in order to ensure the safety and well being of the entire country since coronavirus is so deadly.
Who has the problem: The problem concerns Chinese residents specifically, the Center for Disease Control, people who have traveled into China recently, and anyone else infected by the disease.
4. Title: Not how many jobs lost, but which parts?
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200120/workplace-savvy-not-how-many-jobs-lost-but-which-parts
Description: Pretty much, this article talks about how there has been a dramatic decrease in cashiers working at stores due to the increased use of automated systems, such as self-checkout. The author of the article goes on to talk about statistics that highlight this decrease in retail and store cashiers due to the increase in self-service zones. Regardless, there will always be cashier jobs, especially for smaller-scale stores. Per the author, it makes no sense for smaller stores such as convenience stores, hardware stores, and restaurants to have self-checkout registers.
Problem: This issue with this is first off, the job situation. If automated systems are going to take over human jobs, this means that unfortunately a lot of people will lose their jobs. Next, this also means that people are forced to do the work themselves and scan in/ bag their own items, which is a task that many people are either too lazy to do themselves or are incapable of doing.
Who has the problem: The problem pertains to all cashier workers, people who go to stores and have to go through the self-service lines, and for anyone who loses their job due to automated self-service systems.
5. Title: Social media provides spread of health information: misinformation
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/lifestyle/20200123/mixed-blessing-social-media-provides-spread-of-health-information-misinformation
Description: This article pretty much talks about the influence that social media has on health in many different aspects. Doctors who were interviewed say that although social media is wonderful and has a very wide reach and influence on huge amounts of people, a lot of the information that is transcribed is wrong. Specifically, doctors are concerned that many so-called health tips and hacks that people say online are very wrong, yet people still seem to believe it. If this is the case, people may be eating or doing things that are ultimately very harmful to their health, all for the sole reason being that they read about it online. They say that one of the most harmful downfalls of social media is this misinformation, so they are trying to find a healthy median between spreading useful information and making sure that it is accurate.
Problem: For some odd reason, many people tend to believe everything that they read online. The fact that they do this leads them to believe that by completely relying on one food will cure your diabetes or something crazy of the sort. The issue is exactly that. Many people are being misinformed online through social media and are making lifestyle and health changes to their lives that are ultimately damaging their health.
Who has the problem: People who are most affected are social media users, doctors who have to deal with the health problems caused by this, and researchers who are looking into the affects of this misinformation.
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/ZZ/news/20200128/survey-alaskas-cook-inlet-beluga-whales-continue-decline
Description: In Alaska, there is a population of Beluga Whales that are called the Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. In the late 1900's, this species of whales began to decline all throughout the years until the population was cut nearly in half. This was mainly due to Alaskan natives harvesting the whales, which was made illegal after the dramatic decrease in the beluga population. Thinking this would allow the population to recover, the hunting ban had little to no impact. Thus, Beluga Whales were declared endangered in 2008, and they are continuing to decline rapidly to this day.
Problem: The main issue is that these Beluga Whales are already endangered species with roughly 250 left in the world. If these whales are not preserved and taken care of, there is a possibility that they may go extinct, forever leaving the planet.
Who has the problem: In this case, the problem is of main concern to the World Wildlife Fund, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and any other fisheries that do everything in their power to make sure that the preservation of these animals is of top priority.
2. Title: Lane Ranger: Why are four lanes slower than two?
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200126/lane-ranger-why-are-four-lanes-slower-than-two
Description: Strangely enough, there are a few roads in Alachua county that have a very odd speed limit set up. There is a section of the freeway that contains four lanes of cars. Within those lanes, the speed limit is 45 MPH. Yet, when the lanes split in half and become only two lanes, the speed limit goes up to 55 MPH. This has come as a shock to many people because if anything, they believe that the more lanes there are, the more room there should be for a higher speed limit. The organization who controls and sets speed limits claims that the speed limits merely depend on the surroundings of the roads. That is most likely why there is this discrepancy in speed limit.
Problem: The issue is that there are a lot of people who keep getting pulled over while driving through the four lanes because they forget to slow down after the transition from the two lanes. It is a very weird and impractical setup, and people are wondering why this is the case since it makes no sense that the four-lane freeway is slower than the two-lane.
Who has the problem: In this case, the problem is mainly for those who are driving on this freeway, for the police who are pulling people over, and the Florida Department of Transportation since they are the ones setting the limits.
