Science 30 case studies
Science 30 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Science 30 is a senior secondary science course and diploma examination in Alberta, Canada, designed for students who want a science credit that connects directly to real-world issues rather than following the biology-chemistry-physics sequence of the traditional academic stream. It suits students completing high school graduation requirements, upgrading for post-secondary admission, or returning to study later in life, particularly those interested in environmental science, health, and technology policy. The exam samples four equally weighted themes: how living systems respond to their environment, chemistry and the environment, electromagnetic energy, and energy and the environment. Questions ask you to apply concepts to unfamiliar contexts - interpreting data about a pollutant, tracing energy through a food web, or reasoning about radiation dose - rather than recalling isolated definitions. The Science 30 case studies are 5 cases and about 2,284 words.
1Nitrate in a Farm Well
A rural family draws drinking water from a shallow well beside a 40-hectare canola field. Testing shows nitrate-nitrogen at 14 mg/L; the guideline for nitrate-nitrogen in drinking water is 10 mg/L.
545 words, about 3 min2Painting a Bridge in a Cold Snap
A crew is applying a two-part epoxy coating to a steel pedestrian bridge. The manufacturer specifies application between 10 °C and 35 °C and a maximum relative humidity of 85%.
448 words, about 2 min3Choosing a Lamp for a Greenhouse
A greenhouse grower wants supplemental lighting for seedlings over a 14-hour photoperiod in winter. The bench is 4 m long and 1.2 m wide.
424 words, about 2 min4A Wind Turbine for a School
A school considers a 10 kW rated wind turbine. Local wind data show an average wind speed of 5.5 m/s at hub height.
398 words, about 2 min5Iron in a Lake After a Storm
A lake receives runoff from a subdivision. After a heavy storm, monitoring shows dissolved iron at 0.9 mg/L (background 0.1 mg/L) and a sharp drop in dissolved oxygen in the bottom 2 m, from 8 mg/L to 2 mg/L.
469 words, about 2 min