SCIENCE

Environmental Science 3

Environmental Science 3 is an excellent course choice for a wide range of students. It provides students with an an understanding of ecology and environmental issues allowing them to form evidence-based arguments relevant to today’s world.

Students will develop investigative, analytical and communication skills, with opportunities to conduct excursions to coastal and forest ecosystems, as well as industrial sites. They will also carry out a case study investigation topic of their own choice.

Students gain important insights into issues, and they also learn about the many available solutions and sustainable management strategies. This understanding helps them to become responsible, well-informed citizens.

What will I learn from this course?

• scientific method, including experiments, monitoring, survey techniques

• the social context – values, attitudes, stakeholders, the role of governments

• Australian ecosystems, including forest types and aquatic ecosystems

• matter and energy flow in ecosystems, food chains and food webs

• relationships between organisms, including competition, predator/ prey, parasitism, mutualism

• climate change and ocean acidification

• other human impacts including pollution, introduced species, biodiversity loss

• ecologically sustainable development and environmental management

Pathways:

1. an excellent preparation for careers in wildlife, fisheries and agriculture

2. forestry management, and monitoring, compliance and remediation in the mining and other industrial sectors

3. provides an excellent knowledge base for future careers in teaching, journalism, economics, law, politics, policy-making and sustainable business

4. in Tasmania, students have unique opportunities for future study and careers in Antarctic science, marine and climate science, as well as in environmental management across a range of sectors.

Physical Sciences Foundation 2

Physical Sciences Foundation aims to equip students with skills and knowledge in chemistry and physics to apply basic principles to explain observations of the properties and behaviour of matter and natural phenomena that occur in the real world.

This course provides students with an introduction to the physical sciences, building on the traditions of inquiry that are central to the study of science.

Students work either individually or with others in active and practical ways to gain knowledge of many varied concepts.

What will I learn from this course?

• how to undertake scientific activities

• safe use of equipment

• physical systems

• how to use chemical and mathematical formulae.

Pathways:

1. Physical Sciences 3

2. the contextual and practical nature of the course also makes it applicable to students who are pursuing a trade/ VET pathway or who have a general interest in science and how it is integral to our everyday lives.

Physical Sciences 3

In studying Physical Sciences, a student has the opportunity to explore concepts, models and theories of both physics and chemistry. This will be conducted through a mixture or theoretical and practical activities.

Physics and Chemistry are fundamental sciences that:

• provide a foundation for undertaking investigations

• endeavour to explain physical and chemical phenomena that occur in the universe

• can be applied to, and have an impact on, issues in society.

What will I learn from this course?

• forces and motion

• mechanical, nuclear and electrical energy

• structure and properties of materials

• the Periodic Table and an introduction to organic chemistry

• chemical reactions and change

• reacting quantities.

Pathways:

1. if a student plans to study Physics 4 or Chemistry 4 in Year 12, it is essential to study this course in Year 11

2. useful but not essential for study of Biology 3 in Year 12

3. a pre-requisite for study of university courses in engineering, surveying and spatial sciences

4. a very useful course for university studies in any science or science related degrees, including the life and health sciences (for example, medicine and physiotherapy), health and physical education, architecture, agriculture, aquaculture, and Antarctic, marine and climate sciences.