Science / Year 7 / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science

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Curriculum content descriptions

People use science understanding and skills in their occupations and these have influenced the development of practices in areas of human activity (ACSHE121)

Elaborations
  • investigating everyday applications of physical separation techniques such as filtering, sorting waste materials, reducing pollution, extracting products from plants, separating blood products and cleaning up oil spills
  • investigating how advances in science and technology have been applied to the treatment of water in industrial and household systems
  • investigating how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge is being used to inform scientific decisions, for example care of waterways
  • researching the different scientific responses to the rabbit plagues in Australian agricultural areas
  • recognising that water management plays a role in areas such as farming, land management and gardening
  • investigating how separation techniques are used in the food and wine industries
  • considering how seasonal changes affect people in a variety of activities such as farming
  • considering how sports scientists apply knowledge of forces to improve performance
General capabilities
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Environmental management,  Technology,  Industries

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20 direct matches to ACSHE121

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Animal Health: the science of healthy animals

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This study guide considers the science behind breeding, genetics, health and animal welfare in the cattle and sheep industries - keeping animals free of disease and parasites, improving biodiversity and protecting against feral animals. A range of articles and student activities explores how farmers and scientists are working ...

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Water: Our most precious resource

  • TLF-IDM020051

This study guide explores how Australian cattle and sheep farmers manage sustainable and efficient water use, including maintenance of healthy soils, moisture preservation, erosion and viable grazing systems. A range of articles and student activities explore the water cycle and ways in which farmers are using water saving ...

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Using water sustainably through science

  • TLF-IDM020534

This teacher resource is a sequence of activities for investigating water resources. The material assists with planning, implementing and assessing a study of how water resources are managed. It covers how water resources are used and shared, particularly by food producers; the impact of changing weather and climate; and ...

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Text

Producing cattle and sheep...beef and lamb

  • TLF-IDM018952

This is a unit of work comprising five sequences of activities in which students investigate cattle and sheep production systems and present a documentary, song, poster or brochure in response. In the first sequence, students engage with the industries, sources of information and possible forms of response. In the second ...

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Video

Catalyst: Would you eat insects?

  • TLF-IDM025067

A lot of resources go into the production of beef. For example, 20 litres of water is needed to produce just 1 gram of beef. In order to produce food more sustainably to feed an ever-growing population, some alternatives to protein have been suggested. What are some of these alternatives? Do you think they will ever replace meat?

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Video

Catalyst: What are modular farms?

  • TLF-IDM025064

Modular farms are flexible and self-contained systems that allow you to grow herbs and vegetables without the need for soil or sunlight. What are some advantages of modular farms? What may be some of the disadvantages?

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Video

Landline: Drones and bugs

  • TLF-IDM021137

We don't normally associate robotics with farming but, in fact, robotics have revolutionised farming and agriculture in recent years. Find out how some strawberry farmers are using drones to disperse 'good' bugs for pest control management. Can you think of some other ways drones could be used to help farmers?

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Interactive

Catchment Detox

  • TLF-IDM016666

Students play the game and make decisions about the development of a catchment with competing economic and environmental demands. Students receive feedback on how sustainably their catchment has been managed.

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Audio

Plane Truths

  • TLF-IDM016602

In this ABC article or podcast Dr Karl provides statistics about comparative safety of different modes of travel and then justifies why flying is so safe.

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Audio

Solar thermal electricity

  • TLF-IDM016584

This program gives an update on research into solar thermal electricity. Liddell Power Station in the Hunter Valley, NSW is a hybrid power station using solar energy to pre-heat water and so reduce the use of coal and the production of carbon dioxide. Some scientists claim that harnessing the solar heat in an area 50km ...

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Video

Water recycling

  • TLF-IDM016539

This 11 minute video segment from Catalyst provides an excellent explanation of the processes involved in recycling sewage for an urban water supply. It also provides a range of opinions and concerns in an excellent debate on the topic.

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Text

The price of peak fuel

  • TLF-IDM016491

This ABC In Depth feature article discusses the projections of how long will our energy resources will last given that our need for fossil fuels is insatiable, but coal, oil, gas and uranium reserves are finite and some may even be in decline. This article is comprehensive, but it is dated at 2008.

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Video

Cloud seeding

  • TLF-IDM016406

This nine and a half minute video segment from Catalyst describes how researchers from Monash University have hard evidence that cloud seeding can produce good amounts of extra rainfall. Data collected over a long period of time has give hope to scientists and environmentalists who are trying to reduce the impacts of droughts ...

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Text

Trees and chairs as carbon sinks

  • TLF-IDM016250

This ABC is in Q&A format and simply explains the answer to the question 'Could we really plant our way out of climate change?'

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Video

Borneo Live Reef Fish Trade

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This nearly 13 minute video segment from Catalyst explains how Fisheries scientists warn that if fishing around the world continues at its current pace, more and more species will vanish. The coral triangle is one particular area where biodiversity is at risk, and the top predator appears to be humans.

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Audio

Chemicals on the Great Barrier Reef

  • TLF-IDM016174

This program deals with a range of human impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. Herbicides from land runoff have been traced to algae and sea grasses in river mouths and coastal zones along the Great Barrier Reef. Effects include retardation of photosynthesis and growth of corals. Other pressures on the reef include high water ...

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Video

Catalyst: Water through cracked soil

  • TLF-IDM016038

Watch scientists investigate water movement through soil that has been cracked by drought. Australian scientists demonstrate a new way to investigate how water moves through the cracks using electrical probes to measure soil moisture at different soil depths. This technology could help farmers more efficiently irrigate ...

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Video

ABC News: Supporting sustainable farming

  • TLF-IDM015942

Consider the vast land that is Australia. How might we, as a community, help to keep our land sustainable? Explore the ideas put forward by Professor Peter Cullen and Dr John Williams in response to the continuing drought conditions of 2003. What role could city dwellers play so that farmers could better care for the land?

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Video

Landline: Developing bush tucker into a seed crop

  • TLF-IDM015782

Which native plant might provide a ready-made crop that could be used as a very nutritious food source? Meet two South Australian growers who are investigating just such a native crop. Find out more about the seed crop that does not require significant amounts of water or fertiliser and has a long history of use by Indigenous ...

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Video

BTN: Seeding clouds to make rain and snow

  • TLF-IDM015732

Imagine if we could control the weather. Find out how scientists are already at work making clouds rain when and where they want. It's called cloud seeding. Watch this clip to understand how cloud seeding works, and where it is being used in Australia.

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