8. Explore hazards of radiation

Starter

What are the hazards of radiation? Ask students to identify what they perceive as the most dangerous aspects of radiation. What do they know about radiation burns and radiation sickness? Where have they learnt this information? Most will talk about Marvel movies. Myth-bust these movies.

Main Teaching

Use the handout to reinforce learning in the lesson. The students are to use the range of problems given to define their understanding of the difference between irradiation and radioactive contamination. Ask the students to make a risk assessment of the protections and measures that must be followed when using sources of radiation in a school laboratory. Health and safety in the practical science environment is an essential requirement – ask them to keep a journal of safety guidance they have followed. Think about the comparison between proactive and safe use of radioactive material and incidents of radioactive contamination – what have we learnt?

Career Film: This is Emin Veron. Emin works as a Fuel Performance Scientist for National Nuclear Laboratory.

Expert Film: This is Emin Veron who works for National Nuclear Laboratory as a Fuel Performance Scientist. Emin explores the hazards of radiation as part of his job.

Mission Assignment

Ask the students to describe and explain the difference between irradiation and contamination and apply this to the given questions. Using examples of sterilising, the students should explore why irradiation is used. They should explain how radiation can damage cells and describe precautions to be taken when using radiation.

Challenge Task: Ask the students to research scientists who publish the results of their work in scientific journals. Why do you think they do this? How is it different to publishing in mainstream media? Look up what is meant by the term 'peer review'. Discuss why it is important for the findings of studies into the effects of radiation on humans to be published by scientists and peer reviewed.