Intro to Environmental Systems and Nature of Science

Let’s Talk about it!

Should environmental scientists’ discoveries about the natural world influence human activity? If so, how?

How do scientists uncover, research, and solve environmental problems?

I. What is Environmental Science?It is the study of our planet’s natural systems and how humans and the environment affect one another

The environment includes all living and nonliving things with which organisms interact.

Understanding the interactions between humans and the environment is the first step to solving environmental problems.

National Marine Fisheries Service scientists studying whether commercial boats are harming endangered killer whales

II. Environmental Science Vs. Environmentalism

• Environmental Science: Objective, unbiased pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it

• Environmentalism: Social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world

III. Population and the environment

Population Over the last several hundred years, human

population and resource consumption have increased dramatically

• Tremendous and rapid human population growth can be attributed to:

• The Agricultural Revolution: About 10,000 years ago; humans began living in villages, had longer life spans, and more surviving children.

• Industrial Revolution: Began in early 1700s; driven by fossil fuels and technological advances

Did You Know? The human population increases by about 200,000 people every day.

IV. Resources Natural resources are

materials and energy sources found in nature that humans need to survive. Renewable resources:

Naturally replenished over short periods

Nonrenewable resources: Naturally formed more slowly than we use them.

Renewable resources can become nonrenewable if used faster than they are replenished

Sustainable: able to meet the current demand for a resource without depleting future suppy

V. Tragedy of the Commons

Describes a situation in which resources, made available to everyone, are used unsustainably and eventually depleted

Resource management, whether voluntary or mandated, can help avoid resource depletion

The “commons” refers to a public pastureland that was shared by villagers in 19th-century England.

Nature of Science

I. What Science is and What it is Not

Science is an organized way of studying the natural world, and the knowledge gained from such studies.

Science assumes that the natural world functions in accordance with rules that do not change.

Science does not deal with the supernatural.

Science relies on evidence from measurements and observations.

Scientific ideas are “supported,” not “proven,” and “accepted,” not “believed in.”

II. Process of Science

Science involves asking questions, making observations, seeking evidence, sharing ideas, and analyzing results.

Science is not linear—the process loops back on itself and follows many different paths.

Science is a dynamic, creative endeavor.

II. Process of Science

Hypothesis: testable idea that attempts to explain a phenomenon or answer a scientific question. It is NOT a question.

Examples of good hypotheses: 1. All daisies have the same number of

petals.2. If you get at least 6 hours of sleep, you

will do better on tests than if you get less sleep

3. Eating greasy food causes pimples.

II. Process of Science

Independent vs Dependent variableIndependent: variable that scientist

manipulates (i.e. time, amount of water etc)—ALWAYS on the x axis

Dependent: depends on the conditions set up in the experiment—ALWAYS on the y axis

Graphing Review

I. Graphing

A. There are 3 things that all graphs must have 1. Title-have to tell audience what you are representing

(i.e. Time vs. Distance)—must be descriptive 2. Label for the x axis 3. Label for the y axis 4. Scale needs to be spread out across the graph not

lumped into one corner

You must decide what type of graph to use to BEST represent the data

II. Types of graphs

There are three types of graphs we will use in science 1. Pie

2. Bar

3. Line

Which type of graph do you think goes with each type of data? Trends

Percentages

Comparisons

III. Types of graphs

Pie Typically used to show a piece of the whole or percentages.

This type of graph is rarely used in environmental because we look more at trends and comparisons to previous data. However, it is used when talking about the atmosphere and gases etc.

Line Typically show trends. Multiple lines can show comparisons with

multiple data points.

Bar

Typically show comparisons between items

Examples of Data

Ethics & Economics

Open your phone, download the app Socrative student! ROOM NAME: CYFAIRES

I. Building on Environmental Science

Addressing environmental problems involves more than just understanding the science.Ethics: Study of behavior (good and bad, right

and wrong), moral principles, and values

Culture: Ensemble of knowledge, beliefs, values, and learned ways of life shared by a group of people

Worldview: Perception of the world and a person’s place in it

II. Environmental Ethics Environmental ethics is the

application of ethical standards to the relationship between humans and the environment. Anthropocentrism: Humans and

human welfare most important

Biocentrism: All living things have value; some may be more important than others

Ecocentrism: Well-being of a species or community more important than that of an individual

III. What is Economics?The study of how resources are

used and distributed

Markets tend to move toward equilibrium, where demand for a product matches supply.

Cost-benefit analysis is a decision-making tool that compares an activity’s gains and costs.

IV. Economics and the Environment

• Economies depend on the environment for goods and services.

• Goods: Sunlight, fresh water, timber, and fossil fuels

• Services: Nutrient cycling and purification of air and water

• Economic activity can negatively affect the environment, which in turn can negatively affect economies.

V. Harmful Economic Assumptions

These long-held economic assumptions have had negative impacts on the environment:Costs and benefits only affect buyers and

sellers.Short-term costs and benefits should be

emphasized.Resources are unlimited.Economic growth is continual.

VI. Environmental Policy

A set of general plans and principles for interactions between humans and the environment

Effective environmental policy involves input from science, ethics, and economics.

In the U.S., all three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) are involved in federal environmental policy.

VII. State Vs Local policy

State and local environmental policies cannot violate the U.S. Constitution.

The strength of environmental policy differs from state to state.

States that experience environmental disasters tend to have stronger environmental laws.

1. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT RIGHTS SOMEONE HAS?

2. What is it based on?

3. What things in history have changed those perspectives?

4. Are the rights of people the same today as they were 40 years ago? Why or Why not?