Aga Khan Academy, MYP4

Assessment: Writing Essay based on guiding questions.

Criterion D: Reflecting on the impact of science

Unit: Sustaining resources for Survival
Global Context: 1(image)

Scientific and technical innovation

How do we understand the worlds in which we live?
 systems, models, methods; products, processes and solutions
SOI: Survival of human race depends on how we change and control
different forms of energy sources.
Inquiry Question: How do humans manipulate energy for their own survival?
Assessment: Criterion D: Reflecting on the impact of science

Read the Article Carefully: There are 3 articles.

Article-1: Nuclear energy as clean sources of energy

When you hear the words “clean energy2,” what comes to mind?

Most people immediately think of solar panels or wind turbines, but how many of you thought
of nuclear energy?

In Pictures: Energy Sources of the Future (Link given below)

1
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/sustainableenergy.php (Images)
2
https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/3-reasons-why-nuclear-clean-and-sustainable (Text and Image)

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Nuclear is often left out of the “clean energy” conversation despite it being the second largest
source of low-carbon electricity in the world behind hydropower.

That’s about to change thanks to the launch of the NICE Future Initiative.

This new global effort under the Clean Energy Ministerial makes sure nuclear will be
considered in developing the advanced clean energy systems of the future.

So, just how clean and sustainable is nuclear?

Nuclear is a zero-emission clean energy source.

It generates power through fission, which is the process of splitting uranium atoms to produce
energy. The heat released by fission is used to create steam that spins a turbine to generate
electricity without the harmful by-products emitted by fossil fuels.

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI),

the United States avoided more than 14,000
million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions
between 1995 and 2016. That’s the equivalent of
removing 3 billion cars from the road.

It also keeps the air clean by removing thousands

of tons of harmful air pollutants each year that
contribute to acid rain, smog, lung cancer and
cardiovascular disease.

Despite producing massive amounts of carbon-free power, nuclear energy produces more
electricity on less land than any other clean-air source.

A typical 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility in the United States needs a little more than 1 square
mile to operate. NEI says wind farms require 360 times more land area to produce the same
amount of electricity and solar photovoltaic plants require 75 times more space.

To put that in perspective, you would need more than 3 million solar panels to produce the
same amount of power as a typical commercial reactor or more than 430 wind turbines.

Article-2: The protest in Kudankulam nuclear plant situated in southern India3

SWETA DAGA (02 July 2019)

On 10 September 2012, thousands of people from four villages in Tamil Nadu gathered on the
beaches of Idinthakarai, a village in the state’s Tirunelveli district, to protest against the
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, located barely two kilometers away. That day, uranium fuel
was being filled in the plant—the final step before the nuclear reactors are functional.

3
https://caravanmagazine.in/communities/women-protest-kudankulam-nuclear-plant (text and images)

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As the protestors—the majority of whom were women—marched towards the plant, the state
responded with tear gas and subsequently opened fire on the crowd. The protestors fled to the
sea to escape the police. One person was killed, and
66 people were arrested—several of them on charges
of sedition.

The KNPP is the largest nuclear power plant in India.

It has faced opposition from local residents and
fishing communities ever since it was first proposed
in 1979. Construction on the plant began in 2001, and
it has been operational since 2013. The protestors
claimed that the plant’s effluent, discharged into the
sea, releases toxins and impacts the quality of fish.
They feared that the plant will take away their
livelihood and that of future generations. Fish
workers said that since the plant has been operational,
the quantity of fish has reduced, and the varieties
diminished.

Article-3: Nuclear energy will spur Kenya’s economic growth 4 (Erick Maklago 09th Aug
2019)

Electric power is the prime mover for economic development, but Kenya’s energy sector has
been marred by challenges; limited distribution capacity, limited capacity during peak demand,
power rationing during drought periods, high cost of power production, and high cost of power
consumption. To help meet the growing energy needs, complex factors such as sorting out the
right mix of technology and managing the reliability of transmission grids ought to be
considered.

Kenya can improve its energy security by expanding its generation capacity for various sources
like hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear
power. On nuclear production, few people
understand the reasoning behind peaceful usage of
nuclear energy.

