The Science Behind the Stories

Part 1: Environment

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Science is the study of how the natural world works, how our acts affect its condition and viceversa.

Use of renewable and nonrenewable sources Human population growth

– Malthus: Human population growth needs to be controlled or the resources won't be enough; Easter island case

Social and environmental impact– ecological footprint: lobster overfishing

The Nature Of Environmental Science

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Perception depends on: age gender social class home location educational background

Nature of Science

Scientific Method observation

– question(s)– hypothesis

testing– experiment

results– statistical analysis

conclusions

Testing Hypothesis

manipulative and natural experiments– manipulative experiments

paleontology: too old/few to experiment cosmology: too large/far away to experiment

– natural experiments experiments can be conducted naturally without

manipulation Ecology is a mixture of both types of

experiments

Scientific process

scientific method peer review conference presentations grants & funding for the study repetitions Theory is produced paradigm: the theory can shift with time

Sustainability

population + consumption = environmental impact What do you think of the footprints of different

societies? Do countries with bigger footprints have an obligation

to reduce it? Do third world countries, have the obligation to retain

the low footprint they already have before developing economically and industrially?

Sustainable Development

environmental protection economic welfare social equality

The End

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