The hidden chemicals affecting primates’ hormones

Suitable for 14-19-year olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, STEM clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5/Grade 9-10 and Grade 11-12 biology and chemistry.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks (UK):
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

• This teaching resource explains the work of Dr Michael D. Wasserman from Indiana University Bloomington in the US. He is investigating how chemicals in the environment, including pollutants such as pesticides and flame retardants, impact the survival of primates.

• This resource also contains interviews with Michael and his team, and offers an insight into careers in primatology. If your students have questions for Michael, they can send them through the Futurum Careers website.

• The activity sheet provides ‘talking points’ (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) to prompt students to reflect on Michael’s research and challenges them to write a field journal about an imaginary field trip experience.

This resource was first published by Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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