Unit 1 – What is Environmental Science? Outcome: Understand the interdisciplinary nature and applications of, environmental science. Environmental Science – study of how the natural world works, how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment. 1

Review/Self-Assess Vocabulary Environment includes all the living and nonliving things with which organisms interact. Environment ecosystem abiotic biotic population ecological footprint sustainable fossil fuels natural resources renewable/nonrenewable resources Hypothesis, prediction, independent variable, dependent variable, controlled study, data Theory, peer review, ethics, environmental ethics 2

Environmental Science Environmental Science Connections Indicator: understand ES as interactions between different branches of science Assignment! Sheet available! Brainstorm a list of branches of science that you know of (list 7, use phones if necessary) – (7 marks). Summarize/define each of these branches (7 marks). Justify how they may be connected to environmental science and another science they are similar to (14 marks). Environmental Science Then make one of these, fill it in (12 marks)

Environmental Science Connections Indicator: understand ES as interactions between different branches of science Biology – Ecology (organisms and environment), Biotechnology, Botany (plants), Zoology (animals), Microbiology (bacteria, viruses, etc), Soil Biology (soil composition), Mycology (fungi) Chemistry - characteristics of matter Physics – energy, motion, space and time Geology – of solid earth Mineralogy – chemistry and structure of minerals Oceanography – of marine ecosystems Geography – of earth its land, features, and inhabitants Economics? 4

Environmental Science Connections Indicator: use an issue to relate other disciplines to ES and describe interactions between different branches of science Think of an environmental issue/crisis, summarize what happened (5) and come up with how at least four different branches of science could be involved (4), and justify if it was natural or human-caused (1): Floods in Alberta (2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdsAp8p1O30 Gulf of Mexico - BP Oil Spill (2010) Hurricane Katrina – New Orleans (2005) Chernobyl disaster (1986) Dutch Elm Disease (1920s-2013- ongoing) Salinization of Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia) – 5000 BCE 5

Environmental Science Connections Indicator: use an issue to consider the impact on Earth’s spheres and how ES involves the interaction between all of Earth’s spheres Remembering your environmental issue – how might it affect the… Atmosphere - Hydrosphere – Cryosphere - Geosphere (Lithosphere) - Biosphere – How might one affect another? 6

Place-Based Learning Indicator: Place-Based Learning Indicator: discuss importance of place-based learning through living with and in the environment . Environmental Stewardship – what does this mean and how does it relate to place-based learning? Imagine you’re from a Place-Based Background Think and Answer: In School - What might you find difficult? What might you prefer? One does not simply walk into Environmental Stewardship

Personal Connections to Environment Indicator: - examine how one’s connection to the environment is influenced by personal experiences and cultural understandings - examine diverse worldviews and how they influence interactions with the environment. What are your beliefs (which centric are you)? Ecocentric – organisms and enviro important regardless of their usefulness. Biocentric - considering all forms of life having of intrinsic value. How might your background influence you into thinking this way? Environmental Worldviews (complete vocabulary prior to discussion): anthropocentric, biocentric, ecocentric, technocentric and ecofeminist.

Environmental Science Worldviews Indicator: compare and contrast how different worldviews (anthropocentric, biocentric, ecocentric, technocentric, ecofeminist, etc.) and associated ethics influence individual decision making with respect to the environment Where do you stand – what does each mean and which do you identify with most? Why? - Anthropocentric - biocentric - ecocentric - technocentric - ecofeminist Break into numbered groups – role play how you would respond to waking up in the morning… and there is a spider on your dresser - according to your given belief “Green Politics” – how do these ways of thinking influence decision making. How might this influence your decision-making on a daily basis? Does it actually? Should it? Do you follow through on these beliefs? 10

Sustainability, Economics and Environmental Policy vocabulary/self-assess *=more important *Economics supply demand sustainable *cost-benefit analysis *ecological economics *environment economics non-market value market failure *ecolabelling *policy *environment policy Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) command-and-control approach *subsidy *green taxes cap and trade system lobbying 11

Sustainability & Environmental Science Indicator: Investigate the contemporary and historical social context of environmental science and notions of sustainability. Industrial Revolution  Sustainability Understand the relationship between environmental issues and economics Environmental Science – is it a public concern yet? Even if you’re Anthropocentric… How has the view on sustainability changed over time? Was it considered 100 years ago? Sustainability – what does it mean and involve? How is it viewed? Is it currently an issue? What might the relationship be between environmental issues and economics? 12

Environmental Science History Indicator: outline key events, including the industrial revolution, medical revolution, green revolution (agriculture), and the environmental revolution which contributed to the development of environmental science as a discipline. What do these involve? What did it lead to? Agricultural Revolution Industrial Revolution Medical Revolution Green Revolution Environmental Revolution and Sustainability How are these tied to the world’s economy? How does this tie into the development of ES as a broad discipline? Increasing Survival --> Become Superior to and Manipulate --> Stewardship (protect it)

Environmental Systems Indicator: provide an example of a specific environmental system and its boundaries, inputs, outputs, energy transfers and transformations, feedback loops, and synergistic nature. What is a system? Example Inputs, outputs Positive Feedback Loop Negative Feedback Loop A system is a network of relationships among parts, elements, or components that interact with and influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter or information.

