Nature of Science Science 1101. Nature of Science Environmental Science Outline: Outline: Science As a Way of Knowing Science As a Way of Knowing Scientific

Nature of ScienceNature of Science

Science 1101Science 1101

Nature of ScienceNature of Science

Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science Outline:Outline:

Science As a Way of KnowingScience As a Way of KnowingScientific DesignScientific DesignReasoningReasoningScientific TheoryScientific Theory

Nature of Nature of ScienceScience

Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science Outline:Outline:

Approaches to ThinkingApproaches to Thinking History of History of

EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism Human DimensionsHuman Dimensions

Rich and Poor Rich and Poor


Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science

Science of the Environment Science of the Environment Circumstances and Circumstances and conditions that surround an conditions that surround an organism or group of organism or group of organisms.organisms.

Social and cultural Social and cultural conditions that affect an conditions that affect an individual or community individual or community manman



Nature of Science Nature of Science


Environmental Science:Environmental Science:is the systematic study of our is the systematic study of our environment and our place in environment and our place in

it.it.

Highly InterdisciplinaryHighly InterdisciplinaryInclusiveInclusiveHolisticHolisticMission-OrientedMission-Oriented



SCIENCE AS A WAY OF SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING:KNOWING:

Science rests on the assumptions the Science rests on the assumptions the world is knowable through empirical world is knowable through empirical

study and logical analysis.study and logical analysis.

Reduces tendency to rely on Reduces tendency to rely on emotional reactions and emotional reactions and unexamined assumptions.unexamined assumptions.Searches for testable evidence.Searches for testable evidence.

Explanations are considered Explanations are considered provisional.provisional.

Additional evidence may disprove Additional evidence may disprove current theories.current theories.



SCIENCE AS A WAY OF SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING:KNOWING:

Scientists collaborate in a Scientists collaborate in a cumulative, self-correcting cumulative, self-correcting

process.process.

Many people often work on many Many people often work on many different aspects of a problem.different aspects of a problem.Creativity, insight, aesthetics and Creativity, insight, aesthetics and

even luck play important roles in even luck play important roles in scientific researchscientific research

Nature of Science Nature of Science Environmental Science.Environmental Science.

SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING:SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING:

Scientific Design:Scientific Design:

ReproducibilityReproducibility Experiments must be designed and Experiments must be designed and

recorded such that other researchers recorded such that other researchers can exactly reproduce them.can exactly reproduce them.

Controlled StudiesControlled Studies Comparisons are made between Comparisons are made between

experimental and control experimental and control populations.populations. Every factor except the one being Every factor except the one being

studied is held constantstudied is held constant



Hypotheses and Theories:Hypotheses and Theories:

HypothesisHypothesis Conditional explanations that Conditional explanations that

can be tested by further can be tested by further observation or experiment.observation or experiment. Logically, a hypothesis based on Logically, a hypothesis based on

inductive reasoning can be shown inductive reasoning can be shown to be wrong, but can almost never to be wrong, but can almost never be shown to be unquestionably be shown to be unquestionably true.true. Evidence is always provisionalEvidence is always provisional



Scientific Theory:Scientific Theory:


















Statistics and Probability:Statistics and Probability:

ProbabilityProbability An attempt to measure and An attempt to measure and

predict the likelihood of an predict the likelihood of an event.event.

Sample SizeSample Size A critical experimental variable A critical experimental variable

is the number of observations is the number of observations necessary in order to have a necessary in order to have a reliable representation of a reliable representation of a population.population.



Approaches to Knowledge and Approaches to Knowledge and Thinking:Thinking:

Analytical ThinkingAnalytical Thinking How can I break this problem How can I break this problem

into parts?into parts? Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking

How can I approach this How can I approach this differently? differently?

•• Logical ThinkingLogical Thinking How can deductive reasoning How can deductive reasoning

help?help?




Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking What am I trying to do?What am I trying to do?

Reflective ThinkingReflective Thinking What does it all mean?What does it all mean?







Identify and evaluate premises and Identify and evaluate premises and conclusions in an argument.conclusions in an argument.

Acknowledge and clarify Acknowledge and clarify uncertainties, vagueness, uncertainties, vagueness, equivocation, and contradictions.equivocation, and contradictions.

Distinguish between facts and values.Distinguish between facts and values. Recognize and assess assumptions.Recognize and assess assumptions. Distinguish source reliability or Distinguish source reliability or

unreliability.unreliability. Recognize and understand conceptual Recognize and understand conceptual

frameworks.frameworks.







Global Concerns:Global Concerns:

An increased travel and An increased travel and communication enables communication enables person to know about daily person to know about daily events in places unknown in events in places unknown in previous generations.previous generations. Common environment shared Common environment shared

on a global scale.on a global scale.


Environmental Science.Environmental Science.

CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:CONDITIONS:

Causes of Environmental Causes of Environmental DegradationDegradation

More than 6 billion people now More than 6 billion people now occupy the earth, and we add about occupy the earth, and we add about 85 million more each year85 million more each year..

Most growth will be in poorer Most growth will be in poorer countries where present populations countries where present populations already strain resources and already strain resources and servicesservices



Rich and Poor Countries:Rich and Poor Countries:


About 20% of the world's About 20% of the world's population live in the twenty population live in the twenty richest countriesrichest countries.. Average per capita income above Average per capita income above

$25,000$25,000



Rich and Poor Countries:Rich and Poor Countries:


Other 80% live in middle or low-Other 80% live in middle or low-income countriesincome countries.. Ten poorest countries each have Ten poorest countries each have

average per capita income of less average per capita income of less than $200.00than $200.00

Richest 200 people in the world Richest 200 people in the world have a combined wealth of $1 have a combined wealth of $1 trilliontrillion.. More than total owned by poorest More than total owned by poorest

half of the world population (3 half of the world population (3 billion)billion)

Documents

Nature of Science Science 1101. Nature of Science Environmental Science Outline: Outline: Science As a Way of Knowing Science As a Way of Knowing Scientific