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STRAND ONE: NATURE OF <strong>SCIENCE</strong> STRAND element: <strong>SCIENCE</strong> IN SOCIETY Main Learning Outcome = 10 Students should be able to ‘appreciate the role of science in society; and its personal, social and global importance; and how society influences scientific research’. Background Information: Science is a public good and is critical in developing real-world solutions for global challenges, such as ensuring energy, water and food security, or health in a sustainable world with a predicted nine billion inhabitants. Some global challenges, like environmental threats to human health, are well-known (e.g. the damaging effects of air pollution). Other health threats appear suddenly (e.g. the Ebola Virus Disease – EVD), causing untold physical, psychological and economic damage, and sparking new scientific research and development. One of the first known Ebola outbreaks happened in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near the River Ebola. The virus can be transmitted to humans from infected wild animals (fruit bats, monkeys and apes), and then spreads via human-to-human transmission. Ebola symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, internal and/or external bleeding. People remain infectious so long as their blood contains the virus (2-21 days). The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 28,646 cases of Ebola, including 11,323 deaths, between March 2014 and March 2016. The worst affected countries in this latest outbreak were Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. These three countries have very weak health systems, lack basic infrastructure and have recently emerged from long periods of conflict and instability – all factors affecting human health in the region. Scientific researchers have genetically traced the Ebola virus in these 3 countries. Tracing the genetic lineages of Ebola may help researchers better understand the spread and evolution of the virus and help control outbreaks in the future. Scientists are also working on an Ebola vaccine. Clinical trials for several candidate vaccines are ongoing, but it is hoped that a safe and effective vaccine will be available shortly. Improved ‘rapid diagnostic tests’ to be used in mobile labs to quickly tell whether people have contracted Ebola, so that they can be treated and/or isolated to prevent further spread, are the focus of further scientific research and development. When science responds to the needs and interests of the societies in which it takes place, like in the case of Ebola, the consequences often include societal benefits (fewer cases and improved chances of survival) together with improved scientific understanding (for example, of viruses and vaccines). It is important to remember, however, that many life-saving scientific discoveries and advances never reach the poorest people most in need of them (e.g. in treating cases of TB and smallpox). For example, current levels of maternal mortality are unacceptably high: 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. 99% of these cases occur in developing countries, primarily due to infection or lack of access to obstetric care. 8
Thinking about Global Goals: By 2030 … Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (Goal 3) Teaching and learning activities: Science in stories – pair, square and share In pairs, read an Ebola survivor story (link below). Find references to the role that science and technology played in the story. Join with another pair, discuss and come up with a shared list of references. Links to Nature of science: LO 6; Biological world: LO 6 Disease detectives In your small group research one of the following early scientists: Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), Patrick Manson (1844-1922), Charles Louis Alphones Laveran (1845-1922), Ronald Ross (1857- 1932), Camillo Golgi (1843-1926) or Battista Grassi (1854-1925). Discover what disease they all helped to cure. Create a timeline (on paper or via role play) describing the highlights of their work in this field. Links to Nature of science: LOs 1 & 9; Biological world: LO 6 Role of science Create an animated video explaining the important role that science can play in providing realworld solutions to global health risks, e.g. diseases like malaria or HIV/Aids or the human health impact of alcohol intake, diet and physical activity. Links to Nature of science: LO 7; Biological world: LO 6 Citizen scientist Use your own words to describe a health issue in society that you are concerned about. List the things that you think are causing this issue. Create a table of possible solutions that you and others can get involved in. Try out one (or more) of these solutions. Keep a record of what happens, and reflect upon and evaluate this process. Links to Nature of science: LOs 2 & 5; Biological world: LO 6. Useful Links: • Understanding Science - Science and Society, UC Museum of Palaeontology of the University of California at Berkeley: undsci.berkeley.edu/article/scienceandsociety_01 Science in stories – pair, square and share • Stories of Ebola survivors, World Health Organization: who.int/features/2014/ebola-survivor-stories/en/ Disease Detectives • About Malaria, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/malaria/about/index.html • The Malaria Project: A teaching kit for high schools, European Molecular Biology Lab: scitech.web.cern.ch/scitech/Schools/TheMalariaProject.pdf Role of Science • Free online animated video maker: powtoon.com 9
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