Science Lesson Four | Nature Labs

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Chapter Four

Hard Stuff is Hard

Part One

Decision-making isn't easy

Continue Chapter Four

Even if life is hard, finding the next part of this story is simple - it's below!

Alberta Bats | Susan L. Holroyd

Podcasts

Are bats the grizzly bears of the sky? Yes, says Susan Holroyd, a regional coordinator with the Alberta Community Bat Program. It’s why Alberta...

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Gail Wallin

Podcasts

If the biodiversity crisis isn’t well-understood, the threat posed by invasive species might be going completely under the radar. Most of us see the...

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Dr. Stephen Herrero

Podcasts

One of the world's first and best-known bear researchers is, in many ways, the Jane Goodall of bears. Stephen Herrro is professor emeritus of...

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Reflection Activity

Option One: Draw or mind map the lessons you learned in this story and how they interconnect.
Option Two: Listen to a podcast related to this story and come up with three questions you'd like to ask the expert. See if you can find the answers online or submit them us for a future interview!

Did this story leave you with a question?

Ask a scientist, get an answer!

The best questions will be answered by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s scientists on video just for you! Make sure you include your name and school.

Breaking News!

Tariffs: Canada, we have a problem.

Part Two

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS YOU NEED TO LEARN IN THIS CLASS. YOUR TEACHER WILL SELECT WHICH ACTIVITIES YOU NEED TO COMPLETE BELOW.

The Art of Decision-Making

Think decisions aren't hard? Try your hand at reaching a consensus agreement between divergent stakeholders.

Core Concepts

Learn more about natural selection and extinction, and understand why this knowledge matters when making decisions.

Problem Solving

Good scientific studies don't start with an idea, but rather with a focused question that requires solving. * Recommended

Genetic Evolution Lab

Explore the concept of evolution and how species genetics change over time. Learn from the teachings of biologist Verne Lehmberg.

Species Adaptation Lab

How do species adapt to a changing environment? Find out by learning from the teachings of biologist Verne Lehmberg.

Endangered Species Lab

What makes a species endangered and why might it go extinct? Learn from the teachings of biologist Verne Lehmberg.

Part Three

HOW DOES THIS CLASS RELATE TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES?

Inquiry Media

Does one individual matter?

Does one individual matter?

How do you solve complex problems and make better decisions? Well, Dr. Kerry Bowman might be able to help. He’s a world-renowned ethicist and quite possibly the most interesting man in the world. Kerry took the time to join us in conversation to discuss the art of decision-making.

We’re featuring this podcast across all five Nature Labs subjects. You might not like every course you take in school, but they are all related. By listening to this podcast, hopefully you’ll better understand why.

Nature Labs · Dr. Kerry Bowman

More on Kerry Bowman

What do you think defines good ethics?
Do you agree with Kerry that good ethics is based on good science?
Do we do a good enough job of considering ethics in our scientific inquiries and decision-making processes?
When we talk about ethics, do we realize different regions and different people hold different ethical values? How should we weigh different ethical standards when making decisions?
What are the social, cultural, economic and biological ramifications of including ethics in our decision-making processes? What are the ramifications if we don't?
What role should ethics play in scientific research going forward?
How will you apply lessons learned in this story to this class and your life?

Further Exploration

Latest News

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Mount Robson Field Trip

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The Year That Was (Sept. 2024 – May 2025)

Careers Resources

And what a year it's been. The news cycle never slowed. Your classes have never been more relevant or more important given our ever-changing...

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Toolkit for Action

Problem Solving & Process

How to Solve a Problem

Gaps in Knowledge

Resources From the Curated Library

Protecting just 1.2% of Earth’s land could save most-threatened species, says study

Bias: none Source: The Guardian File Type: Study/Article Overview: Protecting just 1.2% of Earth’s land could...

In Defense of Biodiversity: Why Protecting Species from Extinction Matters

Bias: None Sub-Category: Natural Selection Source: Yale File Type: Essay Overview: Why preventing extinction matters Web Link: https://e360.yale.edu/features/in-defense-of-biodiversity-why-protecting-species-from-extinction-matters

A new approach to understanding subspecies can boost conservation

Bias: Centre Sub-Category: Extinction Source: The Conversation File Type: Essay/Analysis Overview: A new approach to understanding subspecies could...

More From the Curated Library

Natural Selection & Extinction

Science Resources

Want to know more about natural selection? Evolution? Extinction? The threat posed by invasive species? How about umbrella and keystone species? We've got you...

Read more

Additional Resources

Unit completion

Chapters

Chapter One

The System of Things

Chapter Five

Here’s How

Chapter Nine

Own Your Hypocrisy

Chapter Two

The Context of It All

Chapter Six

Your Turn

Chapter Ten

Keep Going

Chapter Three

We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

Chapter Seven

Dig Deeper

Chapter Eleven

One Last Thing

Chapter Four

Hard Stuff is Hard

Chapter Eight

Be Better

Chapter Twelve

The End (of the Beginning)

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