1. What is Environmental Science?
OUR PLANET
Unit 1-1a
What is Environmental Science?

2. Primary Scientific Fields
Environmental Science – Studies the impact of human activities on the environment; It includes…
Biology – The study of living organisms
Chemistry – Studies chemical interactions
Physics – Studies matter and energy
Earth Science – Studies our planet’s non-living systems
Social Sciences – The study of human populations

3. Why Environmental Science?
Understand + solve environmental problems
2 Main areas:
How we use natural resources
How our actions affect the environment
Example: How the nesting behavior of bees is influenced by human activities, such as landscaping.
Can you give any other examples?

4. The History of Homo Sapiens
Our modern society had a very humble beginning…
Hunter-Gatherers – Our ancestors collected plants and hunted animals for almost 200,000 years, driving some species to extinction
It was a difficult, nomadic life since people had to follow herds and search for crops until the development of…
Agriculture – The ability to grow & breed plants creating the first farms over 10,000 years ago; But poor farming practices will ruin the land  habitat destruction, loss of water, etc.
Can support 500x as many people as hunting/gathering

5. The Evolution of Society
Agriculture sustained society until about 200 years ago, when people used fossil fuel energy instead of human and animal power. This began the…
Industrial Revolution – Using fossil fuels and machinery to improve our quality of life while creating pollution
All three stages in society’s development have created serious environmental problems leading to the need for environmental science.
What actions are being taken now to ensure our planet is healthy for future generations?

6. Human Population Can you verbally explain this graph?
What problems may result from the trends in human population growth?

7. Current Threats to Our World
Environmental Scientists have three concerns:
Loss of Resources – Non-renewable natural resources are being used faster than they can be replenished
Ex: Metals, Minerals, and Fossil Fuels
Increasing Pollution – Undesirable changes in our environment
Ex: Ozone Depletion
Loss of Biodiversity – The number and variety of species across the globe are decreasing

8. What Is The Earth’s Future?
With over 6 billion people living on Earth…
How long can we last as our population continues to grow, resulting in less resources & more pollution?
Some people think of our planet as a spaceship, traveling through space with a limited amount of supplies and an increasing amount of waste.
Others think of our planet as a lifeboat that can only support a limited number of people before its overburdened and sinks.

9. What have you learned in this unit?
Let’s Review…
What have you learned in this unit?
1. Describe the five major fields that make up environmental science.
2. What is the primary goal of environmental scientists?
3. Describe the life of a person living in a hunter-gatherer society.
4. What elements of society were made possible by the development of agriculture?
5. What are some benefits and drawbacks to the industrial revolution.

10. The Environment and Society
OUR PLANET
Unit 1-1b
The Environment and Society

11. Protecting Our Local Environment
Because most of what is consider to be “the environment” is not privately owned, we create…
Tragedy of the Commons – People will take advantage of public resources for short-term gain
Ex: In a public field, farmers let their sheep overgraze because “If I don’t use the resources, then someone else would”.
Once property became private, farmers used their land better.
What would happen to a set of I-Pods if the school provided them for classes to share during gym?

12. Protecting Our National Environment
In our world, the distribution of resources is not equal, creating regions of the haves and haves-nots.
Developed Countries – Those that have resources and industry to support social programs and personal wealth Ex: United States, Japan, England & Australia
Developing Countries – Have less resources & low incomes Ex: Most of South America, Africa & Eastern Asia
Countries build their wealth & economies based upon the…
Law of Supply and Demand – The greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more it is worth
Ex: PS2, Tickle Me Elmo, Oil Prices

13. Developed vs. Developing
Developed Countries
Developing Counties
Why the difference???
Population Growth Rate
Slower
Faster
Wealth
Greater personal wealth
Lower personal wealth
Economy
Based on industry
Based on agriculture
Social Support
Strong (planned parenthood, welfare, social security)
Weak

14. Protecting Our Global Environment
A major problem is that developed countries are using the world’s resources to support an extravagant quality of life!
Its evident in…
Sweatshops
Imported oil
Ask your neighbor to check your tag… How many of you have on a shirt made in the U.S.?
Ecological Footprint – Shows the area of Earth needed to support one person’s lifestyle in a particular country
Estimates land used for crops, grazing, forest products, and housing.

15. Ecological Footprint Graph
Can you verbally explain this graph?
Biocapacity means the capacity of Earth to provide resources and absorb wastes.
What happens when the world exceeds biocapacity?
Unsustainability

16. Protecting Our Future
Sustainability – The condition in which human needs are met so that the human population can survive indefinitely
We are a long way off from sustainability so what ideas do you have for…
Conserving non-renewable resources, such as metals and oil
Reducing pollution
Improving the environment for all living things on Earth
Throughout this course you will learn how you affect the world and how your environment affects you!

17. What have you learned in this unit?
Let’s Review…
What have you learned in this unit?
1. What does the “tragedy of the commons” explain?
2. List four characteristics for a developed country.
3. Where are most developing countries found in the world?
4. Explain why developed countries might be unable to maintain their current quality of life.