Science Tech Infopack 2017

1 RAFFLES INSTITUTION YEAR 5 GENERAL PAPER STUDENTS’ INFORMATION PACKAGE Units: Science & Technology (Terms 3 & 4, 2017) Enduring Understandings And Essential Questions 2 Past Year Examination Questions 3 Nature of scientific knowledge 1. What is science? 7 2. a. Religion has nothing to do with science – and vice versa 11 b. Why Science does not disprove God 13 Science & ethics End-of-life matters 3. Patients' rights and end-of-life decisions 16 Drug patents 4. a. Why drug patents are needed 21 b. Drug patents are bad for your health – the cost of mismarketing 22 Animal testing 5. a. Should animal testing be banned? 24 b. Not Doctor Frankensteins 26 c. Singapore guidelines on animal testing 28 d. Alternatives to animal testing 29 Science and money 6. Billionaires with big ideas are privatizing American science 32 Science and impact on society Disruption & Skills 7. What Disruptive Technology Means 36 8. How Technology changes the skills we need to learn 38 9. Why Robots won't steal Accountants' Jobs 41 Justifications of new technologies Space 10. The politics of outer space 44 11. Why India is investing in space 47 Drones 12. Drones among us 50 13. a. Drones: Actually the most humane form of warfare ever 53 b. Our drone war burnout 55 Mathematics 14. Mathematics – certainty and reliability 59 15. Why Mathematics is beautiful and why it matters 62 16. Mathematics and its impact on society 65 ASSSESSMENT Term 3 & 4 - 1 full comprehension, 1 essay

2 Science & Technology Enduring Understanding(s): What will students understand as a result of this unit? The nature of science: 1. Science attempts to understand, explain and predict the world we live in, through diverse methods of experimentation or observation and theory construction. 2. Like all other disciplines, science rests on assumptions, which may or may not be justifiable. 3. The relationship between science and religion, in the particular the question of their compatibility, is a subject of continued debate. Science and society: 4. Science is a social enterprise, informed and affected by perspectives, values and interests. Scientific discovery, technological change and social change affect one another and cannot be discussed in isolation 5. In this way, technology has far-reaching effects, both positive and negative, on norms, values and quality of life. 6. The negative effects and ethical concerns revolving around scientific research as well as technological tools have