Using this resource
This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: Science for Year 9 students. It draws on the National Library of Australia’s Oral History and Folklore Collection, which has recorded the thoughts and stories of thousands of influential Australians from all disciplines.
This resource engages students with a rich selection of historical sources and challenges them to draw their own conclusions—not only about science and technology, but about the people behind the discoveries. It highlights four influential Australian scientists and uses their oral history recordings, giving some background to their major discoveries and exploring their early influences and the struggles they faced before and after their successes.
By bringing a personal side to science, this resource gives students a better understanding of the role of scientists; the responsibilities that come of great discoveries; and the ways in which ideas, career paths and goals are shaped and redefined throughout a person’s life.
