Chapter 1

Environmental Science
1.1: What is Environmental Science?
Think-pair-share with someone sitting next to you:

What is environmental science and why should you study it?

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1.2: The Process of Science
● Science is a method in which we learn about the natural world
● Knowledge is gained through observation, experimentation, and
exploration
● Attributes of science:
○ Objective
○ Non-dogmatic
○ Self-correcting
○ Transparent

What do these things mean to you?

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1.2: The Process of Science
Basic Science vs. Applied Science

Basic science:

● Science that produces knowledge regardless of the short-term application

● Nothing “basic” or simple about it
● Often, this type of science ends up being invaluable in the future, in
unpredictable ways

Applied Science:

● Science that is used to solve specific problems

1.2: The Process of Science
Science employs two types of logical thinking:

● Inductive Reasoning: uses related observations to

arrive at a general conclusion

● Deductive Reasoning: uses a general principle or

law to forecast specific results

Examples of each?
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1.2: The Process of Science
Scientific Method and Hypothesis Testing

Hypothesis: an explanatory statement

● Not just a prediction

Experimental Variables: any part of the

experiment that can vary or change during the
experiment.

Controlled variables: are parts of the experiment

that do not change

Examples?
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under CC BY 4.0 by
OpenStax.
1.2: The Process of Science
Scientific Work is Transparent and Open to Critique

New knowledge is disseminated and vetted through the peer-review and

publication
● Peer-review : anonymous critique by other scientists, only good science
makes it through and gets shared/published
● This process weeds out bad science
(invalid methods, improper conclusions, etc)

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1.3: Environment and Sustainability
Think-pair-share with someone sitting next to you:

What does sustainability mean to you?

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1.3: Environment and Sustainability
Sustainable development: Defined in Our Common Future (1987), the
report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, as...

● …development that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.
● …development that considers both future and present needs.
1.3: Environment and Sustainability
Important concepts related to sustainability:

Ecological footprint: measures the amount of land needed to support a

person’s consumption and needs

Calculate your footprint: https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/#/

Precautionary principle: proceeding cautiously if some cause/effect

relationships are not fully established scientifically
1.3: Environment and Sustainability
Indicators of Global Environmental Stress:

What are some specific ways that humans have impacted the following?

● Soil, fresh water, marine fisheries, biodiversity, atmosphere, toxic

chemicals, hazardous wastes, waste
1.4: Environmental Ethics
Frontier Ethic :

● Assumes the Earth has an unlimited supply of resources. If resources

run out in one area, more can be found elsewhere, or alternatively,
human ingenuity will find substitutes.

● This attitude sees humans as masters who manage the planet.

1.4: Environmental Ethics
Sustainable Ethic

● Assumes that Earth’s resources are not unlimited and that humans
must use and conserve resources in a manner that allows their
continued use in the future.
● Also assumes that humans are a part of the natural environment and
that we suffer when the health of a natural ecosystem is impaired
 1.4: Environmental Ethics
Land Ethic

● Respects all parts of the natural world (not just the living)
regardless of their utility
● Positions humans as a member of the ecological
community, not the conqueror

“Anything is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the This Photo by is licensed under CCO Public
Domain
biotic community. It is wrong when it tends to do otherwise.” (Aldo Leopold, 1949)
1.4: Environmental Ethics
Did you ever hear the Tragedy of the Commons?

● Watch this video to understand the Tragedy of the

Commons
● Following the video, can you think of any modern examples
of this?
1.4: Environmental Ethics
Hetch Hetchy Valley: A case study

To Dam or Not to Dam?

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1.4: Environmental Ethics
Hetch Hetchy Valley: A case study

The controversy still exists today

● Watch this video and discuss

your thoughts. Should the
dam be removed?

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1.5: Environmental Justice & Indigenous Struggles
Environmental justice: the fair treatment of all people regardless of race,
national origin, income, etc. with respect to the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental and policies.

Environmental racism: environmental injustice suffered by people because

of their race
1.5: Environmental Justice & Indigenous Struggles
Indigenous Struggles

Indigenous peoples face issues such as the lack of

human rights, exploitation of their traditional lands
and themselves, and degradation of their culture.

Can you think of any issues in recent current events

that exemplify indigenous struggles, both domestically
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and in other nations?

Chapter 1 Reflection

In your notebooks create two columns: one for information you already
knew, and one for new information.

Think back to the major concepts and ideas of chapter 1. What did you
already know, and what was new?