1. What is Environmental Science?
Chapter 1

2. What is Environmental science?
Environmental Science: the study of the impact of humans on the environment
Goal: to understand and solve environmental problems
Two areas of study:
1. How we use natural resources
2. how are actions alter our environment

3. Major fields of study that contribute to environmental science
definition
subfields
Biology
Study of living organisms
Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, Ecology
Earth Science
Study of the Earth’s nonliving systems and the planet as a whole
Geology, Paleontology, Climatology, Hydrology
Physics
Study of matter and energy
Engineering
Chemistry
Study of chemicals and their reactions
Biochemistry, geochemistry
Social Sciences
Study of human populations
Geography, anthropology, sociology

4. Our Environment through time
Hunter-gathers : hunted species to extinction
Agricultural Revolution : allowed human populations to grow at an unprecedented rate

5. Our Environment through time
Industrial Revolution
increased use of fossil fuel and machines
improved quality of life
Introduced new environmental problems

6. What are the main environmental problems?
Resource depletion
Natural resource: any natural mineral that is used by humans
Renewable resource: can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes
Nonrenewable resource: replaced a rate much slower than they are consumed

7. What are the main environmental problems?
Pollution
Is an undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms.
Biodegradeable pollutants: can be broken down by natural processes (ex. Food waste)
Nondegradeable pollutants: cannot be broken down by natural processes (ex. Lead, certain plastics)

8. What are the main environmental problems?
Loss of biodiversity
Biodiversity: the number and variety of species that live in an area

9. Economics and the Environment
Developed Countries
Higher average incomes
slower population growth
diverse industrial economies
strong social support systems
Undeveloped Countries
Lower average incomes
Simple – agricultural based economies
Rapid growth populations

10. Ecological Footprint
An ecological footprint shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country.
Sustainability – conditions in which human needs are met in such a way that the population can survive indefinitely
Are we living in a sustainable world?

11. Ecological Footprint Poster
Create an eye-catching poster to inform your peers about their Ecological Footprint and how to decrease it.
Informational
Colorful
Tips to decrease footprint