Environmental Science
Name: ______________________________
Chapter 1: Science and the Environment
Goal: The student will define environmental science and compare environmental science with ecology and list
the five major fields of study that contribute to environmental science.
Vocabulary:
1. Environmental science
2. Ecology
Chapter 1.1: Understanding Our Environment
Understanding our Environment
What do you think of when you hear the term “environment?” Some people think of a beautiful scene, like
mountains or streams flowing through the wilderness.
The environment is everything around us. It includes the natural world as well as things produced by humans.
It is a complex web of relationships that connect us with the world we live in.
What is Environmental Science?
Environmental science is the study of how humans interact with the environment. People work all over the
world to try to find solutions to problems people caused in the past to finding sustainable alternatives for the
future.
The Goals of Environmental Science
One of the major goals of environmental science is to understand and to solve environmental problems. In
order to accomplish this goal, scientists study two main types of interactions between humans and their
environment. One area of focus is on how we use natural resources, such as water and plants. The other
focuses on how our actions alter our environment. In order to study these interactions, they must gather and
analyze information from many different fields of science.
Many Fields of Study
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary science (involves many fields of study.) One important
foundations of environmental science is ecology. Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each
other and with their nonliving environment. Ex: ecologists study the relationship between bees and the plants
they pollinate, environmental scientists investigate how the nesting behavior of bees is influenced by human
activities (planting of suburban landscaping).
Other sciences also contribute to environmental science. For example: Chemistry helps us understand the
nature of pollutants; geology helps us model how pollutants travel underground; botany and zoology provides
information needed to preserve species; paleontologists study fossils so we can see how Earth’s climate has
changed over time and predict how future climate could possible affect future life on Earth.
Environmentalists may use information from other sciences at any given time. They also use information from
the social sciences (economics, law, politics, geography) to study human populations. The social sciences help
us to answer questions about how people use the park systems to how migration from rural to urban areas may
affect local environments.
Scientists as Citizens, Citizens as Scientists
Studying the environment is vital to maintaining a healthy and productive society, thus environmental scientists
are asked to share the information they get with the world.
How do scientists know what to study? Oftentimes, nonscientists make observations about the environment and
inquire about them. This prompts the environmental scientists to investigate the issues. For example, middle
school students in Minnesota were concerned about all the deformed frogs appearing in Minnesota lakes. In
Ohio, some high school students in Dublin were curious about how the endangered box turtles live and what
factors affected their nesting and hibernation sites. After careful studies, the students were able to present their
findings to city planners in the hope that the box turtle’s habitats would be protected.
Lesson Reflection:
Complete the handout labeled Major Fields of Study that Contribute to Environmental Science.
Assessment:
1. Describe the two main types of interactions that environmental scientists study. Give an example of
each.
2. Describe the major fields of study that contribute to environmental science.
3. Explain why environmental science is an interdisciplinary science.
4. What is the difference between environmental science and ecology?
Lesson Extension (Technology/Application/Connection to Real World):
Create an Environmental Postcard.
Who would you send it to and why?