1. Science and the Environment

2. An Introduction to Environmental Science

3. Are there any more examples?
Environmental Science aka (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 Destruction
Are there any more examples?

4. 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

5. Goal of Environmental Science
To understand and solve environmental problems
To accomplish this goal scientists focus on:
how we use natural resources
how our actions alter the environment
To study these types of interactions, scientists gather and analyze information from many different disciplines.

6. 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.

7. Applied Science (A) or Pure Science (B)
Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Mathematics
Applied Mathematics
Environmental Science

8. Major Fields that Contribute to Environmental Science
1. Biology
The study of living organisms.
Ex. Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, and Ecology
2. Earth Science
The study of the Earth’s nonliving systems and the planet as a whole.
Ex. Geology, Paleontology, Climatology, and Hydrology
3. Physics
The study of matter and energy.
Ex. Engineering
4. Chemistry
The study of Chemicals and their interactions
Ex. Biochemistry and Geochemistry
5. Social Sciences
The study of human populations
Ex. Geography, Anthropology, and Sociology

9. What did South Paulding High School look like 15 years ago?

10. 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.

11. Technology Revolution
An incredibly short and simple timeline of important changes in the relationship between man and the environment.
Hunter-Gatherers
(at least 12, B.C.)
The Industrial Revolution
( A.D.)
The Agricultural Revolution
(1,000 B.C-1700 A.D.)
Technology Revolution
(1900s -?)

13. Tragedy of the Commons

14. 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.

15. “The Tragedy of the Commons”
It was in the best interest of the individual to put as many animals in the commons as possible.
However, if too many animals grazed on the commons, they destroyed the grass.
Once the grass was destroyed, everyone suffered because no one could raise animals on the commons.

16. Conclusion
Someone or some group must take responsibility for maintaining a resource or it will become depleted.

17. Supply and Demand

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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. Comparing Developed and Developing
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

22. Consumption Trends

23. 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

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

25. Ecological Footprints
Ecological footprints are calculations that show the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country.

26. Ecological Footprint
It’s a way to express the differences in consumption between nations.

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

28. Sustainability is a key goal of environmental science.
A Sustainable World
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.

29. 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

30. Remember a few things as you explore environmental science further:
First, be prepared to listen to many viewpoints over a particular issue.
Second, investigate the source of the information you encounter.
Third, gather all the information you can before drawing a conclusion.

31. What’s the ISSUE?
What are some environmental problems in the world today?
What are some environmental problems in the local community?
What are some ways that we can solve these local problems?