ENV 107L

Class 1: Basic Understanding on Environment

and Scientific Method
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Department of Environmental Science and Management

North South University (NSU)
Lab Class 1

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 Class-1
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General Laboratory Rules and Safety

1. Students are not permitted to enter into the lab without the permission of laboratory supervisor or
course instructor.
2. All students must be aware of the conditions required for the safe handling of chemical substances,
specimens, samples and other equipment. For details, seek guidance from the laboratory instructor
/ laboratory supervisor.
3. Be aware of the safety facilities such as fire extinguishers, emergency exits, safety showers, eyewash
stations and how to use them.
4. Laboratory should be in clean condition after using it. No waste is to be left in the sinks. Waste (i.e.
chemical, biological or items such as broken glass, hand gloves) should be place in the marked bins
in the laboratory.
5. Pipetting by mouth is strictly prohibited.
6. Defective equipment or broken glassware must be reported to the tutor.
7. Drinking and eating is not allowed inside the lab.
8. Do not touch any electric cord with wet hands.
9. Wear protective gears when asked by the lab instructor.
10. Wash hands properly before leaving the laboratory.
11. Personal belongings (i.e. Bags) should be placed in designated areas.
12. All students must wear covered footwear.
13. Report any kind of injuries to the instructor.
 The Scientific Method
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The scientific method is the scientific way to establish a theory or

idea. This is the basic to find answers to questions about the world
around us.
The Scientific Method involves 7 steps:
⮚ Problem or Question
⮚ Research the Question
⮚ Form a Hypothesis
⮚ Conduct an Experiment to test the Hypothesis
⮚ Data Analysis and Results
⮚ Draw Conclusion
⮚ Writing the Report
 You ask a question or state a
problem that you observed

You research your question that

lets you know if others have done
the similar experiment before and if
so, what was their findings You predict what you think the
answer to your question might be

You figuring out a way to test the

hypothesis. Which must be measurable

Repeat the
experiment to
confirm

You report the results to let

other know what you have
5 learned.
1. Redwood trees are very tall, old trees
2. Cones of these trees are very small & have few seeds

Redwood trees produce few seeds since they need to put

more energy into survival to live so long.

Count the growth rings of the redwood tree to determine

how old it is and count seeds and compare to other trees.

There is no relationship Older trees have

between age and seed fewer and/or smaller
number or size. seeds.
 Data Analysis

Data: Data is distinct pieces of information. This is the plural of

datum, a single piece of information. e.g., list of length or weight;
durations of time; age or gender group etc.

Data Analysis: It is the process of systematically applying statistical

and/or logical techniques to describe, summarize and evaluate data. 

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 Data Analysis (Average Calculation)
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• If there are six apples in a basket and their weights are 20 gm, 15
gm, 25 gm, 18 gm, 21 gm and 23gm: the average weight or
arithmetic mean is …. gm.
Calculation:   gm

=?? gm
Data Analysis (Percentage calculation)
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•  
 Data representation (Graphing)

• In each study there is one dependent variable and one or

more independent variables.

• The dependent variable is affected by what happens to the

independent variable.

• In a graph, the dependent variable is on the vertical (Y) axis

and the independent variable is on the horizontal axis (X).
 Data representation (Graphing)
Graphical presentation

Line graph bar graph

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Figure

Figure 9. Aerial photo of the study site ca. 1949 and in 1998 (inset) showing the regeneration of the
forest. Photos courtesy of the USDA Field Office, Auburn, Maine.

Tabular Presentation
Experiment-1: Understanding Scientific Method

For this lab exercise, students

will be given data about
marbles of different color
during the class. The students
have to assume that the
marbles are given in a box and
the boxes will represent any
arbitrary part of the
environment, for example, a
random sample of water from
the Buriganga River, and the
different coloured marbles will
represent different species of
fish.

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Experiment 1: Understanding Scientific Method
Procedure:

1. Each group will observe the marbles of different colours.

2. Develop a hypothesis about the distribution of colours in your sample
of marbles.
3. Come up with an experiment of how you would test your hypothesis.
4. Carry out your data collection by counting the marbles that your
group has collected and filling in Table 1 – the marbles can be used to
represent the variables that will be needed to test your group’s
hypothesis.
5. Carry out data analysis by looking at your Tables 1 & 2
6. Read over the questions and work in group to discuss and then
answer all the questions for this lab. You should be done with your lab
report before you leave the lab class.
7. Don’t forget to include a cover page and page of content in your
report.
 
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Questions
Q1. Work together to develop a hypothesis about the distribution of colours in
your sample of marbles.

Q2. Fill in data Table 1 using the data collected by your group and all your
classmates. In the last row of the table, give the average values (arithmetic
mean) for each column. (Write the table title).

Table1:
Group Total # of # of # of # of blue # of red # of # of # of
Number marbles beige green marbles marbles yellow orange purple
marbles marbles marbles marbles marbles

1
2
3
4
5
Average

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Q3. Fill in data Table 2 using the data collected by your group and the rest of your
classmates. In the last row of the table, give the average values (arithmetic mean)
for each column. (Write the table title)

Table 2:
Group Total % % of % of % of blue % of red % of % of % of
Number of beige green marbles marbles yellow orange purple
marbles marbles marbles marbles marbles marbles

Average

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Q4. What percentage of the total number of marbles in YOUR sample was each
of the colours? Make a chart (column/bar) of the percentages of each colour in
your sample. Be sure to label your graph properly (including label your data) in
Microsoft Excel, and then copy it to Microsoft word.

Q5. Look at your hypothesis; were you able to address your hypothesis with the
data collected? Was your hypothesis supported, or not, by the data?

Q6. How does your data compare with the class average? What is different or
the same about the two data sets? If there are differences, why do you think
there are differences? 

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Q7. If there are 10,000 marbles in the large container in the front of the room, a)
how many marbles would you predict be green based on your sample, and b) how
many marbles would you predict be orange based on the average of five groups?

Q8. If your sample contained 1000 litres of water from Buriganga River and the
volume of Buriganga River is 470,000,000 cubic meters, and each of the marbles
represents fish of that color, how many red fishes would you expect to find in the
whole river based on your sampling? Be sure to include your calculations in your
answer. 

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Sample solution for question 7
 

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 Sample solution

• Sample solution for question 8:

We know that 1000L= 1m3
Total volume of Hakaluki Haor is 125,000,000 (m3) cubic meter [Given]
Suppose that your sample contains 89 blue fish
Then based on your sample the Hakaluki Haor will contain 89 X
125,000,000 =1.1125 X 1010 blue fishes

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Lab report

• Answer 8 questions of Experiment 1

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