The study probed the impact of dPBL on two cohorts of first year chemistry students (160 per year) at Hull University, UK. The four scenarios were all based around sustainable development and included designing a microgeneration sustainable village and analysing the costs of producing biofuels for a fleet of 42 buses. Variety was introduced by allowing groups to select six ‘experts’ from a pool, which were effectively links to online papers of relevance, thus ensuring that each group began with a different baseline of supporting information. After the first cycle of independent study, reflection and reporting back, the tutor provided each group with a set of cards that contained new information regarding economic or logistical issues or changes to legislation, which the groups then had to respond to by adjusting their plans as they worked through the final stages of the activity.