Science and the Environment

An Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Scienceaka (The study of the impact of humans on the environment.)

• How We Use Natural Resources

-Water

-Plants

-Food/Animals

-Energy

• How We Change Our Environment

-Pollution

-Climate Change

-Loss of Biodiversity

-Habitat DestructionAre there any more examples?

What is Environmental Science?•Environmental Science is the study of the impact of humans on the environment.

•Focuses on 3 main areas:–conservation and protection of natural resources

–environmental education and communication

–environmental research

Goal of Environmental ScienceTo understand and

solve environmental problemsTo accomplish this goal scientists focus on:‒ how we use

natural resources‒ how our actions

alter the environment

Pure Science Vs. Applied Science

Pure Science: Systematic observation of natural phenomena solely for the discovery of unknown laws relating to facts; the study of science alone, not including its relations to other subjects.

Applied Science: The discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems.

Applied Science (A) or Pure Science (B)

Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Mathematics

Applied Mathematics

Environmental Science

Major Fields that Contribute to Environmental Science

1. Biology

2. Earth Science

3. Physics

4. Chemistry

5. Social Sciences

The study of living organisms.

The study of the Earth’s nonliving systems and the planet as a whole.

The study of matter and energy.

The study of Chemicals and their interactions

The study of human populations

Ex. Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, and Ecology

Ex. Geology, Paleontology, Climatology, and Hydrology

Ex. Engineering

Ex. Biochemistry and Geochemistry

Ex. Geography, Anthropology, and Sociology

The Three Main Environmental Problems?

Resource Depletion: The exhaustion of raw materials (renewable or non-renewable) within a region.

Pollution: An undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms.

Loss of biodiversity: A decrease in the number and variety of species that live in an area.

An incredibly short and simple timeline of important changes in the relationship between

man and the environment.

Hunter-Gatherers

(at least 12,000--1000 B.C.)

The Agricultural Revolution

(1,000 B.C-1700 A.D.)

The Industrial Revolution

(1760-1900 A.D.)

Technology Revolution

(1900s -?)

Tragedy of the Commons

Garrett Hardin: “Tragedy of the Commons”

The main difficulty in solving environmental problems is the conflict between the short-term interests of the individual and the long-term welfare of society.

“The Tragedy of the Commons”

Someone or some group must take responsibility

for maintaining a resource or it will become depleted.

Conclusion

Supply and Demand

• Supply and Demand

The greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that thing is worth.

The Law of Supply and Demand

states as the demand for a good or

service increases, the value of the

food or service also increases.

Does everyone consume resources equally?

Developed Countries have higher average incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies, and stronger social support systems.

Ex. The United States, Canada, and Japan

Developing Countries have lower average incomes, simple and agriculture-based economies, and rapid population growth.

Ex. Many Countries in Africa and South America

Developed Countries

Developing Countries

Developed Nations

• Higher Incomes

• Slower Population Growth

• Diverse Industrial Economies

• Stronger Social Support

• Lower Average Incomes

• Simple Agriculture-based Communities

• Rapid Population Growth

• Use about 75% of world’s resources, although they make up only 20% of the world’s population

Comparing Developed and Developing

CONSUMPTION TRENDS

Developed Nations make up only ~20% of the world’s population

Blue: Advanced Economies

Orange: Emerging and Developing Economies

Red: Emerging and Developing Economies that are the least developed

Developed Nations uses ~75% of the world’s resources.

Ecological footprints are

calculations that show the

productive area of Earth needed

to support one person in a

particular country.

Ecological Footprints

• It’s a way to express the differences in consumption between nations.

Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint: the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country

Sustainability is the

condition in which human

needs are met in such a

way that a human

population can survive

indefinitely.

Sustainability is a key goal

of environmental science.

A Sustainable World

What is the limiting factor for human sustainability?

The availability of natural resources

What pressures/challenges to sustainability are we facing?

Increasing Population & Decreasing Natural Resources

What is the ultimate goal of environmental science?

To create a sustainable world

• Remember a few things as you explore environmental science further:

S e c o n d , i n v e s t i g a t e

t h e s o u r c e o f t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n y o u

e n c o u n t e r.

Fi rs t , be prepared

to l i s ten to many

v iewpoints over a

par t icu lar issue .

Th i rd , gather a l l

the in format ion you

can before drawing

a conclus ion .

What’s the ISSUE?

What are some ways that we can solve these local

problems?

What are some environmental

problems in the local community?

What are some environmental

problems in the world today?