Describes how the department of physics of the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT) has been involved in the Peel Inlet-Harvey Estuary study. An appendix which presents the departmental approach to curriculum matters is also included. (HM)

A practical exercise for developing a simple cost-effective solar ultraviolet radiation dosimeter is presented for use by middle school science students. Specifically, this exercise investigates a series of experiments utilising the historical blue print reaction, combining ammonium iron citrate and potassium hexacyanoferrate to develop an…

This paper reviews design teaching at a total of 15 chemical engineering departments across Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The emphasis is on the capstone Design Project, which can be viewed as a major transition subject for students as they move into the workplace. The study shows that this subject has evolved to act as an…

"I can feel it making my brain bigger": from a Year 8 student at Pinjarra Senior High School (SHS) halfway through the two-year Thinking Science Program. Pinjarra was a pilot school for the program in 2009/10 and a growing number of schools in Western Australia (WA) are implementing this program in Years Seven to Nine as part of the…

Australia's marine environment hosts a high level of diverse endemic species along with some of the highest biodiversity in the world. Two-thirds of the population of Australia are living in coastal areas and can be considered a threat to marine life which is very vulnerable to human impacts. Although marine environments conserve high economic…

Described is physics education in Australia at the secondary level. Its origins based on British traditions and the influence of American thought and practice on its development are discussed. Implications for the future are examined. (YP)

Presented is the development of elementary school science in Australia, beginning in 1900 and including changes produced by the impact of American and British science curriculum reforms as these manifested themselves in the 1960-1970 period. (PEB)

Describes the origin of "The Web of Life," as an Australian adaptation of the BSCS materials. Reviews various aspects of the influence of these materials on Australian secondary school biology since 1964. (CS)

Presented is a discussion of curriculum planning in science in Australian schools and a review of the Australian Science Education Project. (SL)

Describes the development of the Australian biological curriculum materials, "Biological Science: The Web of Life," as a result of linking efforts with the United States BSCS "color versions" in biology. (CS)

Outlines a unit on mice providing an introduction to mammals and simple classification. Describes student activities, concerning mice, using an inquiry approach and the resource materials a teacher might use in utilizing this unit. This is one of some 40 ASEP units designed to help teachers organize and plan science courses. (BR)

Author finds the Australian Science Education Project (ASEP) Unit 3 (Places for People) heavily biased toward confortable middle class living and dealing with only one small segment of contemporary society, namely Australia. Author doubts that Unit 305 will help students to understand much about population pressure in underdeveloped countries.…

The Australian Web of Life biology course is evaluated as to its philosophy and mode of instruction. The study reveals that the use of inquiry-oriented practices is relatively low and that teachers consider the objectives of the course more important than do their classes. (Author/DS)

Describes the background and 38 steps of the development of the Australian Science Education Project (ASEP) Curriculum. Discusses some implications and eight points using formative evaluation to improve science curriculum materials. (YP)

During 1974, materials developed by the Australian Science Education Projects (ASEP) became available in final published form. The publication of these materials was an especially important undertaking since ASEP was the first national curriculum project, in any subject area, to be developed in Australia. This report presents research into four…