Introduction

In this project, students will choose and investigate a real-world hydroelectric dam to understand how hydropower production impacts economies, environments, and communities. Through this research project, students will engage with authentic data and evaluate the trade-offs involved in energy infrastructure decisions.

Hydropower provides significant benefits such as reliable electricity and flood control, but it can also lead to environmental disruption and social displacement. This project emphasizes evidence-based reasoning as students evaluate these trade-offs and determine the best course of action for their selected dam—whether it should continue as it is, be modified, expanded, or decommissioned.

Student Objectives

Students will be able to

• Conduct research on a hydroelectric dam system using credible sources.
• Collect and analyze quantitative data related to energy production.
• Evaluate economic, environmental, and social impacts of hydroelectric dams.
• Synthesize information to identify patterns and trade-offs.
• Develop an evidence-based claim supported by data.

Materials

• Student Handout
• Access to research databases/websites

Research Resources

• International Hydropower Association (IHA)
• World Bank Project databases
• USGS water resources (for environmental data like water flow and river impacts)
• Government energy agencies (country-specific)
• Peer-reviewed environmental journals
• News archives for recent developments

Procedure

Part 1: Hydroelectric Dam Selection

• Optional: Show the short video, Hydropower Impacts with Yiying Xiong, to introduce economic, environmental, and social trade-offs.
• Distribute the Student Handout and review expectations.
• Model how to find credible sources. Show an example of extracting key data, such as capacity or impacts, and highlight how to distinguish strong vs. weak sources.
  • Evaluating Resources
    • Strong: Government agencies, academic institutions, peer-reviewed journals
    • Strong: Reputable NGOs (WWF, The Nature Conservancy, etc.)
    • Caution: News articles (verify with primary resources)
    • Avoid: Blogs or unverified websites without citations
• Hydroelectric Dam Examples
  • North America: Grand Coulee Dam(USA), Robert Bourassa Dam (Canada)
  • Asia: Three Gorges Dam (China), Nurek Dam (Tajikistan), Bratsk Dam (Russia), Tarbela Dam (Pakistan)
  • South America: Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay), Belo Monte Dam (Brazil), Guri Dam (Venezuela)
  • Africa: Kariba Dam (Zambia/Zimbabwe), Aswan High Dam (Egypt), Cahora Bassa Dam (Mozambique)

Part 2: Data Collection

• Students will collect data using the worksheet categories: Technical Capacity, Economic Impacts, Environmental Impacts, and Social Impacts.
• Emphasize the use of 5+ credible sources, recording specific data (numbers, facts, impacts), and citing sources for each entry.
• Encourage students to identify both positive and negative impacts in each impact category.

Part 3: Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Students synthesize their research by identifying key benefits and costs, and weighing trade-offs across economic, environmental, and social categories.
• Clarify that “costs” include any negative impacts, not just financial or economic ones.
• Students will consider scale of impact (who is affected), time scale (short-term vs. long-term), equity (which groups benefit vs. are negatively impacted), severity and reversibility of impacts, and possible solutions or improvements.

Part 4: Final Reflection and Argument

• Students develop and present a clear argument about the best course of action for their dam.
• Optional: Allow students to choose how they present their final argument. Options may include:
  • Written essay format
  • Slide deck presentation
  • Video explanation
  • Oral presentation or debate
• All formats should include the same required components:
  • Introduction
  • Claim
  • Evidence
  • Trade-offs
  • Counterargument
  • Response
  • Conclusion