2. Environmental science The study of how humans interact with their environment Goals are to explore, seek to understand, and solve environmental problems Focuses on how we use natural resources, plants and animals, minerals Emphasizes how human actions affect our natural world, land, air, water

3. Fields of study within Environmental Science Biology Ecology Geology Climatology Hydrology Engineering Chemistry Geography Politics, Economics,Sociology

4. Human History Our species began as hunter gatherers and stayed that way until about 10,000 years ago We were too few and too scattered to dramatically alter the landscape About 10,000 years ago humans began the practice of agriculture and stopped moving from place to place, began settling in permanent or semi-permanent villages An area of land can support 500 times more people farming than hunting and gathering

5. Human history continued Humans began collecting seeds to plant and started keeping animals for food At this point humans began to alter their environment At first humans just moved when they wrecked a piece of land But then there were too many of us to constantly move and the land began to be affected Fall of Babylonian Empire directly related to poor farming practices

6. Industrial Revolution Humans began inventing machines which polluted the air and water Farming practices got more efficient with machines so less farm workers were needed People began moving to cities to find work Air and water pollution became horrible beginning in the mid 1800’s Finally in the 1970’s in USA and Europe, the developed countries citizens became outraged over the environmental destruction and began clean up

7. Major Environmental Problems Depletion (using up) of natural resources such as water, air, soil, trees, minerals, fossil fuels Pollution (undesired change in a resource that adversely affects the health, survival or activities of humans)of air, water, and land from human produced chemicals, wastes or activities Loss of biodiversity human killing off millions of species due to human need for land or products

8. Economics and the environment Pollution goes unchecked because of 2 things Cost versus benefit: the cost to remediate pollution is huge and will increase the price of goods and services dramatically, big companies do not want to remediate and little companies have no resources to resulting in industries closing or moving to countries with few pollution laws Risk assessment: the public and/or the company does not perceive the affect on humans so severe that it needs to be fixed

9. Developed countries Have the income and education and financial resources to address environmental problems Use most of the resources on the planet Use 75% of the world’s resources but have only 20% of the population Produce most of the pollution but clean it up

10. Sustainability Condition in which human needs are met in such a way that humans can survive forever Contingent on wise use of resources, minimal pollution, technological advances Clearly a Utopia model At 7 billion it is not possible, we are no where close to sustainability At 9 billion?????? Argghh!!!!

11. Activity He/she fish dilemma Several species of fish in the Potomac River have presented with both male and female reproductive organs The US-EPA has analyzed river water and found that pesticides(estrogen mimics), female birth control pill residues, prescription drugs such as Prozac, and recreational drugs such as cocaine have been detected

12. Your task Your group needs to make a recommendation to Loudoun County on what to do about this Do you think the county should clean up the water? Do you think it is up to the individual citizen to clean up his own water? Should you ban use of this water for human consumption and go to bottled water? Do you think this issue is even a problem?

13. Product You have 10 minutes to come up with a solution Be prepared to defend your position After the whole class has presented, we will vote on what should be done Have fun!!!!

14. Developing countries Lack finances, education, and desire to improve their pollution issues Mainly concerned with the most basic of human needs, food, shelter, clothing