Science and war

Accession Number: REL23826

An Australian innovation: the Dingo Scout Car. Army registration number 77160.

Suitable for both primary and secondary school students. Science and War is adapted to suit students at different age and aptitude levels.

Introduction

Times of war are also times of innovation and invention. At every level people at war try to find better ways of doing things, which can often make the difference between victory and defeat. New technologies and even new fields of research emerge due to wartime demands.

Themes

This program explores the impact and development of technology during wartime, and the resulting effects on both the battlefield and the home front. Diverse areas such as health & medicine, communications, transport and more are examined.

Science and War will help students develop an understanding of Australia's experience of war as they learn about the ways people have responded to new demands with initiative and inventiveness. Throughout the program, students will also observe that many technologies developed during wartime can and do contribute to the greater good in peacetime.

Strategic focus

This program uses investigation and enquiry to analyse and discuss different aspects of the collection relating to technology.

Science

ACSHE083: Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect peoples’ lives.

Science

ACSHE100: Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect peoples’ lives.

History

ACDSEH029: The range of sources that can be used in an historical investigation, including archaeological and written sources.

Science

ACSHE223: Science knowledge can develop through collaboration and connecting ideas across the disciplines of science.
ACSHE120: Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations.
ACSHE224: People use understanding and skills from across the disciplines of science in their occupations.
ACSHE119: Scientific knowledge changes as new evidence becomes available, and some scientific discoveries have significantly changed people’s understanding of the world.

Science

ACSHE223: Science knowledge can develop through collaboration and connecting ideas across the disciplines of science.
ACSHE120: Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations.
ACSHE224: People use understanding and skills from across the disciplines of science in their occupations.
ACSHE119: Scientific knowledge changes as new evidence becomes available, and some scientific discoveries have significantly changed people’s understanding of the world.

History

ACDSEH095: The places where Australians fought and the nature of warfare during World War I.
ACDSEH096: The impact of World War I, with a particular emphasis on Australia (such as the use of propaganda to influence the civilian population, the changing role of women, the conscription debate).

Science

ACSHE158: Advances in scientific understanding often rely on developments in technology and technological advances are often linked to scientific discoveries.
ACSHE161: Advances in science and emerging sciences and technologies can significantly affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities.
ACSHE230: The values and needs of contemporary society can influence the focus of scientific research.

History

ACDSEH108: The experiences of Australians during World War II (such as Prisoners of War (POWs), the Battle of Britain, Kokoda, the Fall of Singapore).
ACDSEH109: The impact of World War II, with a particular emphasis on the Australian home front, including the changing roles of women and use of wartime government controls (conscription, manpower controls, rationing and censorship).

Science

ACSHE158: Advances in scientific understanding often rely on developments in technology and technological advances are often linked to scientific discoveries.
ACSHE161: Advances in science and emerging sciences and technologies can significantly affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities.
ACSHE230: The values and needs of contemporary society can influence the focus of scientific research.