1. Environmental Science Michelle Guthrie, M.A.

2. Humans and the environment We exist within the environment and are part of the natural world. Like all other species, we depend for our survival on a properly functioning planet.

3. Humans and the environment The Environment Interactions between the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic)parts of the world. We depend on it for food, water, shelter and space. Environmental science is the study of how the natural world works, how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment. At Spring Arbor University, we also need to consider spiritual implications of the environment and our behavior toward the environment

4. Natural Resources  Renewable  Trees  Non-renewable  Fossil fuels

5. Population Growth  Moved from a hunter/gather to agrarian lifestyle  Industrial revolution  Green Revolution  Genetic Revolution

6. Tragedy of the Commons Lab

7. The tragedy of the commons Garrett Hardin, 1968: In a “commons” open to all, unregulated use will deplete limited resources. English countryside analogy Modern examples – lake use, oil drilling, underground water

8. Easter Island

19. Environmental science … can help us avoid mistakes made by past civilizations. On Easter Island, people annihilated their culture by destroying their environment.

20. Environmental science How does the natural world work? How does our environment affect us? How do we affect our environment? Applied goal: Developing solutions to environmental problems.

21. Environmental science … is an interdisciplinary field, drawing on many diverse disciplines. Deals in the natural sciences (natural world) Social Sciences (human interactions)

22. Ethics LE 1-5 Ecology Biology Chemistry Economics Engineering Political science History Sociology Geology Oceanography Atmospheric science Environmental science Anthropology Archaeology

23. Environmental Science … is NOT the same as environmentalism.  It is science, NOT advocacy. (although for some it may lead to advocacy) THE NATURE OF SCIENCE http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/scienc eflowchart

24. Environmental Science is the most important science for Christians Evolution is an academic exercise, but environmental science deals with a current crisis (Newhouse) Environmental science allows us to serve a hurting world Environmental science allows us to give testimony of our faith to non-Christians

25. Earth as an apartment building Residents of the building are varied A single mother who needs help with her family A blind man trying to live independently An older woman with a heart problem who can hardly walk Many others with different needs also live there AND THE BUILDING IS ON FIRE! Fortunately, there are Christians living in the building….but where are they?

26. Christians in the building? The Christians are all in a conference room arguing…….. Environmental science is a direct help for now and the future. It will define us as Christians to most of the world – how we react to the environmental crises others face allows us to put our Christianity on legs.

27. Environmental Ethics  Application of ethical standards to relationships between humans and non-human entities.  Ethical Perspectives (world views)  Anthropocentrism; human centered view…must have a benefit to people.  Biocentrism; living and non-living things have value and focus on effect to biotic realm.  Ecocentrism; harming 1 part will harm balance of the whole…must all be taken into account

28. Three ethical worldviews LE 1-10 Ecocentric Biocentric Anthropocentric

29. Preservation vs. Conservation Ethics  Preservation Ethics; Protect the environment in pristine and unaltered state.  John Muir…Yosemite Valley  Conservation Ethics; Use but manage wisely  Gifford Pinchot…Chief of U.S. Forest Service  Were at odds with each other.

30. Environmental Justice  Fair and equitable policy and practice for communities and nations.  One nation’s footprint justifiably larger than another?

31. Sustainability “Does the present generation have an obligation to conserve our resources for future generations?” The key concept for our future:  Live within our planet’s means, such that Earth and its resources can sustain us, our descendants, and the rest of Earth’s living things for the foreseeable future.