Project Reflection
Investigating my own topic, I discovered how interdependent science and scientific work is. My group’s investigation only came to fruition because of the findings of previous investigations. I found that because there was already extensive research in the field of battery technology, we were able to perform our experiment from a more advanced starting point than we would have been had we only had access to our own knowledge. Before this project, I had no idea how huge a role research and related resources played in innovation and discovery. Initially, I would have assumed that all innovation would stem from completely original constructions and ideas, but going through the scientific process myself, I found that past knowledge provided by other scientists can determine the course of your entire investigation.
Through the creation of my infographic, I was trying to convey to the audience that the pros of battery recycling outweigh the cons. While yes, the key recyclable component in batteries (lead) undergoes smelting to be recycled, and that process can be wasteful and dirty, this waste (in combination with other battery wastes) hardly accounts for any domestic waste whatsoever. I wanted to make clear to my audience that it is most definitely worth it to purchase recyclable batteries, as well as that some batteries contain more recyclable components than others. This tied in to my scientific paper, as we researched voltaic cells and the cell potentials of different metals in a battery. I wanted to be able to compare the highest performing metals from our experimentation to the most recycled metals used in batteries currently.
Through the creation of my infographic, I was trying to convey to the audience that the pros of battery recycling outweigh the cons. While yes, the key recyclable component in batteries (lead) undergoes smelting to be recycled, and that process can be wasteful and dirty, this waste (in combination with other battery wastes) hardly accounts for any domestic waste whatsoever. I wanted to make clear to my audience that it is most definitely worth it to purchase recyclable batteries, as well as that some batteries contain more recyclable components than others. This tied in to my scientific paper, as we researched voltaic cells and the cell potentials of different metals in a battery. I wanted to be able to compare the highest performing metals from our experimentation to the most recycled metals used in batteries currently.