Content (Syllabus outline)

Science and technology in social, environmental and historical context.  The role of economic, ethical and social aspects in education and public awareness.

The nature of science.

Science and pseudoscience.

The use and misuse of knowledge in biology (knowledge as a useful tool and knowledge as a tool/a weapon for unethical purposes).

Differentiation between the knowledge of the content, attitudes, values and behaviour.

Specification of socioscientific issues – SSI based on the understanding of scientific concepts which are reflected in social, economic and political contexts of the society.

Socioscientific issues (SSI) and biology education:

• The influence of SSI within the framework of biology subjects on the students' interest, the development of their critical thinking, argumentative skills, reasoning and moral judgement.
• The role of SSI within the framework of biology subjects on the development of scientific literacy of primary and secondary school students.   

Case studies of socioscientific issues in the field of biology education and related fields: animal experiments, the use of GMOs in food and nutrition for humans, bioterrorism, preservation of large animals, cloning, artificial insemination of women aged 40 years and over, intensive agriculture, the use of pesticides, etc.

Independent students’ research work in the selected field of SSI.

Preparation, presentation and evaluation of the project work.

Organisation and implementation of an open door day or other natural science days for primary and secondary school students. 

Prerequisites

Enrolment into the first cycle degree study programme