The Science Behind the Stories Part 1: Environment

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

Perception depends on: age gender social class home location educational background

Nature of Science Scientific Method observation – question(s) – hypothesis testing – experiment results – statistical analysis conclusions

Testing Hypothesis manipulative and natural experiments – manipulative experiments paleontology: too old/few to experiment cosmology: too large/far away to experiment – natural experiments 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