Information sheet
Instructions
Part 1 Researching
- Obtain an exercise book to use as a log book for your research. The log book will be checked and signed by your teacher several times before the final date.
- Select a minimum of two Australian scientists from the list below and/or as approved by your teacher.
Australian Scientists
- Professor Max Bennett
- Professor Peter Doherty
- Sir John Eccles
- Professor Frank Fenner
- Sir Howard Florey
- Professor Ian Frazer
- Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet
- Dame Jean MacNamara
- Professor Barry Marshall
- Sir Gustav Nossal
- Phyllis Rountree
- Professor Susan Serjeantson
- Dr Fiona Wood
- Other – only with approval of your science teacher
- Search for information on the work and achievements of the scientists you selected. For each scientist gather information about the following:
- What education and training did they have?
- What type of support were they given to achieve their goals, eg grants, scholarships etc?
- How has society acknowledged their achievements? Were they given awards?
- Who did they work with (team members/partners) to make their discoveries?
- Outline the scientific breakthroughs or discoveries they made.
- Describe the positive contribution that their work has had for society and/or in increasing scientific understanding.
- Identify any negative implications of their work for society.
- Use a range of secondary sources (at least 4 types) such as encyclopedias, books, CD-ROMs, science magazines, newspapers and the internet to find relevant information.
- Summarise relevant information from each source in your log book. Check the reliability of information you gathered by comparing it with information from other sources.
(DO NOT ATTACH PHOTOCOPIES OR PRINTED MATERIAL TO YOUR LOG BOOK.)
- Record specific details of each information source in your logbook using the appropriate guidelines for acknowledging sources of information.
- Present a plan for your discussion of the topic in your log book.
Part 2 Writing a Discussion
In class you will use the information in your log book to write a discussion on the topic: Society should support scientific research. You need to present arguments for and against this statement. In your discussion to support your arguments you should include relevant information about the work of two Australian scientists.