3. Title: US Beefs up Screening of Travelers for New Virus from China
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/ZZ/news/20200128/us-beefs-up-screening-of-travelers-for-new-virus-from-china
Description: As some people may know, there is a new virus called the coronavirus which is rapidly spreading in the Wuhan region of China. The reason that this has become such a huge concern is that American travelers who have visited the region and come back to the United States could possibly either have the virus or be silent carriers of the virus. Because of such, the CDC has began to give health screenings for international travelers to and from China at several airports around the United States. There are also plans by the United States government to evacuate many US officials who are at the US Consulate in Wuhan in order to avoid infection. To American's, the CDC assures that the virus is of little to no risk at all right now. There are incubation and quarantine plans of those who are believed to be infected.
Problem: The Center for Disease Control is doing everything in its power to make sure that the coronavirus does not enter the US. The issue is that there is increased fear and sense of risk whenever travelers from China come to the US, so the CDC has to take precautions in order to ensure the safety and well being of the entire country since coronavirus is so deadly.
Who has the problem: The problem concerns Chinese residents specifically, the Center for Disease Control, people who have traveled into China recently, and anyone else infected by the disease.
4. Title: Not how many jobs lost, but which parts?
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200120/workplace-savvy-not-how-many-jobs-lost-but-which-parts
Description: Pretty much, this article talks about how there has been a dramatic decrease in cashiers working at stores due to the increased use of automated systems, such as self-checkout. The author of the article goes on to talk about statistics that highlight this decrease in retail and store cashiers due to the increase in self-service zones. Regardless, there will always be cashier jobs, especially for smaller-scale stores. Per the author, it makes no sense for smaller stores such as convenience stores, hardware stores, and restaurants to have self-checkout registers.
Problem: This issue with this is first off, the job situation. If automated systems are going to take over human jobs, this means that unfortunately a lot of people will lose their jobs. Next, this also means that people are forced to do the work themselves and scan in/ bag their own items, which is a task that many people are either too lazy to do themselves or are incapable of doing.
Who has the problem: The problem pertains to all cashier workers, people who go to stores and have to go through the self-service lines, and for anyone who loses their job due to automated self-service systems.
5. Title: Social media provides spread of health information: misinformation
Link: https://www.gainesville.com/lifestyle/20200123/mixed-blessing-social-media-provides-spread-of-health-information-misinformation
Description: This article pretty much talks about the influence that social media has on health in many different aspects. Doctors who were interviewed say that although social media is wonderful and has a very wide reach and influence on huge amounts of people, a lot of the information that is transcribed is wrong. Specifically, doctors are concerned that many so-called health tips and hacks that people say online are very wrong, yet people still seem to believe it. If this is the case, people may be eating or doing things that are ultimately very harmful to their health, all for the sole reason being that they read about it online. They say that one of the most harmful downfalls of social media is this misinformation, so they are trying to find a healthy median between spreading useful information and making sure that it is accurate.
Problem: For some odd reason, many people tend to believe everything that they read online. The fact that they do this leads them to believe that by completely relying on one food will cure your diabetes or something crazy of the sort. The issue is exactly that. Many people are being misinformed online through social media and are making lifestyle and health changes to their lives that are ultimately damaging their health.
Who has the problem: People who are most affected are social media users, doctors who have to deal with the health problems caused by this, and researchers who are looking into the affects of this misinformation.
Hi Beca, I found your stories very interesting. In particular your article about speed limits in a 4 lane road versus a 2 lane road. I agree that you would think the speed would be faster on a 4 lane road rather than a 2 lane road. But it also makes sense that it depends on the surrounding areas of the road. I also found your corona virus article interesting, and apparently it has entered the US and maybe even the state of Florida so lets hope a cure is found soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Beca,
ReplyDeleteI am particularly interested in the last article that you discussed. I've actually recognized this issue myself, as I am a big Pinterest-er and often look there for new work out routines. Last semester, I felt like none of the workouts were sustainable or benefiting my health. I did so much research (outside of Pinterest too) and all of these different workout sites were contradicting. For example, some sites would say there's no point in targeting specific areas of your body and everyone needs to just do cardio. On the other-hand, a-lot of sites said that cardio won't tone and only makes you lose weight. It's good to hear that doctors recognize that the internet is not the best place for finding health facts. Perhaps they will find a good solution.
Hi Beca,
ReplyDeleteI found all of your articles to be very interesting! The last article in your post was particularly intriguing to me. I believe that not only in regards to health information, there is a lot of misinformation on social media about a broad range of topics. We are growing up in an era where social media is so prevalent, and the spread of misinformation can cause major problems.