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Intro to Environmental ScienceCh. 1 and 2
I. What is Environmental Science?
A. Environmental science (ES) is the study of the interaction between humans and the environment.
B. The environment includes all conditions that surround living organisms:
1. Abiotic – climate, air, water, soil, landforms, etc
2. Biotic – other living organisms and relationships
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic?
C. ES is complex and interdisciplinary, and includes concepts and ideas from multiple fields of study:
II. Key Themes of ESA. Humans and nature are intimately
connected1. Success for one involves success for the other2. Depend upon the environment for our
existence and economies
B. Humans alter natural environments1. Convert land from its natural state into urban,
suburban, and agricultural areas2. Change the chemistry of air, water and soil3. Have global impacts – Gaia hypothesis
C. Human population growth1. Human population has more than doubled in
the last 40 years - over 7 billion people alive today
2. As human populations increase, competition for limited resources increases; leading to famine, war, disease, and environmental damage
3. This is THE underlying environmental issue
D. Carrying Capacity and Sustainability1. What is the maximum number of people the
Earth can support?2. Currently we are using resources faster than
they can be replenished (~1980)3. “Tragedy of the Commons” – by Garrett Hardin
(1968)4. Must work to develop sustainability:
a. Scientific – resources and ecosystemsb. Economic – growth and development
5. How can we balance economic growth with resource use and ecosystem preservation, so that future generations are not negatively affected?
6. Ecological Footprinta. What does it tell us?b. How do we calculate it?
http://myfootprint.org
E. Science and Values1. Both are needed to solve environmental
problems2. Knowing scientific data and understanding its
implications3. Justifications for valuing the environment:
a. Utilitarian – survival and economicb. Ecological – individual species and systemsc. Aestheticd. Recreationale. Inspirationalf. Creativeg. Moralh. Cultural
III. Thinking Critically about the Environment
A. Use scientific data and judgment to solve environmental problems – fact vs. belief
B. The scientific method1. Make observations and develop questions2. Gather background information3. Form a testable hypothesis4. Design a controlled experiment to test the
hypothesis (3 rules):A. Have a controlB. Test only ONE variableC. Use largest sample size possible
Hypothesis: Burning will increase frequency of prairie wildflowers.
Which is the control group?
5. Collect and record data a. Qualitative vs. quantitativeb. Organize data in tables
6. Analyze and interpret dataa. Graphically – manipulated and responding
variables7. Draw conclusions
5. Determine whether the results support or reject the hypothesis
6. Error analysis – uncertainties due to experimental errors
a. Repeat experiment and disseminate findings
The Process of Science
Problem recognition or question
Hypothesis development
Experimentation
Analysis
Share knowledge
Make predictions
Hypothesis supported? YESNO
Other scientistsNew knowledge
C. Distinguish science from pseudoscience1. Scientific theory - hypothesis that has been
repeatedly tested and confirmed by multiple groups of researchers, and is widely accepted by the scientific community
2. Pseudoscience - untestable, lacks empirical evidence, or based on faulty reasoning or belief
D. Challenges and Limitations of ES1. Complex interactions of natural and human-
dominated systems 2. No “control planet” to compare to Earth3. Virtually every part of the planet has been
altered by humans (e.g. lead in the Greenland ice sheet)
4. Subjectivity – “Paper or plastic?”
E. Addressing Environmental Issues
Scientific assessment
Risk analysis
Public education and involvement
Political action
Evaluation
Case Study: Lake Washington• Scientific assessment
• Risk analysis
• Public education and involvement
• Political action
• Evaluation