A majority of Kenyans are still sceptical about

nuclear energy, perhaps due to inadequate
knowledge. Some of the genuine concerns that face
the nuclear industry include safety of nuclear plants,
treatment/disposal of radioactive wastes and general
capacity of Kenya to sustain nuclear technology
programmes. Safety has been the greatest concern, particularly after the Fukushima disaster.
Most people are of the view that inasmuch as the probability of accidents is relatively low, the
effects can be devastating. As a mitigation strategy, there have been design considerations for
enhanced safety requirements.
Guiding Questions:
 Why are we facing global energy crisis even though we have efficient nuclear power as
source of energy to generate electricity?

4
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001337433/nuclear-energy-will-spur-kenya-s-economic-growth

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 Are there any limitations to use of nuclear energy? Explain your answer.
 What according to you is the best energy source for future to generate electricity?
 How according to you we humans manipulated the source of energy? Describe giving
some examples.
 What if we cannot generate enough electrical energy in future? How would our life
change?
 What is the role of science to ensure that energy sources for generating electricity is
sustained?
 What impacts will any scientific solution have on factors related to economical, social,
political and environmental? (Read task specific rubric)

Criterion D: Reflecting on the impact of science

Assess Level Descriptor Task specific descriptor
ment
level
0 The student does not reach a Unable to identify the issue at all to address it.
standard described by any of the Does not reach a standard described by any of the
descriptors below. descriptors below.
1–2 The student: Student is able to identify the global issue by
is able to outline the ways in reading the article but not completely
which science is applied and used appropriate.
to address a specific problem or Student is able to address the problem by
issue outlining its effects and how science can play a
is able to outline the key role in sustaining energy.
implications of the use of science Is able to describe implications of the use of
and its application in solving a science to solve the problem by using only one
specific problem or issue relevant factor from economical, political,
interacting with a factor environmental and social.
attempts to apply scientific Is be able to use partially scientific language
language to communicate his or and communication.
her understanding but does so with Is be present clearly but not precise at all.
limited effectiveness Is be able to document the source that has been
makes little attempt to document referred.
sources.

3–4 The student: Student is able to identify the global issue by

is able to outline and summarize reading the article.
the ways in which science is Is able to address the problem by outlining and
applied and used to address a summarizing its effects and how science can play
specific problem or issue a key role in sustaining energy.
is able to describe the Is able to describe implications of the use of
implications of the use of science science to solve the problem by using any two
and its application in solving a relevant factor from economical, political,
specific problem or issue environmental and social.
interacting with a factor Should be able to use sufficient scientific
language and communication.

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 is able to apply scientific Is able to present clearly but not at all precise.
language to communicate his or Should be able to document the source that has
her understanding but does not do been referred.
so clearly or precisely
attempts to document sources
correctly.

5–6 The student is able to: Student should be able to identify the global issue
describe the ways in which by reading the article. Should be able to address
science is applied and used to the problem by describing its effects and how
address a specific problem or issue science can play a key role in sustaining energy.
discuss the implications of the Should be able to evaluate implications of the use
use of science and its application in of science to solve the problem by using any two
solving a specific problem or issue relevant factor from economical, political,
interacting with a factor environmental and social.
apply scientific language to Should be able to use consistently scientific
communicate his or her language and communication should be clear
understanding clearly and even though not precise.
precisely but does not do so Should be able to document the source that has
consistently been referred.
document sources but does not
always do so correctly.

7–8 The student can: Student should be able to identify the global issue
explain the ways in which by reading the article. Should be able to address
science is applied and used to the problem by explaining its effects and how
address a specific problem or issue science can play a key role in sustaining energy.
discuss and evaluate the Should be able to evaluate implications of the use
implications of the use of science of science to solve the problem by using any three
and its application in solving a relevant factor from economical, political,
specific problem or issue environmental and social.
interacting with a factor Should be able to use consistently scientific
consistently apply scientific language and communication. Should be clear
language to communicate his or and precise.
her understanding clearly and Should be able to document the source that has
precisely been referred.
document sources completely.

Students can start writing from here:

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