What is Environmental Science?

The study of how humans interact with the environment

What is the Environment?

Environment- from the French word environner to encircle or surround

Everything around you both natural and man made….

Goals of Environmental Science

Understand and solve environmental problems

Accomplished by studying interactions between humans and the environment

1. How we use natural resources2. How our actions alter the environment

Name the five fields of study that contribute to environmental science

Biology Earth Science Physics

Chemistry Social Science

Is environmental science the same as environmentalism?

No, often separated by individual’s goals• Environmental science is the use of

scientific methods to study the processes and systems in the environment in which we live• Environmentalism is working to influence

attitudes and polices that affect our environment.

Example: Petroleum geologist Env scientist who study geology to find oil resources.

What is this geologist goal?

Increase access to benefit their company & self ????

OR Protect the environment where the oil is

located ????

Are environmental issues a recent phenomena?

No Environmental issues have emerged in accordance with

human history

A Greek Complaint

• 400 BC Plato complained that Greece was once blessed with fertile soil and clothed with abundant forest of trees until the trees were cut to build houses and ships rains washed the soil into the sea leaving a skeleton of a body wasted by disease.

A Roman Complaint • 38 BC Roman Poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus

wrote The smoke, the wealth , the noise of Rome Air pollution was referred to as heavy heaven or

infamous air.

ANY QUESTIONS?