The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning “to know” Introduction to Environmental Science Chapter 2 – Tools of Environmental Science The word science comes from the Latin word scire, meaning “to know”

Goals and Objectives Describe steps that scientists use to solve problems in our environment Describe how statistics and models are used to solve problems Use a simple environmental decision-making model

What Science IS and IS NOT Science is an organized way of studying the natural world, and the knowledge gained from such studies (experimental method) Science assumes that the natural world functions in accordance with rules that do not change. Science does NOT deal with the supernatural Science relies on evidence from measurements and observations Scientific ideas are “supported” not “proven,” and “accepted” not “believed in”

How Science Works In order to satisfy our curiosity about why things are the way they are and about how things happen the way they do, we must… Make Observations: using our senses and tools to gather information What are some tools a scientist may use? http://www.ted.com/talks/beau_lotto_optical_illusions_show_how_we_see.html

Observations Make some observations about this photo

Make some observations

Observation

Observation

Hypothesis and Predicting A testable explanation of an observation that can lead to further investigation A logical statement about what will happen if the hypothesis is correct Can you give an example?

Hypothesis

Hypothesis

Hypothesis Cholera is caused by people drinking contaminated water. Which pump appears to be causing the 1854 London Cholera outbreak? Spot Map See patterns in data How could you test this hypothesis?

Collecting Data To study the hypothesis data are collected and analyzed (experiment) Conclusions are drawn Results must be repeatable Results are communicated Subject to peer review

Correlation Used when experimentation is impossible or unethical Reliable association between 2 or more events Not necessarily cause-and-effect relationship

Collecting Data

Collecting Data

Drawing Conclusions

Repeating Experiments

Communicating Results

Community Analysis and Feedback – Peer Review Present their work and get feedback from other researchers at conferences Write papers about their study Submit papers for publication in a journal

Habits of a Scientist Curiosity Skepticism Openness to New Ideas Intellectual Honesty Imagination and Creativity

What is going on here? 1999 Earthquakes in yellow

How can we use scientific methods to study our impacts on the environment?

Environmental ethics is the application of ethical standards to the relationship between humans and the environment. Anthropocentrism: Humans and human welfare most important Biocentrism: All living things have value; some may be more important than others Ecocentrism: Well-being of a species or community more important than that of an individual

Statistics & Models Statistics is the collection and classification of data that are in the form of numbers.

Probability, Sample & Risk Probability – the chance that something will happen Sample – group of individuals or events chosen to represent the population Risk – probability of an unwanted outcome

Thinking About Risk The most important risk we consider is the risk of death. Most people overestimate the risk of dying from sensational causes, such as plane crashes, but underestimate the risk from common causes, such as smoking. Likewise, most citizens overestimate the risk of sensational environmental problems and underestimate the risk of ordinary ones.

Models Physical – 3d models you can touch Graphical – used to show things (maps, charts) Conceptual – verbal or graphical explanation of how a system works or is organized Mathematical – equations that represent the way a system or process works

Physical Model

Graphical Model

Conceptual Model

What does this model show us about how mercury gets to humans?

Mathematical Model I = PAT is the lettering of a formula put forward to describe the impact of human activity on the environment I = P × A × T In words: Human Impact (I) on the environment equals the product of P= Population, A= Affluence, T= Technology This describes how our growing population, affluence, and technology contribute toward our environmental impact.

Making Informed Decisions Decision Making Model

Making Informed Decisions