Year 9 · Science · Science as a human endeavour

AC9S9H04

examine how the values and needs of society influence the focus of scientific research

The content description above is Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)’s own wording, reproduced unmodified from the Australian Curriculum v9.0, read in August 2026, and licensed CC BY 4.0.

© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) 2010 to present, unless otherwise indicated. This material was downloaded from the Australian Curriculum website and was not modified. ACARA does not endorse this product and is not affiliated with it.

Taught alongside it

The rest of Science as a human endeavour in Year 9.

The same idea, year by year

Where AC9S9H04 comes from and where it goes, for a student working below or above Year 9.

1. Year 8AC9S8H01explain how new evidence or different perspectives can lead to changes in scientific knowledge
2. Year 8AC9S8H02investigate how cultural perspectives and world views influence the development of scientific knowledge
3. Year 8AC9S8H03examine how proposed scientific responses to contemporary issues may impact on society and explore ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations
4. Year 8AC9S8H04explore the role of science communication in informing individual viewpoints and community policies and regulations
5. Year 10AC9S10H01explain how scientific knowledge is validated and refined, including the role of publication and peer review
6. Year 10AC9S10H02investigate how advances in technologies enable advances in science, and how science has contributed to developments in technologies and engineering
7. Year 10AC9S10H03analyse the key factors that contribute to science knowledge and practices being adopted more broadly by society
8. Year 10AC9S10H04examine how the values and needs of society influence the focus of scientific research