Science / Year 8 / Science as a human endeavour / Use and influence of science

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Curriculum content descriptions

examine how proposed scientific responses to contemporary issues may impact on society and explore ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations (AC9S8H03)

Elaborations
  • researching and discussing ethical issues that arise from organ transplantation
  • discussing how scientists’ development of organoids has impacted on the ethical, environmental, social and economic issues that arise from using live animals in a laboratory to research diseases and treatments
  • investigating how scientific responses including new building materials, improved predictions and early warning systems have supported communities living in a country in the Asia-Pacific region located near plate boundaries, for example Japan, Indonesia or New Zealand
  • examining how the development of hybrid and solar, electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles are applications of contemporary science responses to the depletion of fossil fuels and exploring environmental considerations
  • exploring how the development of biodegradable materials has led to more sustainable packaging and reduction in landfill
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Medicine,  Interpersonal influence,  Ethics,  Environmental management

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20 direct matches to AC9S8H03

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Volcanic hazards: What would an Emergency Manager do?

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This activity examines a hypothetical city and its vulnerability to volcanic hazard risk. It includes background information for teachers, PowerPoint presentation, student activity sheet and worked answers.

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Keeping cool

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In this set of learning activities, students explore the question 'How can a community reduce the heating effect of the Sun?' The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable student resource sheets. The resource also provides an editable module template, ...

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PRIMED Science - Year 8

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This set of learning activities focuses on comparisons of human cells and organ systems with those of other living organisms used for fibre and food production. Students investigate cells and tissues, explore how and explain why multicellular organisms have organised body systems, and how humans interact with biological ...

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Creating a worm farm

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Food and gardening scraps thrown into household bins becomes landfill. When food waste breaks down in landfill, it emits greenhouse gases including methane gas which traps heat in our atmosphere. Diverting this organic waste from landfill and into a worm farm or composting system is great for your garden and for our planet. ...

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Breeding a sustainable future

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This is a unit of work that focuses on improvements in livestock and crop production brought about by agricultural practice, scientific research and technology. The unit is organised around six learning experiences that include investigating how agricultural products have developed over time; identifying the role of technology ...

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Landline: Drones and bugs

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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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Water recycling

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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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Interactive

Science Talk 2008

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An online resource with interviews and master classes with many of Australia's prominent scientists. Interviews with eight scientists in areas of astronomy, marine biology, bio-chemistry related to medical research, chemistry related to materials science, astro-imaging, palaeontology, climate change science and psychology ...

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Catalyst: Underground coal gasification

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How are scientists using technology to get energy out of coal without having to dig it up? Find out how underground coal gasification (UCG) burns and converts the coal to gas underground. Visit UCG trial sites in Queensland and hear how UCG avoids some of the environmental effects of traditional coal mining, but may have ...

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Catalyst: Supercapacitors: new battery technology

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Discover how nanotechnology is contributing to the creation of new, improved batteries that may soon be used in all our mobile phones and portable music devices - even in cars and trams. Catalyst's Tanya Ha looks at how traditional batteries produce electricity and how their efficiency may be increased by tiny devices known ...

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BTN: Cancer - when the baddies take over

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Cancer is a major disease in Australia and there are many different types, including leukaemia, and breast and skin cancers. View this clip to discover more about how cancer forms, why it occurs, and what cancer research is being done.

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Party locusts

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This 8 minute video segment from Catalyst is an excellent example of animal behaviour of locusts as a successful adaptation and how understanding the behaviour can potentially help reduce the damage they cause.

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Associate Professor Liz Harry

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This minute video segment from Catalyst discusses Professor Liz Harry work on developing new antibiotics. A better understanding of the processes that regulate cell division in bacteria may lead to the development of new medicines.

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Interactive

Science Talk 2007: Melanie Bishop

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An interview and laboratory tour with Dr Melanie Bishop, a benthic marine ecologist at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). Melanie talks to students from Epping Boys High School about her work studying benthic marine ecosystems and the animals that live there. Melanie shares insights into a career in marine biology.

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Sea Urchins

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This 7 minute video segment from Catalyst describes an excellent example of how biologists have worked to investigate and solve a problem of an invading species of sea urchin that was devastating a marine ecosystem. The scientific approach to develop a biological control needed to rely on technologies such as radio tracking ...

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Giant Cuttlefish

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This 12 minute video segment from Catalyst outlines the fascinating and unique features of the giant cuttlefish and its mass breeding at Point Lowly. Then it explains how scientists have determined the vulnerability of this species- the fact that the eggs are sensitive to high levels of salinity and the fact that they die ...

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Can We Help?: Donuts and exercise

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Peter Rowsthorn visits Dr Deborah Kerr at the WA Institute of Sport to answer the question 'How long does it take to walk off a donut?' Join Pete as he walks, jogs, rows and swims to burn off the energy from a single iced donut. As Dr Kerr takes Pete through his paces, learn how metabolic rate and muscle mass affect weight gain.

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Catalyst: Advances in nuclear power technology

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Imagine our world if nuclear power generation could be made safer. Discover how Chinese scientists have developed a new nuclear reactor that reduces the chances of the reactor overheating to the point of meltdown. To do this the pebble bed reactor uses advances in technology to replace the traditional water-cooled system. ...

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Catalyst: Coorong salinity

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Imagine the mighty Murray River as it flows through South Australia and reaches the sea. Explore the consequences of drought and human activity while listening to Graham Phillips describe the effects of the Coorong's increasing salinity and the the associated threat to Adelaide's supply of fresh water.

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The Conversation - issues concerning self and identity - organ donation

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This resource contains a series of articles about organ donation, including ethical consideration of the role of family; research methods available to increase donor rates; and examples from other countries (e.g. Spain) that have high organ donation rates. It can be used to consider a wide range of issues, evidence, and ...

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