Year 12 Earth and Environmental Science (General)

Earth and environmental scientists integrate knowledge drawn from diverse scientific disciplines in the study of Earth’s ancient and modern environments. Scientists strive to understand past and present processes so that reliable and scientifically-defensible predictions can be made about the future.

In this course, students develop their investigative, analytical and communication skills..  This development of scientific literacy enables students to investigate the natural world and the effects of human activity on our environment. They can apply these skills to their understanding of science issues in order to engage in public debate, solve problems and make evidence-based decisions about contemporary local, national and global issues. The knowledge, understanding and skills introduced in this course will provide a foundation for further studies or employment in a wide range of fields including the mining industry and environmental management sector.

 

Prerequisites:

An understanding of the Year 11 content is assumed knowledge for students in Year 12. It is recommended that students studying Unit 3 and Unit 4 have completed Unit 1 and Unit 2 or develop their understanding of the required content prior to commencing.



Syllabus:

The Year 12 syllabus is divided into two units which are delivered as a pair. The notional time for the pair of units is 110 class contact hours.

 

Unit 3 – Earth’s resources

Students gain an understanding of the timescales over which geological processes occur, and methods for determining the relative ages of rock strata. They learn about the importance of the resources industry to the economy of Western Australia.

Students learn how resource deposits are located and extracted. They have the opportunity to discuss the effect of resource use on society and to look at ways to use resources more efficiently.

 

Unit 4 – Sustainable Earth

Students explore the effects of natural hazards on humans and environments, and identify strategies for reducing the impact of natural disasters.  Conserving natural resources and promoting their sustainable use is important to managing our future. Students understand how renewable energy sources can provide energy, and investigate the benefits and challenges facing different energy sources. The important issue of global climate change is explored.  Students conduct investigations and use their scientific understanding to answer real-world questions and make evidence-based decisions.

 

More Information:

For further information regarding this course click here.

 

Career Pathways:

Click here to view a chart which shows a selection of jobs that have some relation to the subject of Earth and Environmental Science!