Feedback Loop Examples What is feedback? Positive Feedback Loops – AMP/Mic A produces more of B which in turn makes more A. Negative Feedback Loops – Sweating! A leads to B which helps stabilize/cancel out A. Examples in nature?

Characteristics of Systems Indicator: Provide an example of a specific environmental system – its boundaries, inputs, outputs, energy transfers and transformations, and feedback loops EXAMPLE: In and Out Flow - Storage - Transfers and Transformations of Energy - Positive and Negative Feedbacks - Synergistic Properties - Feedback Loops - 16

Environmental Systems - Cycles Indicator: provide an example of a specific environmental system and its boundaries, inputs, outputs, energy transfers and transformations, feedback loops, and synergistic nature. Co-Op Learning Group – your group is assigned to a cycle, provide 5 points regarding how it may work and its importance. Carbon Cycle (connect to humans with loops) Nitrogen Cycle Phosphorus Cycle Water Cycle Food Chain/Energy Transfers Note the connections between a certain area to a greater system

Cycles/Systems Why? Maintenance, organisms need water. Transports nutrients and energy Why? Essential limiting nutrient in DNA/RNA Why? Amino acids – protein-creation. Why? All organic compounds have/need carbon.

Nitrogen continued

Characteristics of Natural Ecosystems Indicators: understand that the resilience of a natural ecosystem depends on its ability to maintain steady-state equilibrium around its carrying capacity Square Activity – two groups - be prepared for Petlak to “add things” – try to fit people into a small square… ecosystems have and need… Steady-State Equilibrium - balance Carrying capacity – limit How do these relate to a natural ecosystem’s survival? Why is this important? We have the power to maintain and disturb ecosystems. A system is a network of relationships among parts, elements, or components that interact with and influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter or information.

Environmental System Analysis Indicator: recognize how environmental science implements system analysis and modeling in order to make sense of complex interactions Environmental science utilizes the observation of all different systems of life to make decisions for change: - Earth’s spheres - human activity (sustainability and abuse); - general characteristics of the natural environment This leads to the creation of models that simulate environmental response to events.

Developing legislation requires popular support. Environmental Science Regulations through Legislation Indicator: understand the important role of environmental science in gathering data to develop legislation and then regulate environmental practices or make environmental decisions. Fields of environmental science collect data on issues (animal population declines, habitat destruction, temperature patterns) Government needs data to see issues and therefore adjust legislation to regulate environmental practices. Developing legislation requires popular support. Problems? Being 'Environmentally-Friendly' costs money. People like money. 22

Environmental Policy Indicator: recognize that environmental science produces important information that can be used for setting environmental policy and informing economic decision making. When doing research remember the scientific method. Controlled experiments with independent and dependent variables. Hypothesize, predict, and get your work reviewed by peers – make it repeatable. All of this increases credibility. “Studies show”

Environmental Policy Indicator: recognize that environmental science produces important information that can be used for setting environmental policy and informing economic decision making. Economics Cost-benefit Analysis → Supply and Demand Non-market value for ecosystems market failure (markets do not reflect full costs and benefits) Ecolabeling – being eco-safe helps place value. Economics is the study of how resources are converted into goods and services and how these goods and services are distributed and used.

Environmental Policy Indicator: recognize that environmental science produces important information that can be used for setting environmental policy and informing economic decision making. Environmental Policy – setting rules for companies Command and control approach - government makes a command and attempts to control it through laws Subsidies – bonuses, cash back green taxes – pay more for products that hurt enviro cap-and-trade (companies have a cap, but can trade it to others if they don’t hit it). Square activity – sell excess space to the other group (company).

Environmental Policy Indicator: recognize that environmental science produces important information that can be used for setting environmental policy and informing economic decision making. STEPS FOR MAKING CHANGE and CREATING POLICIES 1. Identify the problem 2. Research the causes 3. Solution – envision one 4. Organized – get organized 5. Access politicians (people who can make change) 6. Policy – create and introduce a bill.

Unit 1 - Assessment Verbal – exam questions are asked in interview format – by appointment and/or recommendation Written – standard exam write-up Definitions Mult. Choice True/False Short/Long Answer Visual/Charts/Compare&Contrast Focus on indicators! 27