Unit 1 Introduction to Environmental Science Chapter 1

Unit 1: Introduction to Environmental Science Chapter 1 Section 1: Understanding our Environment 1

Environmental Science • Environment (def): v Circumstances and conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms. v Including social and cultural conditions that affect an individual or community. 2

Environmental Science • Environmental Science is the systematic study of our environment and our place in it. v Highly Interdisciplinary v Inclusive v Holistic v Mission-Oriented 3

Goals of Environmental Science • • To understand solve environmental problems. Environmental scientists study two main types of interactions between humans and their environment: 1) How our actions alter our environment. 2) The use of natural resources. 4

Environmental Science 5

Many Fields of Study Environmental science is an interdisciplinary science, which means that it involves many fields of study: Ecology is the study of interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment. 6

Scientists as Citizens, Citizens as Scientists • • • Governments, businesses, and cities recognize that studying our environment is vital to maintaining a healthy and productive society. Thus, environmental scientists are often asked to share their research with the world Often, nonscientists’ observations are the first step toward addressing an environmental problem. 7

What is Environmental Science • “For an increasing number of environmental issues the difficulty is not to identify remedies. Remedies are well understood; the problem is to make these remedies socially, economically and politically acceptable. ” Barbara Ward Economist 8

Remember • • What is our proper place in nature? What ought we do and what can we do to protect the irreplacable habitat that produced us and supports us? 9

Criteria for Environmental Literacy • • Awareness and appreciation of natural and built environments. Knowledge of natural systems and ecological concepts. Understanding of current environmental issues. The ability to use analytical and problemsolving skills on environmental issues. 10