Lesson at a Glance | He Tirohanga Whakamua
Ngā Whāinga Ako | Learning Intentions
Students will know
- What constitutes a Socio-Scientific Issue (SSI): an open-ended, complex problem based on cutting-edge biological science that has no single consensus answer and impacts society, culture, ethics, and policy.
- The 5 core dimensions of an NCEA Level 3 SSI: Biological Science, Bioethics, Mātauranga Māori / Tikanga, Economic/Legal Frameworks, and Stakeholder Perspectives.
- How to formulate a clear, researchable socio-scientific inquiry question for Level 3 Biology.
Students will demonstrate
- By selecting their target Level 3 Biology topic (e.g. "Should Aotearoa deploy CRISPR gene drives to achieve Pest Free 2050?").
- By completing Section 1 of their Level 3 Biology Socio-Scientific Report Portfolio.
Do Now | Tīmatanga Whakaaro (10 min)
Science vs Society Prompt:
"Science can tell us HOW to edit the DNA of a possum using CRISPR gene drives. Can science alone tell us SHOULD we release gene-drive possums into native Aotearoa forests?"
Unpack: No! Science provides empirical facts about mechanisms, genetics, and ecology, but deciding whether we SHOULD do it involves human values, bioethics, tikanga Māori, law, economic trade-offs, and societal risk tolerance. That is why it is a Socio-Scientific Issue.
The 5 Dimensions of a Level 3 Socio-Scientific Issue (15 min)
Genetics, molecular mechanisms, population biology, ecosystem dynamics, or medical physiology underlying the issue.
Bioethical principles (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice) and human rights impact.
Kaitiakitanga, taonga species, mauri, tapu, and Treaty of Waitangi (Wai 262) rights.
HSNO Act 1996, EPA regulations, industry economic costs, and government policy constraints.
The distinct groups affected by or invested in the issue — scientists, iwi and hapū, industry, government, and the public — who weigh the same evidence against different values and interests.
Target Issue Selection (15 min)
A population-level intervention: releasing a self-propagating genetic tool into wild possum, rat, or stoat populations to support Aotearoa's 2050 predator-free goal. Raises ecological, regulatory (HSNO Act, EPA), and cultural dimensions because the change is irreversible and affects a shared environment.
An individual-level intervention: editing a patient's own genome (somatic) or a heritable line (germline) to treat or prevent disease. Raises bioethical (autonomy, consent), regulatory, and equity-of-access dimensions because the change is contained to a consenting individual or their descendants.
Choose one as your target issue for the rest of this portfolio. Both are genuine socio-scientific issues, but the dimensions that matter most differ: a population-level release raises questions of consent for an entire ecosystem and iwi/hapū as kaitiaki, while a medical application raises questions of informed individual consent and access.
📁 Socio-Scientific Report Portfolio — Section 1: Issue Selection & Context
Students open their Level 3 Biology Portfolio and complete Section 1:
Section 1 Requirements:
1. Target Issue Statement & Inquiry Question: Formulate a clear 1-sentence inquiry question (e.g. "To what extent should Aotearoa utilise CRISPR gene drive technology in invasive mammalian pest control?").
2. Biological Context Summary: Write a 1-paragraph overview detailing the specific biological technology involved and why it has created a societal debate.
3. Initial Dimension Map: Outline the key conflict points across biological, ethical, cultural, economic, and political domains.
Exit Verification | Ka Mutu Hoki (5 min)
Exit Check:
"My Section 1 clearly defines a focused socio-scientific inquiry question and outlines why biological facts alone cannot resolve the issue."
Teacher Planning & NCEA Alignment
NCEA Level 3 Biology Alignment (3 Credits Internal):
- Socio-Scientific Issues: Integrate biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue.
- Issue Definition: Identify the biological, social, ethical, cultural, and economic dimensions of a contemporary biological debate.
Vocabulary: Socio-scientific issue (SSI), bioethics, gene drive, CRISPR-Cas9, pest eradication, kaitiakitanga, HSNO Act, stakeholder.