Part 1: Environment
The Science Behind the
Stories
www.aw-bc.com/Withgott
Chapter 1: Introduction to
Environmental Science

Environmental Science is the study of how the natural world
works, how our acts affect its condition and viceversa.

Use of renewable and nonrenewable sources
Human population growth

–

Malthus: Human population growth needs to be controlled
or the resources won't be enough; Easter island case
Social and environmental impact
–
ecological footprint: lobster overfishing
The Nature Of Environmental Science
01_05.JPG
www.aw-bc.com/Withgottt

Perception depends on:

age
gender
social class
home location
educational background




Nature of Science


Scientific Method
observation
–
–

testing
–

experiment
results
–

question(s)
hypothesis
statistical analysis
conclusions
Testing Hypothesis

manipulative and natural experiments
–
manipulative experiments


–
natural experiments


paleontology: too old/few to experiment
cosmology: too large/far away to experiment
experiments can be conducted naturally without
manipulation
Ecology is a mixture of both types of
experiments
Scientific process







scientific method
peer review
conference presentations
grants & funding for the study
repetitions
Theory is produced
paradigm: the theory can shift with time
Sustainability




population + consumption = environmental impact
What do you think of the footprints of different
societies?
Do countries with bigger footprints have an
obligation to reduce it?
Do third world countries, have the obligation to retain
the low footprint they already have before developing
economically and industrially?
Sustainable Development

environmental protection
economic welfare
social equality

The End


www.aw-bc.com/Withgottt